tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64659614039333414212024-03-06T07:51:23.350+00:00The lost gardens of Broadwelligan....A bit of an insight into bringing the old gardens and veg plot at Fairview, Broadwell back to life.Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-87260561479480829982011-08-02T11:36:00.000+01:002011-08-02T11:50:30.369+01:00The urge.I just have that urge this morning....<br />
Not that rather naughty one that I cannot discuss here....<br />
But the urge to blog about my greenhouse....<br />
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I am over the moon with it so far this year!! It feels like walking into a jungle when I go in :)<br />
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It has done me proud so far in it's second life, the first of which was in someone else's garden where it wasn't appreciated as it should have been. Now it is positioned right at the entrance to my veg garden and it has the huge responsibility of raising all my seedlings, growing on tenders through the winter, producing crops of exotics through the summer and just protecting any of it's inhabitants (including me) from the worst that the elements can throw at it! <br />
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Oh, and it's the spot to plug in the radio!! :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peering into the jungle.</td></tr>
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Anyway, it's nothing special.. an 8x6 lean to greenhouse, slabs on the floor, some auto vents and a power supply, but I (and the garden) would be lost without it.<br />
The summer crops are doing really well this year. Cucumber 'Carmen F1', Chilli 'Lemon drop' and 'Bartletts bonnet' to name a few, aswell as tomatoes, aubergines, sweet peppers and more chilli's. I have used a mixture of large pots and growbags all sat in plastic growbag trays, which are then filled with gravel for positioning the pots on.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chilli 'Cayenne'</td></tr>
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I haven't painted any of that white shading onto the glass this year, and so far I cannot see any difference in the crops inside.... saves me worrying about it again in the future now :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet pepper 'Orange bell'</td></tr>
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Although this years harvests have been relatively small until now from the greenhouse, I think things are about to move up a gear or two as the plants have a lot of nearly ripe pickings for Sarah and I!! :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aubergine 'Some random seeds from Malaysia'</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cucumber 'Carmen F1'</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Well that's enough from me for today. I shall be back when I get my next urge! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope you are all making the most of the summer this week.</div>Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-39405233734318105792011-07-28T10:31:00.000+01:002011-07-28T10:55:51.954+01:00J'aime l'ailI love Garlic!!!!! What more can I say!!??!! <br />
Roasted whole or chopped or crushed into anything, It has to be one of my best additions to a nice home cooked meal! I even love to just look at a nice string of it in the kitchen!! :)<br />
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Anyway, this years crop has been pretty good on the whole. Luckily though I planted quite a lot of it, five varieties to be precise... Vayo, Solent wight, Albigensian wight, Tochliavri and Elephant garlic, as some did much better than others.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK8uKidxsaTxJF6c3eFK5xRzfu4nXZMmdA54EdZ45Fw087YpasBhWpNmYYpElR8X_JvokTszI7c68d3WeWLMLnQukjblUP8KNLhX0yTTsHREw6m2MW2gKNYEbtBvUZEZXbYEORWhX6e4/s1600/SDIM4601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK8uKidxsaTxJF6c3eFK5xRzfu4nXZMmdA54EdZ45Fw087YpasBhWpNmYYpElR8X_JvokTszI7c68d3WeWLMLnQukjblUP8KNLhX0yTTsHREw6m2MW2gKNYEbtBvUZEZXbYEORWhX6e4/s400/SDIM4601.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><strong>Vayo.</strong></u> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Planted last autumn sometime around october, probably an inch or so deep, and about six inches apart. Performed the best out of all of my varieties. Nice white bulbs with a pinkish stripe on them, which are a very respectable size. It is a hardneck variety so it does send out flower stalks (scapes) which I remove so the plant puts all of its energy into producing the bulb.</div><br />
<strong><u>Solent wight.</u></strong><br />
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The least impressive of my garlic varieties. This was planted last autumn as was the Vayo, but it has produced only mediocre bulbs at the best with most of them destined for puree <a href="http://asmallholding.blogspot.com/2011/07/when-to-lift-and-how-to-keep-garlic.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ASmallHolding+%28A+Small+Holding%29">Mo & Steve's garlic puree</a> thanks for that Mo. This one is a softneck variety so no flower stalks to worry about here, and apparently softneck varieties keep longer, but I shall have to keep you posted on that.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmD8dO1HfVLtdPrZmPl6ilVTgsA4VnBObPLbiiqmVeoV1u2a9tsRClWMCrONkKhO72W0lpN8ZqtuWHgExSXq8HqI2uRop8dRke1lPusbswmu7kVfSrL_VaGVTHmhwCufHaDZPbYHDWVX8/s1600/SDIM4605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmD8dO1HfVLtdPrZmPl6ilVTgsA4VnBObPLbiiqmVeoV1u2a9tsRClWMCrONkKhO72W0lpN8ZqtuWHgExSXq8HqI2uRop8dRke1lPusbswmu7kVfSrL_VaGVTHmhwCufHaDZPbYHDWVX8/s400/SDIM4605.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<strong><u>Albigensian wight.</u></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This one produced some lovely looking bulbs, and some rather poor ones aswell, probably a result of something I did (or didn't do more likely) but on the whole I am happy with their performance. Again it was autumn planted as were the previous ones, but it didn't seem to establish as well as the Vayo initially, but then went mad come spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGamXxkCFTSmjqt9OTGvKUNkr3ew9YayE4aV8EnwZYIn7B9QW5ZzHxybvK12IG35sD8y9OuAuHQ1U1mUlBB3ijM3V3-VDSNQcEcCzCbF46P8-0KIXvwBsgsbgLRB5WHReWo3fTsHakYo/s1600/SDIM4608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGamXxkCFTSmjqt9OTGvKUNkr3ew9YayE4aV8EnwZYIn7B9QW5ZzHxybvK12IG35sD8y9OuAuHQ1U1mUlBB3ijM3V3-VDSNQcEcCzCbF46P8-0KIXvwBsgsbgLRB5WHReWo3fTsHakYo/s400/SDIM4608.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><u>Tochliavri.</u></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This was my only spring planted variety. Again an inch or so deep, and about six inches apart, but planted around march time. Softneck variety so no flower stalk again. This was the first spring planted variety I have tried, so I was a bit anxious about how well it was going to do in a much shorter space of time than the autumn planted varieties, but to be honest it surprised me how well it performed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><u>Elephant garlic.