Tuesday 28 February 2012

Warm rain causes wake up call.




Warm rain set in today which usually kick starts the growing season off and I realised I
must get on with my seed sowing ready to plant out in late March and early April for the
hardy ones but the half hardy will have to jostle for room in my little greenhouse. This
greenhouse is fine for 9 months of the year but when the seeds are pricked out it's under
a lot of pressure which is when all the window sills are cleared of ornaments, etc ready
for the overspill. Trouble is that our two cats always want to help firm the soil down by
walking all over them as soon as my back is turned. Grr!

My plot is now rough dug and will be raked over to form a seed bed for slow germinating
seeds such as carrot and parsnip, the latter seems to take for ever to germinate and
along with parsley are the slowest to show.
I expect I am not alone in finding that when I have spare time to get to my allotment, the
weather takes a turn for the worse but when it's fine, I have other commitments, why is
that?
Busy meeting last night at which the properties manageress, the head ranger and a
member of Lanhydrock's countryside team came to talk to us about the changes ahead for the estate.
Good that they involve us and inform, makes us feel even more part of the Lanhydrock
scene. Back to the seed trays tomorrrow, hope it's fine.



Thursday 23 February 2012

Caught you!

Guess who I saw up the allotment on Monday morning?   Maybe he thought no else would be around early on a Monday morning.

He's the one that got away from the molecatcher.

I was up the plot measuring for future raised beds (that my undergardener will be detailed off to make), weeding and imagining what the plot will look like in the summer........I was up there yesterday cropping Kale in the rain - even Susan didn't venture out yesterday so it must have been bad.   The fairies had taken refuge in the giant log at the entrance and the pond looked full, so no drought there then, maybe we should export our rain to the east of the country!  Talking of ponds my pond at home is at present home to 12 pairs and several single hopeful frogs.....croaking away and doing what nature intended them to do.  At least I can guarentee one bumper crop this year.   Have you parents out there checked our 'junior gardeners' page yet?  There's details of a smashing competition for the youngsters to take part in, and don't forget our meeting on Monday 27th at St Lawrence's Social Club where you can pick up more details of the competition.   Hope to see you there. 

Monday 13 February 2012

Birthday Present!

February is a great time of year to have a birthday!  When you are asked what would you like for your birthday you can bring out the list of wants for the plot.....top of the list this year has been some replacement raspberry canes, following the poor showing of the previous Glen Prosen canes I have opted for Glen Moy.   Having spoken to various experts these seem to be a good variety to try for 2012.   I am also going to put in a soaker hose with bucket reservoir - courtesy of the undergardener - to prevent them drying out in the long hot summer (Ha Ha) predicted!   Was up on the plot recently, one of few hardy souls brave enough to venture out in the 'brass monkey' weather, and it was good to see how many people had begun to make a start on preparing their plots.   I've no doubt that lots of greenhouses, coldframes and window sills are starting to spring to life with germinating seeds and 'chitting' potatoes.   Up visiting parents at the moment and as my son once said 'it's cold up north!'.   There is still snow and ice on the fields and the raspberry canes are frozen in their pots!   By the time I return to the kinder clime of Cornwall they should be thawed out.   Now just waiting for the Suttons seed order to arrive and we can really get going on the new season.  

Wednesday 1 February 2012

1st Feb today!

Well temperature hit -3 last night and my garden pond was frozen over! So it was up to the plot today, after the sun had warmed up the ground somewhat, to see what the damage had been.  There still areas of ground still with ice on them and a certain ‘crunch’ as I walked along some of the grass paths but.......by and large there was little damage seen.  
Cold and crisp but with the sun shining through the trees it was a magical site.  On some plots the broad beans planted in the autumn were standing tall and firm, my Swiss chard was looking limp but I know from experience that it takes more than a temp of -3 to kill them off.  



That the main reason I grow them because whatever the weather I’ll have greens throughout the winter.   Having had a bad season with my Glen Moy raspberry plants for the past two years I’ve taken drastic action and pulled the whole lot out!   Breaks my heart to rip up plants but, despite lots of TLC, they didn’t live up to expectations and they had very little root growth considering they had been in 2 years.  I took advice from various experts even spoke to the RHS gardeners at Rosemoor, did what they said but to no avail.

  So ground was dug over today and hopefully the frost tonight will kill any pests in the soil, ready to replace the plants probably with Glen Moy as they get good write ups from the people who are supposed to know.   One thing I will do this time is to place a soaker hose along the bed, poor root growth may be due to the lack of water at root level.  Who knows?  Like all gardeners I must wait and see what the season brings.
Don’t forget that Matt & Rebecca from the National Trust are coming to our next meeting, a good chance to meet them and ask lots of questions.........so don’t miss it!