lists

As we start the school summer holidays I know that I need to keep on top of things at the allotment, it is so easy to take your eye off the ball.

My plans for the next week or so (more like so) are as follows:-

dig the patch where the broad beans have been
plant leeks and savoy cabbage out
sow spring cabbage
sow some 'last chance' seeds for late crops
get some edging for the herb bed
deal with the strawberry runners
get Owens patch dug
finally put together the play house
weed around the artichokes
bonfire
cut back the area for next years planting of soft fruit
harvest onions
look for some bargain plants to put out for a final flourish

Quiet yet busy

I have been very quiet on here recently but I have been very busy doing lots of things.

The end of the school year is approaching and there have been lots of things to attend or do at Owens school. As well as the panic of planning how to manage the holidays.

The allotment is chugging along. It needs a little bit doing to keep on track I need to plant out some more stuff and sow some seeds for late crops. It is currently a bit of a dust bowl we have had no significant rain for weeks. As soon as school breaks up we are going to have to think about making a superhero scarecrow if we are to enter the allotment site competition. Any useful suggestions for the scarecrow are gratefully received.

One of the things that has been keeping me busy was preparing for my exhibition, the opening night was last Monday. I have never done such a thing before and the mixture of nerves and excitement was exhausting. I am glad that I have dipped my toe into the exhibition water as it will open new doors. A lot of people came along to support me and I want to say a big 'thank you' to them all.

Huw gets hands on

The last few family visits to the allotment Huw has been able to get hands on with gardening activities. He is always keen to use the watering can at home, he may even be showing more interest than his brother did at his age. Over the weekend he helped me plant some cauliflowers and he did it with such care. His brother had a pang of jealousy and joined us with the planting. Then the boys picked the broad beans with there dad.
It was our calmest visit to the plot yet, I hope this continues.

Purple podded peas

It feels odd to be blogging about purple podded peas when there is an excellent blog by that name. Earlier this year I won one of Celia's giveaways, when I was picked by out by the chickens. As well as some beautiful cards there were seeds in the package, I have sown the salford black beans and purple podded peas. The beans are doing well at the allotment (after a late start with the frost). The peas I popped into the garden where I could keep an eye on them from the patio window. I am so glad that I placed them there it may not be the best growing spot but I have been able to watch them grow and change every day and I cannot full comprehend how quickly this happens. Last weekend when I met Celia during her open studio event, they had just started to flower that I dare not mention it in case I jinxed them. Within the week they have begun to develop pods right in front of my eyes.


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Filled a pot

A spur of the moment idea about the fact that alpines or succulents might brighten up a dark corner of the garden occurred to me. Before I knew it I had bought some red succulents. I had some green ones that I had transplanted from some of a plants offshoots last year. These had been festering in their pots waiting to find a home. When I thought about how I was going to arrange them and in what. I remembered the old strawberry planter I obtained on freecycle ages ago. It has never quite made it as a strawberry planter, it just waited empty but for a little gritty soil, but it might be good for this purpose. Just 10 minutes later and I had this - I'm quite pleased with it and can't wait to see what it looks like when the planted get fully established

Foxton Open Gardens

I just love having a good nose around other peoples gardens. Real gardens not concept gardens created for Chelsea etc. Foxton is a small vibrant village not far from where I live. It is obviously filled with a variety of excellent gardeners with a wide range of styles. Once a year they open up their gardens for a Sunday afternoon. This year there were 16 possible places to visit. The village bustled with viewers. I managed to visit five of the gardens in about 2 hours, everybody was so chatty and friendly it was not possible to go any faster.


If I ever have tea lights and can sit out at dusk in the garden this is the holder that I want them to twinkle from,do you know where can I find one?

I love the use of mirrors in the garden, it fills small compartments of the garden with light and space. And they are great for a confusing photograph like the first one below.



Do you have an old garden bench I can use to display some terracotta pots on? It is so simple an idea that is beautiful and as the plants grow and trail further, its full beauty can only be anticipated. This garden backed onto open fields.

So you have guessed it I have full on garden envy, I'm very green but that is not in my fingers. I'm looking forward to next year's visits and will be making plans for my garden.

Gerkins

I've never grown gerkins before. I planted 4 seeds as I felt that that would be enough. All germinated. I lost two plants with the cold snap and the march of the slugs into my growhouse.


The two remaining little plantlings have been separated. One has been sent to the allotment, the other remains in a pot at home (where I can keep a closer eye on it). It is not an experiment but I am interested in which one will fair better.

I think that they need to grow up a frame so the picture show the constructions that I am using. I will try to feed them at the same time. Let's see what happens.....