</u></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> These were my own cloves from last year that I saved. Planted around october again, they have performed pretty well, although I have dropped a clanger here and not harvested them quick enough so most of the bulbs have split..... pants!!!! Oh well, I still have some massive cloves to use up, but they just won't look as nice in storage. These were planted a bit deeper than the other garlics, maybe two inches or so deep and about ten to twelve inches apart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I have watered all of them a bit earlier on in the year, kept the weeds down as best as I could, and given them a top dressing of bonemeal in the spring, but other than that they have been left to get on with it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBEf7OcGNSjJiZGfk60UUBBLuRll_XwLH7F60img81MwtPDuIbLAuRwrCrgbayUxZGn5k0T1H3_OQ6l9_bydLK5CEoKKMsrAd-0KW1iHulQy6KUSSy4NKLBXmasZTlCyLm5KwOSKVF4Y/s1600/SDIM4603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBEf7OcGNSjJiZGfk60UUBBLuRll_XwLH7F60img81MwtPDuIbLAuRwrCrgbayUxZGn5k0T1H3_OQ6l9_bydLK5CEoKKMsrAd-0KW1iHulQy6KUSSy4NKLBXmasZTlCyLm5KwOSKVF4Y/s400/SDIM4603.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I lifted most of it about ten days ago, and the last of it at the weekend, and it has been drying since then, with my first bulbs ready to plait in the next few days. I think I should have probably lifted it a week or two before I actually did, which may have saved the Elephant garlic from splitting, but I shall do better next year. Out of the five varieties grown this year, I shall substitute the Solent wight for something else next year, maybe Chesnok wight, but the other four will go in again, from my own cloves that I shall save and replant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-41311276431388192242011-07-07T23:44:00.000+01:002011-07-28T10:55:33.119+01:00Pump up the jam. Last year was our first attempt at preserving in any kind of real quantity. On the whole, it was all a great success... apart from one batch of chutney that I overdid the chilli in... (well I loved it anyway, even if others ran away screaming of burning mouths, shortness of breath and even "Hell in a jar") so this year we will have our work cut out for us to equal last years results.<br />
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I must say however, it has already started well!!! (modest I know) <br />
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Last week saw me out in the strawberry patch for about two hours picking around five kilo's of the little red beauties :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of my picked strawberries.</td></tr>
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What on earth does one do with all those strawberries?????<br />
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I tried to sit and eat as many as I could while watching Wimbledon..... that got rid of a kilo or so... and I think the accompanying Pimms may have gone to my head somewhat, as I cannot remember much of the matches :)<br />
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I gave a few away to family and friends..... another kilo or so...<br />
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Another good sized bowl of them went into some of Sarah's Eton mess..... half a kilo ish... and she made a nice strawberry sauce to go with it too... a few hundred grams more!!<br />
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Hmmmmm... still a couple of kilo's to go... only one thing for it... where is that jam pan??!!??<br />
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1kg strawberries, 500g granulated sugar, 450g jam sugar and 150ml lemon juice... up to set point in the pan..... decant into jars (with quite large brown paper hats) and job done.... 7 jars of finest strawberry jam.<br />
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Still have a kilo or so of strawberries left...... right, more jam...<br />
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600g strawberries, the last 600g rhubarb from the garden this year, 150ml lemon juice, 1.2kg jam sugar... up to set point again (which I think is 104.5 degrees)..... decant into more sterilised jars and job done... 7 jars of finest strawberry and rhubarb jam. This one is deeeelicious!!!!! :)<br />
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The last few strawberries then got eaten up out of the way..... phew.<br />
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Just think..... this weekend I probably have another 2 or 3 kilo's to pick again!!! It's a good job I have just been and purchased a bottle of champagne and a lot more sugar for my strawberry and champagne jam!! :)<br />
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Anyone for a Devon cream tea??Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-38690322452903710222011-07-05T16:42:00.000+01:002011-07-28T10:56:32.859+01:00A blooming good july!! There seems to have been somewhat of a delay since my last blog post!! An understatement I do believe.... as it has been approximately four months since my last ramblings. Apologies for that, but what with a lot of job issues which have ended up in me becoming currently unemployed, and then the general workload at home just increasing tenfold simultaneously, I have had no time whatsoever to pen any new posts until recently. Well, I am aiming to try and get on a bit more frequently now (being unemployed does have it's plus points ;)<br />
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Anyway, to start the ball rolling again, here are a few photo's from around the gardens this morning... <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhka7_raEmUwVpjLUnRC05z_Q1PAQ-Mk-qM5aI-9MUHuZIeY6aOMZB3YIX_skIN4E95qOsB5-KdRa3kwhdT1I2NATHR_qkWV8W-OiMEBsTMMdPEX-Uk04BvcWSJHmoLzSumptt4MiGz9sI/s1600/SDIM4443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhka7_raEmUwVpjLUnRC05z_Q1PAQ-Mk-qM5aI-9MUHuZIeY6aOMZB3YIX_skIN4E95qOsB5-KdRa3kwhdT1I2NATHR_qkWV8W-OiMEBsTMMdPEX-Uk04BvcWSJHmoLzSumptt4MiGz9sI/s400/SDIM4443.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gaillardia 'Goblin'.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkKE6U2vCihfKmyBd9lYDaptDf___sQpW4TUC0mSixalgSmeEMV6WW2j875R-3on_PPXuqRejwM8G0-eaTRVmwZs4gAXkZ8KQRu2yFxeRvdls_JvlojAPCSjbwiYwovYd5CPAJKisoTI/s1600/SDIM4441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkKE6U2vCihfKmyBd9lYDaptDf___sQpW4TUC0mSixalgSmeEMV6WW2j875R-3on_PPXuqRejwM8G0-eaTRVmwZs4gAXkZ8KQRu2yFxeRvdls_JvlojAPCSjbwiYwovYd5CPAJKisoTI/s400/SDIM4441.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nasturtium 'Gleam'.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEtPjoGrIahHskI0nyhRhWProUFOJjFPQkmS0yLQiyV3c7ZjjcdO4ZUFsTxNJdNEtffP5sov4ea72K_QYY9ArPwWgbq0ZJML9H2-Q_1J0aNolK2AzEF5z3ltKeSgzTikCsF76qMN7i_Y/s1600/SDIM4444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEtPjoGrIahHskI0nyhRhWProUFOJjFPQkmS0yLQiyV3c7ZjjcdO4ZUFsTxNJdNEtffP5sov4ea72K_QYY9ArPwWgbq0ZJML9H2-Q_1J0aNolK2AzEF5z3ltKeSgzTikCsF76qMN7i_Y/s400/SDIM4444.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jasione 'Blue light'.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJLpROT8GrDFX5459JMTTRbqnh1qDh-jK5sl15Mzpk_n1kmKiS3aPNNPO6DH_ThHzxJT6_6kkT9-W9X3dTEZBbbvxM77WvXx7dCW4PnJItm6UwH7ANLV6TVWkAnIRbRDyBsLkIjegejM/s1600/SDIM4446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJLpROT8GrDFX5459JMTTRbqnh1qDh-jK5sl15Mzpk_n1kmKiS3aPNNPO6DH_ThHzxJT6_6kkT9-W9X3dTEZBbbvxM77WvXx7dCW4PnJItm6UwH7ANLV6TVWkAnIRbRDyBsLkIjegejM/s400/SDIM4446.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allium 'Globemaster'.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAD0nnKBpNL_ECzDttj595Q2Yc-ZmvTmuDMokjU25c84hdkRf8vLnFQc4Ri3Y3tX0sZNASMt2yPbsq8NKIfvGKYlNASoLV1zGDtdLcCow25ALcz9xQlEQec5N_lRWGPjA1GIWfUqQ99s/s1600/SDIM4452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAD0nnKBpNL_ECzDttj595Q2Yc-ZmvTmuDMokjU25c84hdkRf8vLnFQc4Ri3Y3tX0sZNASMt2yPbsq8NKIfvGKYlNASoLV1zGDtdLcCow25ALcz9xQlEQec5N_lRWGPjA1GIWfUqQ99s/s400/SDIM4452.