Having decided not to spend too much this year and to use both saved seeds and seeds purchased in previous seasons I have already noticed that the new seed does indeed perform better than old in most things, not just with parsnips, which I already knew about. I sowed two varieties of Brussells Sprouts and although the new packet of seed, Evesham Special, germinated as expected, and are already moved into deeper pots, the Noisette, which were older seeds have only managed three very weedy seedlings so far. The same has happened with the Tomatoes which are all previous seasons seed. My previous enthusiasm for using up the whole packet of seed by keeping them over until the following season has waned somewhat. I think that maybe this doesn’t apply to tougher seeds like runner beans, squash and pumpkins but time will tell.
The cheap seeds, purchased from Netto (19p),Lidl (29p), Aldi (39p) and Alan Romans (50p) have always performed well for me but they only stock limited varieties so it looks as though if I want anything a bit different I may have to pay the price from the bigger seed suppliers. I hate waste though so I know I won’t be able to throw away the rest of the seeds in the packet after I have used what I need so my seed box will probably stay full.
Tags: seeds
Posted in Allotments | No Comments »
Today I bought an apple tree from Aldi. It is an Elstar, an offspring of the Golden Delicious. I bought this cultivar before and it died. However the original cost £25.99 and this one only cost £3.99 so there is not so much to risk.
(Elstar is a crunchy apple. The flesh is lemon-white. In most Golden Delicious offspring it is the other parent which provides the essential counter-balance to offset the sweet blandness of Golden Delicious. In the case of Elstar this is Ingrid Marie, a variety which originates from Denmark. Although not a widely-known apple, it lends a bit of sharpness to the mix – inherited from its own parent, Cox’s Orange Pippin. The result is Elstar, which is probably one of the best Golden Delicious offspring)
Tags: fruit
Posted in Allotments | No Comments »
On Sunday we at last had some time to call our own and went to visit the plots at about ten o clock. We were expecting a short visit halted by sleet after reading the weather forecast. However, it turned out to be a four hour clean up with sunshine.
We have decided to give up our second plot and concentrate on plot eight from now on so we have until April to get plot eighteen tidy and move all the bits and pieces that we want to keep over to plot eight.I started by cleaning out the shed as the communal skip had arrived and I wanted to make good use of it. After that I helped Rob with clearing plot eighteen. We bought over the ‘Dalek’ composters and our seat cum storage box, a couple of wire frames and a load of slabs. The only job left is to dismantle the tunnel which was flattened by the snow and bring the tubes and netting over. I shall also dig up a few strawberry plants and a couple of black currant bushes. After that we can concentrate on making plot eight look good for this season.
Because we had the slabs from plot eighteen we could get rid of the strips of carpet that we had been using for paths and throw them in the skip. Rob has already made a good start in laying new paths and plot eight is already looking better.
We have bought some metal reinforcing rods to fix the fruit tunnel and the brassica tunnel so that will be the next job to do. Rob has layed a slab path down the middle of the inside of the brassica tunnel and that should make working in there much easier. I dug over both the side beds in there and limed the soil.
Posted in Allotments | No Comments »
Four out of six of the Tomato seedlings are through so I have taken the polythene cover off and stood the pots on the window ledge. Quite a few of the leeks are showing already and the brassica tray has about seven tiny green shoots. Looks like the season starts here.
The Sweetpeas haven’t shown any signs of life yet so I may put in a few more and sow some early peas for eating at the same time too.
Posted in Allotments | No Comments »
I was testing the camera in the garden yesterday so here are a few of my hens and ducks.
This is one of my White Pekins showing off her lovely tail feathers.
Star one of our white Silkie bantams.
Bums up. Blue and Sadie, our two Orpington bantams.
Flower and Rosie, two of our Call Ducks.
Tags: ducks, hens
Posted in Allotments | No Comments »
Here’s the first of the photographs from Rob’s new camera. It shows an effortless top score by Glenn using my new darts.
Posted in Allotments | No Comments »
Rob has bought a new digital camera. It is a Fujifilm FinePix S1500. It is mainly for use at speedway meetings, which is one of his passions, but I am hoping for more photographs of the family, the animals and the allotment.
Tags: gadgets
Posted in Allotments | No Comments »
The first brassica seeds have gone in today. In a tray of John Innes Seed compost I have sown two rows of Brussels Sprout Noisette and two rows of Evesham Special. Seedlings should appear in two to three weeks and they can be grown on until late April to May for planting out in the tunnel and hopefully for Harvest from September to December. update on germination – Evesham Special (new seeds) 100%; Noisette (old seeds) 1%.
In the same tray I have sown one row each of Cauliflower All The Year Round, Cabbage Primo ll and Cabbage Glory of Enkhuizen. All for Summer Harvest. update on germination – Cabbage Primo ll (new seeds) 100%; ATYR & GOE (old seeds) nothing.
Tags: brassica, cabbage, cauliflower, germination, seeds
Posted in Allotments | No Comments »
This morning I am sowing seeds of Leek Real in a taller than average 7″ pot of John Innes Seed compost. I have covered them with half an inch of moist compost and enclosed the pot in a polythene bag. The seedlings should appear in two to three weeks. I shall move them to a cooler place when they are strong enough with a view to planting them into a prepared bed in late May.The seedling will have been hardened off by standing them outdoors for a few days.
Tags: leeks, seeds
Posted in Allotments | No Comments »