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zantedeschia 'Albomaculata'.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIPeOIqJGOlzi_OWQgQ_JicKDp2o3gDe_G0-H0KZfcGWfLr6RNgt80nKA7n_a7LcBW6Jlcb08xavVrHmOiQLOkpTeqYLe0BkwA7KTO5pv22pH6VXap3KSX9DIWN0e2_Y5iDh3g0ZlWZI/s1600/SDIM4453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIPeOIqJGOlzi_OWQgQ_JicKDp2o3gDe_G0-H0KZfcGWfLr6RNgt80nKA7n_a7LcBW6Jlcb08xavVrHmOiQLOkpTeqYLe0BkwA7KTO5pv22pH6VXap3KSX9DIWN0e2_Y5iDh3g0ZlWZI/s400/SDIM4453.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leek 'Jaune de poitou' setting seed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtGY24T733bXTHExq_d2DOaSXoH-5SxTTbdU2pSpoKMl0bKgNyrsfloPdi8Erfdf4lTfBsS-kp1C-ndDrdeCiWkI6tO8tH8r8o-QJAE3fGQxBGCCytvTj2g5yWPt5D070YzT1b8aI9dM/s1600/SDIM4478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtGY24T733bXTHExq_d2DOaSXoH-5SxTTbdU2pSpoKMl0bKgNyrsfloPdi8Erfdf4lTfBsS-kp1C-ndDrdeCiWkI6tO8tH8r8o-QJAE3fGQxBGCCytvTj2g5yWPt5D070YzT1b8aI9dM/s400/SDIM4478.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Busy lizzies adding some colour.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNcwSsFgugctVe4szMulg9JEbHjegNLg_0sbT5AI9r9TuTbVjmEXx4Svj6gNE_Jz011qe6GjKkUNl9vpAosw1B4_9fbnmahtWjA6CJM4LzOmSHd5wyNcM7fNT8nCgCGmQex21avbvV3c/s1600/SDIM4481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNcwSsFgugctVe4szMulg9JEbHjegNLg_0sbT5AI9r9TuTbVjmEXx4Svj6gNE_Jz011qe6GjKkUNl9vpAosw1B4_9fbnmahtWjA6CJM4LzOmSHd5wyNcM7fNT8nCgCGmQex21avbvV3c/s400/SDIM4481.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unknown Rose variety.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXjbRL0cMILf5DIGScRuG7dOCjnKwyrB3G24uvWq0K5WGjpUmDsPvm1b9OE6MljJ3Isqdf3QBVYemL6R_aDJjA0kYxOtfILpW_ppp5nPshNiGTJzKl3tr8gIFT_Z9uUgJgmldC7R5K5U/s1600/SDIM4483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXjbRL0cMILf5DIGScRuG7dOCjnKwyrB3G24uvWq0K5WGjpUmDsPvm1b9OE6MljJ3Isqdf3QBVYemL6R_aDJjA0kYxOtfILpW_ppp5nPshNiGTJzKl3tr8gIFT_Z9uUgJgmldC7R5K5U/s400/SDIM4483.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unknown Rose variety.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3JS1fHv1glePRQ1e-pA9uvJJY-9F_bhIUMzrdoIQoex6NSVyAcKYqe_Tgm3aXYRG84vqnrR7sswRErkzGL2cxXZzhhQbyoO_2IAiVD7oU5e4JpdX_Pt6wj_vb2z-bQgUFgPpb1z0M-0/s1600/SDIM4504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3JS1fHv1glePRQ1e-pA9uvJJY-9F_bhIUMzrdoIQoex6NSVyAcKYqe_Tgm3aXYRG84vqnrR7sswRErkzGL2cxXZzhhQbyoO_2IAiVD7oU5e4JpdX_Pt6wj_vb2z-bQgUFgPpb1z0M-0/s400/SDIM4504.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yucca gloriosa flower spike.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pOfAp0rRXY7boNdiJi3oGECZhPwvUPcSrXAAMfxj1v9YPxyaiEvHsFFUdQg6ABHRQNm5v1A7Ahxk6kZUR6iX8Auhm27RViPrwSkTqj-5Hs94OdY-oQ2Ldg941ZhQXj8Rv8D7jzJW-S4/s1600/SDIM4510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pOfAp0rRXY7boNdiJi3oGECZhPwvUPcSrXAAMfxj1v9YPxyaiEvHsFFUdQg6ABHRQNm5v1A7Ahxk6kZUR6iX8Auhm27RViPrwSkTqj-5Hs94OdY-oQ2Ldg941ZhQXj8Rv8D7jzJW-S4/s400/SDIM4510.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of Yucca gloriosa flower.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UAVYrW0B96PDTldaHteGkdlozvMi1YlEUk_jgJQxVL5vqEO8yk8mtjR3zKSX6qzPD8tSlY7SNetVCJKGjaVR237ljAdcLUUDQS4oJIW5t6g9Xw8H_aFMYrM_A0sdL45UoebgN2izj3w/s1600/SDIM4527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UAVYrW0B96PDTldaHteGkdlozvMi1YlEUk_jgJQxVL5vqEO8yk8mtjR3zKSX6qzPD8tSlY7SNetVCJKGjaVR237ljAdcLUUDQS4oJIW5t6g9Xw8H_aFMYrM_A0sdL45UoebgN2izj3w/s400/SDIM4527.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unknown Rose variety.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXCH8K8L72lb5_3OZy9pv_mbaAvFE_oevC6F-fNbJ4ihO4Ejwa1_gB5wQ84H_9X5Kk1b6EoDbFhAMuauz3kSOfJ89CQJlv3ZAS_2-1bvTdfScudhsZ1_jNbb7hyphenhyphenfLMD5K2cv03Xe9XqI/s1600/SDIM4538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXCH8K8L72lb5_3OZy9pv_mbaAvFE_oevC6F-fNbJ4ihO4Ejwa1_gB5wQ84H_9X5Kk1b6EoDbFhAMuauz3kSOfJ89CQJlv3ZAS_2-1bvTdfScudhsZ1_jNbb7hyphenhyphenfLMD5K2cv03Xe9XqI/s400/SDIM4538.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fuchsia 'Mrs popple'.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7lKyKKcETzfc8hPh5P1gCYKZTDbxDZMftcwMNm2-WVS3voTRd_qP8fz0_bSnXoraGlEbJY-qQpoJwf64l9lKkDvKoyJSM8eBo6R9ngnoNX8tTPRNVsWv6hlb3JUhFqc9-Pp_XikA_08/s1600/SDIM4459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7lKyKKcETzfc8hPh5P1gCYKZTDbxDZMftcwMNm2-WVS3voTRd_qP8fz0_bSnXoraGlEbJY-qQpoJwf64l9lKkDvKoyJSM8eBo6R9ngnoNX8tTPRNVsWv6hlb3JUhFqc9-Pp_XikA_08/s400/SDIM4459.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kniphofia 'Sunningdale yellow'.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-90688933857432273742011-03-16T08:17:00.001+00:002011-03-16T11:11:59.117+00:00Gardening under plastic I love this indoor gardening malarkey!! I wish I had taken the plunge and got this polytunnel last year instead of being indecisive about it for twelve months or so. Even when I now arise to a wet and miserable day, I know that I can go and get on with something in the polytunnel (listening to the rain on the plastic is great...but watching it out of the open door is even better) until the weather improves enough to move outside, or vice versa... work outside if it's nice, and move inside if the weather goes a bit downhill.<br />
Anyway, here is a quick catchup on what's exciting me in there already...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtaCgBwqL0AJY3M46Ll1il9YuVcBtRH0eIDl_nEh3Sstte_-oH5wLhEPvU_xwxsEPQ6ePbfckIm8-wyo3-8daJrDC3Rnn6o_HdtT45ZvRPEHQjIm9zjuJpJFbEXofszZUwCaDvOwLRWM/s1600/SDIM3823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtaCgBwqL0AJY3M46Ll1il9YuVcBtRH0eIDl_nEh3Sstte_-oH5wLhEPvU_xwxsEPQ6ePbfckIm8-wyo3-8daJrDC3Rnn6o_HdtT45ZvRPEHQjIm9zjuJpJFbEXofszZUwCaDvOwLRWM/s400/SDIM3823.JPG" width="266" /></a></div> It's got pretty crowded in there quite quickly. The left hand bed is already full of seeds and plants, and the right hand one is just plant storage at the moment. It has been a huge help having all the extra storage space for the plants in the tunnel, as my little old greenhouse was nowhere near big enough for everything I want to grow this year!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMnEqt96-ep1UgbZOSQTdIhF2ZQlgnLRlVGPnk3lJE9Rwm-HegVa0XTAHW21RAPf3jIrmkh2QWHaotKxGcsBYay9gHez9uoNCJY9_uIhda6KboG840WLHBDrpoWQSqGzH-yIrc0wQuKA/s1600/SDIM3829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMnEqt96-ep1UgbZOSQTdIhF2ZQlgnLRlVGPnk3lJE9Rwm-HegVa0XTAHW21RAPf3jIrmkh2QWHaotKxGcsBYay9gHez9uoNCJY9_uIhda6KboG840WLHBDrpoWQSqGzH-yIrc0wQuKA/s320/SDIM3829.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Pretty boring I know.... but how excited was I when my first seedlings came up in the polytunnel!! These particular ones are Rocket, but i've also got Radish and mixed Lettuce leaves coming up aswell.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKixYG6v1HsmXZE2v5PGa-_O8bhs_RxiDas5bxwpEpbBdKvO3b-604BhaB31W02VHFUxaTzqcte3mSuOPgmJ8Gdiji00enBIL6iVsoG0YOvx-nmfP7-VTg2hjoZK4YErnIzGjp1LzH9lw/s1600/SDIM3837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKixYG6v1HsmXZE2v5PGa-_O8bhs_RxiDas5bxwpEpbBdKvO3b-604BhaB31W02VHFUxaTzqcte3mSuOPgmJ8Gdiji00enBIL6iVsoG0YOvx-nmfP7-VTg2hjoZK4YErnIzGjp1LzH9lw/s400/SDIM3837.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> I've also put my Lettuce little gem plants in the polytunnel bed to give me some early crops from an early sowing(they probably won't make it to maturity as i'll no doubt start nicking leaves off them as soon as they are big enough) <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kb84ZPumKj6Rk3Xg-arE7P3-OkYJIuQtUSnpP59okdnyDeLt2jsYWZ4g5WrkMYC1Rss7xc9OI4GTpW_Q8CTHb2AJInO3beY8atcv9Aq9XPT8jUlVQxUUjvHBkJUykk9BDeGnNTEn_3w/s1600/SDIM3842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kb84ZPumKj6Rk3Xg-arE7P3-OkYJIuQtUSnpP59okdnyDeLt2jsYWZ4g5WrkMYC1Rss7xc9OI4GTpW_Q8CTHb2AJInO3beY8atcv9Aq9XPT8jUlVQxUUjvHBkJUykk9BDeGnNTEn_3w/s400/SDIM3842.JPG" width="266" /></a></div> The polytunnel is coming in handy for propagating space too. This is an Iris that I have just divided into three and am now growing on before putting them into the garden in a month or so. I've started potting up a few other plants too.. Kniphofia's, Zantedeschia's, Peonies and one or two Alliums, so I should have a nice selection of plants to put in my couple of flower borders in the veg garden soon.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxF5Qr-l7LYsmzkWH7bzoX2nKiIlbmG_XTNK6_N3uXgd_Dy35T3hNh4DTJr0gs_MNhBK4iKYHru_XrapYdpaf6LvrALR2NczdkrQbPADDmO3cM8RShKjOhItsizrtWhZaV5Odefbb-MQ/s1600/SDIM3849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxF5Qr-l7LYsmzkWH7bzoX2nKiIlbmG_XTNK6_N3uXgd_Dy35T3hNh4DTJr0gs_MNhBK4iKYHru_XrapYdpaf6LvrALR2NczdkrQbPADDmO3cM8RShKjOhItsizrtWhZaV5Odefbb-MQ/s400/SDIM3849.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> These are my pesandor shallots that i'm growing for the village show.... we will win some firsts this year!! (hopefully more than last year anyway :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8JeZLVOqseNdn24qtu0uzC2adljB6QRCpKfpfXgD14Ka1u9EINPzSJEl7u9NixQXs2FAblQMguPnkvbAYfBzCzz_dj3oeSXTx9mhfi5uvris_xGEZ6MOL8Jn01hPqjetUyxb7cd3GEo/s1600/SDIM3859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8JeZLVOqseNdn24qtu0uzC2adljB6QRCpKfpfXgD14Ka1u9EINPzSJEl7u9NixQXs2FAblQMguPnkvbAYfBzCzz_dj3oeSXTx9mhfi5uvris_xGEZ6MOL8Jn01hPqjetUyxb7cd3GEo/s320/SDIM3859.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Some summer purple broccoli waiting to go in the ground. I think I shall put half of these inside the tunnel, and the other half in the garden and see what difference it makes to the crop.<br />
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So all in all it's going quite well I reckon. The planted crops in the left hand bed so far are Peas, Carrots, Radish, Rocket, Beetroot (Sarah planted these and was most impressed with the little cluster seeds), Lettuce leaves, Spring onions, Lettuce little gem and Early greyhound cabbage. It's amazing how well everything is growing in there already, the plants are all romping away in their new surroundings. The right hand bed will hopefully get attacked this weekend if I can rehome some of the plants in pots (maybe that second polytunnel will need to be here sooner than I thought). I still have a few other jobs to do (don't I always have "a few jobs" to do) like finishing the paving down the centre, attaching all the crop growing wires for the taller plants, making some opening windows for the mesh doors, plumbing in the mains water supply and putting my gravel bed in at the far end, but none of this is desperate so it can be done during the next wet weather spell I guess. :) I can now just enjoy my gardening inside and outside of my new polytunnel (Sarah would probably already call it my new home :)Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-35328574605197984812011-03-14T19:54:00.000+00:002011-03-14T20:53:18.357+00:00A sunny march day. Keeping up with my monthly photo posts, this is march at Fairview in glorious technicolour...<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0RzfCi-oTw8fwz8WD78Rsi7abuzd41iohrP4NnZHopP5dylt2_KxbYduRZcDpZvVM_xDWGeZaxnYxoRgH1to5VQLNayoZB-sQ9j-HyuGAecRDqe1bgQrDjWRSZvBlMK3TDP_1_2QZAY/s1600/SDIM3794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0RzfCi-oTw8fwz8WD78Rsi7abuzd41iohrP4NnZHopP5dylt2_KxbYduRZcDpZvVM_xDWGeZaxnYxoRgH1to5VQLNayoZB-sQ9j-HyuGAecRDqe1bgQrDjWRSZvBlMK3TDP_1_2QZAY/s400/SDIM3794.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Ladybirds seem to be everywhere now. My preferred method of aphid control!! :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7e2_jDGjf7vm-SNPZaAXu5xYCRarXLqc2nCUVI6eW1WC2w2PsoIR-YA9FCUcAEEc5CtTjYDQQadmHhbNwQHAeAf_UUFP-0sYT7_r0FFsdD6iwl2auc8PzFIv2RtxAbNd0QiHOzx4GL3I/s1600/SDIM3839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7e2_jDGjf7vm-SNPZaAXu5xYCRarXLqc2nCUVI6eW1WC2w2PsoIR-YA9FCUcAEEc5CtTjYDQQadmHhbNwQHAeAf_UUFP-0sYT7_r0FFsdD6iwl2auc8PzFIv2RtxAbNd0QiHOzx4GL3I/s400/SDIM3839.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> One of my favourite herbs is Basil. I'm trying a new variety this year... lime flavoured Basil, I am looking forward to tasting it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lrqJ3ThyFzDZ196JrouJIXln8pV6z45tmyxA_sI-jONGqkptOrbv59vUSa6eF5ume6gnFoeuOWesr2dEab8zYQd7BfQwcbbPGE9Pr4Ym4WZ1xc9oKQulTa2AIcdIlCLJHM8K2Lm7lO8/s1600/SDIM3846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lrqJ3ThyFzDZ196JrouJIXln8pV6z45tmyxA_sI-jONGqkptOrbv59vUSa6eF5ume6gnFoeuOWesr2dEab8zYQd7BfQwcbbPGE9Pr4Ym4WZ1xc9oKQulTa2AIcdIlCLJHM8K2Lm7lO8/s400/SDIM3846.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> A Camellia in full flower in the polytunnel. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDo_tKveWWR_WIEAuZX8y66iNqH4RMoUVT7ufYYnct0AMA8QSCUw9xkozw_fmAnAqrOdmELTwhmHRbTZ2SSSgh4BuVYB3SoEO4pukyqTk2iUvyZr_B2O-bY5xgpuEHdUjYrCXz7wB-Yw/s1600/SDIM3856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDo_tKveWWR_WIEAuZX8y66iNqH4RMoUVT7ufYYnct0AMA8QSCUw9xkozw_fmAnAqrOdmELTwhmHRbTZ2SSSgh4BuVYB3SoEO4pukyqTk2iUvyZr_B2O-bY5xgpuEHdUjYrCXz7wB-Yw/s400/SDIM3856.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Some Bellis perennis brightening up the garden.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWZ-FkoRuhYYdy2_I56joCGH5StnEWQMGg85ssRD8A6xqPR8iqNqwbvdW16iDU9ObxxIuez_a0vWit1Bz6hv2Cu_J8AdBqpkL6v8xFP_rwm-DOYUTR0KLTJE-rxoz9Szy2DzXlGD8Dm0/s1600/SDIM3865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWZ-FkoRuhYYdy2_I56joCGH5StnEWQMGg85ssRD8A6xqPR8iqNqwbvdW16iDU9ObxxIuez_a0vWit1Bz6hv2Cu_J8AdBqpkL6v8xFP_rwm-DOYUTR0KLTJE-rxoz9Szy2DzXlGD8Dm0/s400/SDIM3865.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> The ubiquitous spring bulb shots now... firstly a white narcissus, I have no idea what cultivar though.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYnCw1KiuGp3nn1qKkcC_3DjikqOKyDT6S7_qkvCsaGmPLBQR8_aTwEcpdzs5Wsp2NEmbRGyzNZgXlsIMmRm87uIVsgCD8RI5KegeKI31FxVQVWnAIfqD3ait1dhExxzl4Sb_kii7v1c/s1600/SDIM3870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYnCw1KiuGp3nn1qKkcC_3DjikqOKyDT6S7_qkvCsaGmPLBQR8_aTwEcpdzs5Wsp2NEmbRGyzNZgXlsIMmRm87uIVsgCD8RI5KegeKI31FxVQVWnAIfqD3ait1dhExxzl4Sb_kii7v1c/s400/SDIM3870.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Again, I have no idea what cultivar this yellow daff is.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1-YVUzcT1opiqD76oMLoyguEXptF9LtYjcIqA3TDghnGooxpdB6bjpddYlpt7EubYpFNFMN1Pkv8MGs2hygsr2BxVjxk9s8UdFGdx0oLtAG78-58ArLl5HgLLKzt2e5WgI9VQgRuTp4/s1600/SDIM3881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1-YVUzcT1opiqD76oMLoyguEXptF9LtYjcIqA3TDghnGooxpdB6bjpddYlpt7EubYpFNFMN1Pkv8MGs2hygsr2BxVjxk9s8UdFGdx0oLtAG78-58ArLl5HgLLKzt2e5WgI9VQgRuTp4/s400/SDIM3881.JPG" width="266" /></a></div> Sunday was a glorious day to be out in the garden! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRAIMsDIonBdryl4ERoU_UbF_en0qAgcn1QqZE1M41vHf0U6VaXaJPfZL7kBFbQgVS342_ZCx29esuWejwEh8EDqtwza0zmxETfFvkNAsrT0u_MBqFiatqV-hAzi3BydC6N4BZOLa3wg/s1600/SDIM3887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRAIMsDIonBdryl4ERoU_UbF_en0qAgcn1QqZE1M41vHf0U6VaXaJPfZL7kBFbQgVS342_ZCx29esuWejwEh8EDqtwza0zmxETfFvkNAsrT0u_MBqFiatqV-hAzi3BydC6N4BZOLa3wg/s400/SDIM3887.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> The bright yellow blooms of the Forsythia's look most striking in the sun!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ME9EAqW6670JGDfoY8maaVYqG0gw0yqIIsIkgZ6qfOrTiKUlRld34I-dQoFaM4nW1osUvv83smaxElPvYtKn883_RaQhtAQGtkEUP4ds7GljSNRUMcT2Q5Gh9JmW0S4R8PV5l2r9eqk/s1600/SDIM3905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ME9EAqW6670JGDfoY8maaVYqG0gw0yqIIsIkgZ6qfOrTiKUlRld34I-dQoFaM4nW1osUvv83smaxElPvYtKn883_RaQhtAQGtkEUP4ds7GljSNRUMcT2Q5Gh9JmW0S4R8PV5l2r9eqk/s400/SDIM3905.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> This large willow tree fully loaded with catkins, was like a gourmet buffet for the bees. I couldn't believe how many were happily buzzing around it, and how noisy they were.... I actually thought I had got too close to a bee hive at first and was poised to scarper... but then realised where the noise was coming from. I was absolutely over the moon to see so many bees about already! :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTq5PhrvSS1PmzYfM0qXNjSHVlnt_Wng7LH_oQB5XuLITGwgTTMbTJd26Hmv2Clv5bvUVdUB3yXyAs9o2G5JpzkqigSUuLAiuTVQLii0jrpfVQmG15IUXZqy5n4yJC6EwG1Zy9zP6V_KE/s1600/SDIM3914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTq5PhrvSS1PmzYfM0qXNjSHVlnt_Wng7LH_oQB5XuLITGwgTTMbTJd26Hmv2Clv5bvUVdUB3yXyAs9o2G5JpzkqigSUuLAiuTVQLii0jrpfVQmG15IUXZqy5n4yJC6EwG1Zy9zP6V_KE/s400/SDIM3914.JPG" width="266" /></a></div> A very satisfying view down the veg garden for me on sunday afternoon. All cleaned up and ready for the coming seasons after a lot of hardwork. I did however purposely avoid including the rest of the garden in the photo, as it is in no way fit for showing off yet. In the foreground of the photo is one of my potato beds which has all the first and second earlies in, and the far end is my allium bed. All I really need to do now is just keep it tidy and weed free (if only it was that simple).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyp6HqzgBR6nSMUNvrFB_DZKTmvxNRAq3ClCaSdn6ZvtnVxy7j_cu9cMb0CUgLxH_MtTyL8M1Fp27_A5MNqGef5hNb3ttNpcz39Ls4zfv3uKRKfhkATj9hbm279j8RorlUskbWsz7y3gk/s1600/SDIM3926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyp6HqzgBR6nSMUNvrFB_DZKTmvxNRAq3ClCaSdn6ZvtnVxy7j_cu9cMb0CUgLxH_MtTyL8M1Fp27_A5MNqGef5hNb3ttNpcz39Ls4zfv3uKRKfhkATj9hbm279j8RorlUskbWsz7y3gk/s400/SDIM3926.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> My first earlies starting to get earthed up.... I can taste those lovely new potatoes already!! :)Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-75394059688904232372011-03-08T09:19:00.000+00:002011-03-08T14:32:12.929+00:00A little day trip to the local nursery. How bad am I??!? I have an apparently wonderful nursery just up the road from me, but because I never drive past it for anything... I never use it. I always seem to end up at the big 'Blooms' garden centre on the back road to work. Well this weekend I decided to put that right, I decided I was going to take a trip up to <a href="http://www.bridge-nursery.co.uk/">Bridge nursery</a> and see what delights they have to offer.<br />
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Well, I arrived at about 10am, to be confronted by a locked gate.... oh dear, are they closed today I asked myself. Thankfully not, according to the sign at the side of the gate, and after what was seemingly an age of pondering over whether to return later, or wait and see what happens, a van pulled up behind me. Now this could have spelled trouble... maybe it was the local constabulary... had I been reported for loitering around the quiet rural nursery (in my rather scallywag styled van) with a view to relieving them of all of their stock, or could it have been the irate farmer trying to get into his field through the gate that was now situated directly behind my stationary vehicle, or maybe even just the local fashion police.... I didn't exactly dress up to visit the nursery (clothes and hands still covered in half of the garden :) It turned out to be one of the nursery owners... phew... he was just running late that morning, so I moved the van to the car park, and wandered in.<br />
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I followed the owner around the nursery while he opened up the polytunnels, and directed some seriously technical questions towards him... "do you sell herbaceous plants?" (the rows of perennials in pots gave that one away.... doh) "do you grow your stock yourself?" (this one was answered when I actually opened my eyes and looked around.. the polytunnels were full of young plants and propagating benches... doh x2) and to top off the spanish inquisition... I excelled myself with "are you open today?" ...pure genius Simon... who on earth did I think had unlocked the gate and let me in... some random passer by maybe? or some deviant wishing to steal all the plants in broad daylight, who thought I might be good enough to pass him the pots while he loaded his van??<br />
Once all the important questions were sorted, (and I had clearly showed myself to be an intellectual) I then proceeded to basically put the horticultural world to right with my new debating partner.. we covered all manner of relevant subjects from watering to weather, polytunnels to propagating, gardens to growing vegetables, and many many more, all while giving me a VIP tour of the nursery. Brilliant!!<br />
Ok, what can I buy today my good man? I asked.... the answer was apparently nothing. Strange!!!! A nursery owner who doesn't want to sell anything? Does he just want to get rid of me after all my probing questions?? No, it seems as if he is rather honestly just delaying my purchase until more of their stock is ready, so as to give me a better choice of stronger plants!! Wow, I thought that the idea was to sell plants too early to customers, so the frosts would kill them off, and they would then return to buy more. I didn't for one second suspect it was to actually sell people plants at the right time, and to give good advice to enable people to just buy and grow once. I was advised to leave any purchases for a month, as at that time the nursery beds will be stocked up again with all the plants from the tunnels, so I will be able to choose more of the plants I want, get all the advice on growing them while reclining in the cafe (opens on the 2nd April I think) with a nice mug of tea and a slice of cake, and then know that they should grow on quite happily in my garden. I would recommend any of you checking the link to their website, as it's a nice place to visit if you are ever in the area, they have a great nursery, cafe, wonderful stock gardens and they even do cut flowers.<br />
So, after all the talk and advice, I actually ended up returning from the nursery with nothing physical to show for my trip, but it's now the first place I shall go for plants in the future, thanks to a really most helpful man who was more than happy to spend some time talking things through with me, and not just trying to sell me plants that he wasn't completely happy with.Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-75798622415827580122011-03-04T08:53:00.000+00:002011-03-04T21:16:41.581+00:00Indoor precipitation for Peas. How wet is the ground at the moment!!?!!! Every little part of the garden is just saturated! Any work on the garden has screeched to a halt over the weekend, as the top inch or so of the ground was just turning to some kind of swamp under my feet everytime I took a step.... I think I need to stick to the hard paths!<br />
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Well then, if I cannot get onto the gardens, what can I do?? Ah yes, I now have a polytunnel that is somewhat less saturated inside as it's had a week to dry out!! As Del boy would say.... Lovely jubbly!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihm-XiD_0TVNSd5sV6BckS0qAePkC4AHAR2hw1d-yWeAUE6MgQ73AngLysBQ7atwpeT21k75MLQv9ky9IcQoPEvsEpTOdh2Q_rKXIZ9P5YvJZa8lVqVjphaYtD426XLk0VdXHe2IaoXLM/s1600/SDIM3737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihm-XiD_0TVNSd5sV6BckS0qAePkC4AHAR2hw1d-yWeAUE6MgQ73AngLysBQ7atwpeT21k75MLQv9ky9IcQoPEvsEpTOdh2Q_rKXIZ9P5YvJZa8lVqVjphaYtD426XLk0VdXHe2IaoXLM/s320/SDIM3737.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soaker hoses (with peas planted at end)</td></tr>
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Right, firstly I can put most of the irrigation pipework in. I have decided that both of the raised beds are going to have soaker hoses in them, three runs up and down each bed will do nicely. <br />
I purchased the hoses, corners and stakes to hold it all down from <a href="http://www.gbplasticsolutions.co.uk/index.php">GB Plastics ltd</a> . They delivered quickly, and it was all at a reasonable price. The hoses were easy to cut and join to make all the corners (once I had untangled the mess of hose from around my legs, where it sprang out of the packet after cutting it open) , and the stakes just clip over the top and do a pretty good job of keeping it all flat. I think I will connect them to a water timer at some point, so I don't have to worry so much about the watering when i'm at work.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPKpn_amj1NvNJ_V2LIRKO0w0ZjLnv7A_FtVHh1Pyveq-WOMVYLKS4yCPVItLYJeaki45fq96IYgx-QJ_nBnXMaXf21obt1w0YVViZkyVySIVmHGUJypJgTq_QojjQ8Gl80SBEP9V2FY/s1600/SDIM3724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPKpn_amj1NvNJ_V2LIRKO0w0ZjLnv7A_FtVHh1Pyveq-WOMVYLKS4yCPVItLYJeaki45fq96IYgx-QJ_nBnXMaXf21obt1w0YVViZkyVySIVmHGUJypJgTq_QojjQ8Gl80SBEP9V2FY/s400/SDIM3724.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overhead sprinklers</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
Secondly I had overhead sprinklers to install. These came with the polytunnel as an option from <a href="http://www.firsttunnels.co.uk/">First tunnels</a> when I purchased it. The system has a main pipe running along the ridge tube down the centre of the tunnel, with sprinkler heads inserted into it at regular intervals. The main pipe has a stop end in it at one end, and terminates at a valve on the door frame at the other end, and then your supply just pops onto the bottom of that.... voila.<br />
I also decided to put two standard taps up, one either side of the door frame, as I don't think one would be enough. One of the taps will then be connected up permanently to a ten metre coil hose with a spraygun on for spot watering, and the other tap will be set up to supply the soaker hoses and sprinklers on some sort of timer system (yet to be totally thought through). <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSG1Y456SF68Zk7MVhBv16bXIV2HyhAcDCHN5fdENnvOkatwD2qdjbue4kEfQqIoctUlP2qmLLwqmuDNqBUfzJML-dR9B4neVzMg7zHxrPVCuKiv97L9TW6-aCkTBMkgWDPEMAwfEvbec/s1600/SDIM3739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSG1Y456SF68Zk7MVhBv16bXIV2HyhAcDCHN5fdENnvOkatwD2qdjbue4kEfQqIoctUlP2qmLLwqmuDNqBUfzJML-dR9B4neVzMg7zHxrPVCuKiv97L9TW6-aCkTBMkgWDPEMAwfEvbec/s320/SDIM3739.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watering cans strategically positioned</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
I have to say it, but my best idea for automatic watering in the polytunnel so far is my two little watering cans. As you can just about see in the photo, I hung one up on either side of the frame as I thought they looked good there (oh what a sheltered life I lead!!) but once I had admired them for a second (more like five minutes) I thought of the idea of attaching a string to the handles which then leads back up to the house... then when the sun comes out, I pull the string from the comfort of my seat, and hey presto... the polytunnel gets damped down :) Do you think I should try the Dragons den with this idea for automatic irrigation?? (maybe not giving up my day job at the moment would be a wise move :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1M-nhPhEqQZfYFHUD6lYZqKcCtQchynovHAV8qiW-iKucvdbLNw2WN5vbeJOTIX5ZNWmW3BcM_I_QZuqZgn4vAH7m1IJlcB-5ra9KoJQGF6iyW_thQqHhw0j1VESJ6HmHxNliaX1-oE/s1600/SDIM3732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1M-nhPhEqQZfYFHUD6lYZqKcCtQchynovHAV8qiW-iKucvdbLNw2WN5vbeJOTIX5ZNWmW3BcM_I_QZuqZgn4vAH7m1IJlcB-5ra9KoJQGF6iyW_thQqHhw0j1VESJ6HmHxNliaX1-oE/s400/SDIM3732.JPG" width="266" /></a></div> To be honest.... I may have gone a bit far with all this irrigation just to water my small sowing of early peas.... how much water do forty eight pea plants need ?!?<br />
<br />
I had better get some more seeds and plants in there quickly!<br />
<br />
How satisfying was it though to be planting in the polytunnel for the first time!!! The rain lashing the polythene, the dog sat in the doorway keeping dry, the plants excited to put down roots in their new luxury country retreat, and me like a kid at Christmas with is new toy!! I think I still have a smile on my face now!!!Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-43373074045604493102011-03-01T08:48:00.001+00:002011-03-01T21:31:57.687+00:00Latvian Piragi<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmKwtOH70_qyrSI3IcNp5Bmcfz_HdULxOHBke61iB80gECcISEnKXQuyvmjNIf7CGgIxKJb_9hHzai47j6EfMTc7WlFFCjjjszBP-Nlo_LbvYA6OF5WjxaIeChN7H4M5MYa6_C8W_wwA/s1600/SDIM3720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmKwtOH70_qyrSI3IcNp5Bmcfz_HdULxOHBke61iB80gECcISEnKXQuyvmjNIf7CGgIxKJb_9hHzai47j6EfMTc7WlFFCjjjszBP-Nlo_LbvYA6OF5WjxaIeChN7H4M5MYa6_C8W_wwA/s320/SDIM3720.JPG" width="213" /></a> After mentioning these in another post and getting a few comments on them, I thought i'd make a batch and do a quick blog for you incase anyone else wants to try them out..... They are delicious!!! :) </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I was first introduced to these years ago when I was little. A friend of the family (Marta) relocated here during the war from latvia, and it was her that used to make these for us.... my dad and I could never get enough of them when she made them.... and there was always a freshly baked supply of them whenever we visited her farm!(that phonecall the day before worked every time :) Unfortunately she died about 18 months ago and will be missed greatly. While at the funeral I happened to have a chat with one of her daughters and mentioned these in passing... next thing I know I have the recipe for these little delights! Now and then I throw a batch together and it always brings back memories of Marta and her farm.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Firstly.. The ingredients..</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For the bread...</div><ul><li>1 1/2 cups of lukewarm water</li>
<li>1/2 cup + 1 tbsp sugar</li>
<li>1 tbsp dryed yeast</li>
<li>1 1/2 tsp salt</li>
<li>5 or 6 cups of strong white bread flour</li>
<li>1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)</li>
</ul><br />
For the filling...<br />
<ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">4 slices bacon</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1 tbsp butter</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1 onion, chopped</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1 pound cooked ham diced into small cubes</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1 tsp caraway seeds (or more if you love it like me)</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1 tsp black pepper</li>
</ul><br />
For the glaze...<br />
<ul><li>1 egg, beaten</li>
<li>1 tbsp water</li>
</ul><br />
Directions... <br />
<ul><li>Combine the yeast, 1 tbsp sugar and 1/2 cup of water in a small bowl and set aside to activate.</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Combine 1/2 cup of sugar, salt and 2 1/2 cups of the flour in a mixing bowl, then add the butter, yeast mixture and the rest of the water. Stir it all, then add more flour until you make a soft dough.</li>
<li>Knead the dough on a floured surface until it's smooth and elastic, which usually takes me about 5 minutes. Place the dough in a large greased bowl and cover the top with clingfilm. Leave to rise for about 1 1/2 hours.</li>
<li>While the dough is rising, cook the bacon in a small pan, drain it and then chop it up into small pieces then soften the onion in a pan with the butter. </li>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oYwsk4Z-A2kxUo64_KXJ1Y5Fm5qqtrM0QpsjOXrx6ZdVJtjjAD69G6VyKRIQi4S4UdaK3FfbQ7lts-4GIDHV0vDi_aDmYKbKSj4E4BLoWRYVyDteeh7doJl5asRl4HKh1iJeztPqxws/s1600/SDIM3702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oYwsk4Z-A2kxUo64_KXJ1Y5Fm5qqtrM0QpsjOXrx6ZdVJtjjAD69G6VyKRIQi4S4UdaK3FfbQ7lts-4GIDHV0vDi_aDmYKbKSj4E4BLoWRYVyDteeh7doJl5asRl4HKh1iJeztPqxws/s320/SDIM3702.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><li>I bake my own ham in the oven with a few cloves and some honey the night before I make these, but you can get it ready cooked from the supermarket if you like.</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBH4hpTVaHahFzE3lpeuOtR1xTBoc3QQMtmKGA43covxQcq0MsnEnB391NxN-BOSJifl797dxPx9dr9nhNwH-qEQrzJLyF03Fr1hla9tSR3SHhnEI1r98zsdYuyOpQstxeNvEWN3YVUiI/s1600/SDIM3707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBH4hpTVaHahFzE3lpeuOtR1xTBoc3QQMtmKGA43covxQcq0MsnEnB391NxN-BOSJifl797dxPx9dr9nhNwH-qEQrzJLyF03Fr1hla9tSR3SHhnEI1r98zsdYuyOpQstxeNvEWN3YVUiI/s320/SDIM3707.JPG" width="320" /></a>When ready, add the ham to the onion. Stir in the caraway seeds, pepper and chopped bacon. Cook for a minute, then remove from the heat.</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When the dough has risen sufficiently, punch it down and divide it into 4 pieces.</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Roll each piece of dough out into a rough circle about 1/8" thick.</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now you can decide what size you want your Piragi. I like mine a reasonable size... something like a small pasty, so I use a cutter to make circles of about 6" ... but you can go down as small as 2 1/2" circles for little bite size Piragi if you like.</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Spoon some of the filling into the centre of your round piece of dough, enough to fill it out when folded, then fold it in half to make your pasty shape and pinch the edges to stick it closed.</li>
</ul><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><ul><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-iwx2UA_Cj_pggiLlFb-k8gaDkPOArUcnFokEYdxWa1Mj_L3iV7dE4N6pOebGy55tC7zn7R50Kk8KJ1PQIn3FdZ1aRl9YVxkR_ql3eFpeaWorWYfMqmqIzGgKfu1WYoxUS9oJyVPsdE/s1600/SDIM3712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-iwx2UA_Cj_pggiLlFb-k8gaDkPOArUcnFokEYdxWa1Mj_L3iV7dE4N6pOebGy55tC7zn7R50Kk8KJ1PQIn3FdZ1aRl9YVxkR_ql3eFpeaWorWYfMqmqIzGgKfu1WYoxUS9oJyVPsdE/s320/SDIM3712.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Place the Piragi on a baking sheet or tin with the seam underneath it, combine the egg and water, and then brush the Piragi with the egg wash.</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Bake in the oven at about 190 or gas 5 until golden brown.</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.... or you could do what I like to do, and scoff the lot and get a burnt mouth!!!! :)</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmy0HPpuS44BdHAqyaQ0XjLMznk0Lp4RrGbTr9xSn0s8RRJY3zgDOqqlAd-pSY96i34AEzJUL3x-B0md9NlCTG2YLTZ6doZsGOWaMgCCcLQ5SGvfF-XzPgvdSfBje37d9gmfywZ4NKgqk/s1600/SDIM3717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmy0HPpuS44BdHAqyaQ0XjLMznk0Lp4RrGbTr9xSn0s8RRJY3zgDOqqlAd-pSY96i34AEzJUL3x-B0md9NlCTG2YLTZ6doZsGOWaMgCCcLQ5SGvfF-XzPgvdSfBje37d9gmfywZ4NKgqk/s320/SDIM3717.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now I know i'm no Jamie or Gordon, and this isn't exactly top class restaurant food, but I would love to hear about any of you trying these out.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Enjoy!!!</div>Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-90258945600365921232011-02-21T12:26:00.000+00:002011-02-21T12:27:10.509+00:00Planting my Rhubarb<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Last week saw the arrival of my Rhubarb crowns. I ordered 9 in total... 3 Stockbridge arrow, 3 Suttons seedless and 3 Victoria. They all came from Suttons, and I am very happy with the quality of them (not that I know much about Rhubarb crowns though :). </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqCNmKZBJqDR7aNm2GRrF_Xd-mly8DUB2UzFl7T-ifPIaymKk17TFWacdmYqjy8XY6aoOE2k6UnfeectPJESctFZ-LhkGyBuD6a76TbdL5ito4pIZTZUVkM921JN_975tWrJ6wuPXgj8/s1600/SDIM3664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqCNmKZBJqDR7aNm2GRrF_Xd-mly8DUB2UzFl7T-ifPIaymKk17TFWacdmYqjy8XY6aoOE2k6UnfeectPJESctFZ-LhkGyBuD6a76TbdL5ito4pIZTZUVkM921JN_975tWrJ6wuPXgj8/s320/SDIM3664.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Sunday turned out to be planting day for them, when they got to settle into their new lifelong home in one of my permanent planting beds (hopefully the start of my potager).</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The soil was pretty wet, so I threw a plank of timber across to walk on, and spaced them out along it. I aimed for about 1m between each plant, but probably ended up with about 0.8m which I hope will be ok. The ground had been dug previously, but I dug out a hole with the spade and dropped some compost and fertiliser in before positioning the crowns.... after all, one can never have too much organic matter in the ground!! :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuMcRCIc5Oseve5RxV5Uj3nLWRVJ_IvKaZMvJbC4L-LvmAXJ60GSMdWIunUF4m_WLgFuFI3cguX5kdJDlOsPaIE6EUfCdiQJ0fKr84SA0kmMkkSBUmRfm30Wf1uKx_1WXYy6OdhbFbe8/s1600/SDIM3667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuMcRCIc5Oseve5RxV5Uj3nLWRVJ_IvKaZMvJbC4L-LvmAXJ60GSMdWIunUF4m_WLgFuFI3cguX5kdJDlOsPaIE6EUfCdiQJ0fKr84SA0kmMkkSBUmRfm30Wf1uKx_1WXYy6OdhbFbe8/s320/SDIM3667.JPG" width="320" /></a> A bit more compost then got placed around the crowns before covering back over with soil. I made sure the crowns sat just below the surface. I shall drop a mulch on top of them this weekend coming, probably of well rotted manure, and hopefully they will flourish there for the next 5 or 6 years before I need to divide them.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuj_X2E-o9sjzc9WogLb6p2pw7TkdhXYCt1TPMZ24jCvbsX6tzhS-ihXj1UBvwR0TybrY9cWGmhNknRWmAV2Brf1X-I7yE115cr8lg7YpFVH10IwxqoKHvVdLmdZPRKJNDnecEBscv9-k/s1600/SDIM3669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuj_X2E-o9sjzc9WogLb6p2pw7TkdhXYCt1TPMZ24jCvbsX6tzhS-ihXj1UBvwR0TybrY9cWGmhNknRWmAV2Brf1X-I7yE115cr8lg7YpFVH10IwxqoKHvVdLmdZPRKJNDnecEBscv9-k/s320/SDIM3669.JPG" width="213" /></a> Unfortunately there will be no picking from them this year, so I will have to wait until next spring to try my first stems from them, I do have one existing plant that I can pick from this year though to quench my thirst for the delightful pink stalks for the time being :) I fancy a couple of those traditional rhubarb forcing pots to bring some sweet early stems on next spring, but they cost an absolute fortune whenever I have seen them before.... I may end up coming up with some kind of contraption myself :) All I can now do is wait... and dream of those rhubarb crumbles!! :)</div>Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-68318611194743519172011-02-21T11:31:00.000+00:002011-02-21T12:27:18.639+00:00Completion grows ever nearer!! This weekend was hardly suited to doing anything outside, as unfortunately the ground was completely saturated from all the rain through friday night, but I have so many things to do (and never enough hours to do them), I just decided to put my good old wellies on and find the jobs with the least impact on the soil.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The first job that sprang to mind was covering the polytunnel, although I had been waiting for a glorious sunny day without a breath of wind for that. Today was far from that mythical day!! Instead, it was overcast, dull, gloomy, grey, damp, and still drizzling with rain... at least there was no wind though. Nope... I decided to wait and see what happens later. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Anyway, later on, after a trip to the supermarket, some jobs in the greenhouse, and lunch :) the drizzle stopped, so I decided to get the cover on the framework. I dryed the frame off (with one of our bathroom towels... sorry Sarah :) and then applied all the anti hot spot tape to the metalwork, and taped up the ends of the ridge tube and crop bars to protect the cover, then at this point I realised that I needed an area larger than the size of the polythene covering to get it all unfolded and then folded back up the other way so I could just lay it along the side of the frame ( I don't have a lot of space either side of the frame at the moment, but the front field will be ideal ) and then drag it over..... I need a second pair of hands!! Luckily I persuaded my dad to give me a hand with that, so that sorted that problem. The cover was pleated up nicely, layed along the side of the frame, and pulled over!! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo34UcyPO0CGWTSqPbnn3_kjS0wJdtScl4mdyGS1fl61mYkdYtBe_nlUhhxHqeWYlNqojG_rCrRF9Aszeb2-yvE8WWhE_cBEry2bCQKrOQLC_Is3KWT-Byya-bE1jb1_wQxmPGyLTUEn8/s1600/SDIM3647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo34UcyPO0CGWTSqPbnn3_kjS0wJdtScl4mdyGS1fl61mYkdYtBe_nlUhhxHqeWYlNqojG_rCrRF9Aszeb2-yvE8WWhE_cBEry2bCQKrOQLC_Is3KWT-Byya-bE1jb1_wQxmPGyLTUEn8/s400/SDIM3647.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> As it was getting late now, I just popped a few of the plastic strips into the aluminium base rails to hold the cover on overnight, and waited until sunday to finish it off. Sunday morning I jumped out of bed hoping that the Met office were wrong, and I was going to have that sunshine I was hoping for after all..... not a chance... grey again, but at least it was dry and still no wind... that will have to do! :)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> Well, after pulling the top of the cover tight, and then pulling all the sides down onto the base rails tightly, it looked brilliant!!!! This is soooo exciting! I started to pull the polythene onto the door frames next and pleat them up, which went surprisingly well on my own, and then nailed the battens around to hold it. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNsicWHb7lTbI0M7xydZd9BtQUO1o8QiZcDX3mPK7PNdeb7ygquS592BzcP1aad76unkwu43U2j-7B1nh44v40KyzHi3dmJ9jDgg40awwD4q7kTJBt16HxLt3Bw_nbPJRDQElRXuqwqs/s1600/SDIM3652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNsicWHb7lTbI0M7xydZd9BtQUO1o8QiZcDX3mPK7PNdeb7ygquS592BzcP1aad76unkwu43U2j-7B1nh44v40KyzHi3dmJ9jDgg40awwD4q7kTJBt16HxLt3Bw_nbPJRDQElRXuqwqs/s400/SDIM3652.JPG" width="266" /></a>The covering did take quite a while from start to finish, but I was in no hurry, and just wanted to get it as neat as I could. I think I pulled the cover too tight onto the rails to start with, as the instructions tell you to leave a gap under the base rails so that you can push them down to the ground to tighten it all up afterwards.... but mine would hardly move... that may be due to it being a cold day though, and the polythene not being flexible?? I will have to wait and see when it warms up a bit. It is easy to re-tension it if I need to however, as it's just a case of undo the clips, push the base rails down, then re-tighten. Well, that just left the doors, which took a little messing around to get right, then trim off the excess polythene, and a general tidy up around the area at the end. My polytunnel is now useable, but not quite finished... although I am absolutely delighted that the cover is on now! This only leaves me a few slabs to put down and a gravel bed to put in the empty area you can see on the left, and then the irrigation systems. I'm not in so much of a hurry to get those jobs done, so I can concentrate on getting more of the urgent garden jobs completed at the weekend from now on.</div>Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-22898914057465314522011-02-21T08:48:00.000+00:002011-02-21T12:27:38.512+00:00Kept in the dark Well actually, I don't keep them in the dark, the mushrooms that is. :) They seem to appreciate just a relatively dark corner of the house more than the intense dark of the cellar. Mushrooms always bring back the memory of a college holiday many years ago in France.... we went to some mushroom growing caves just out of curiosity while there, but myself and two friends.. Stuart and James, couldn't even leave the minibus as we were still terribly inebriated from our late night pool and snooker playing session in the only bar in Saumur to have a table "Le Liverpool".... I really wanted to see the caves, but they said we were a "health and safety issue" (to be honest, I think they were probably right!! :) Maybe one day I shall return to the caves!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> This year I am trying out three mushroom kits from Dobies that they had on offer a few weeks back... buy two, get one free ( I am just the perfect customer... offers never fail to win me over!! :) Anyway, after a few tense minutes of pondering, I decided on white button, brown chestnut and yellow oyster mushrooms. Last year I grew a couple of white button mushroom boxes I got from the garden centre.. we ended up with a good crop from one of the boxes, and not such a good crop from the other, but it was still well worth growing them for the sheer enjoyment of seeing them form on top of the casing compost (and we had a multitude of stuffed mushrooms for dinner for a few weeks! :)</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNCfvwWQ2A1J2WHi1V8Iw7zec0jdQo2KjWu9SEIkP2YzE9AHfMKWd_RP-5mADuokYnVSuu8eBI1UdhR0b66SGt1GKdVV2Z2YmDC5O_mcUvo2OpxdNl3YwHnClPpQBYQMccyOv6pRwyuo/s1600/SDIM3680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNCfvwWQ2A1J2WHi1V8Iw7zec0jdQo2KjWu9SEIkP2YzE9AHfMKWd_RP-5mADuokYnVSuu8eBI1UdhR0b66SGt1GKdVV2Z2YmDC5O_mcUvo2OpxdNl3YwHnClPpQBYQMccyOv6pRwyuo/s320/SDIM3680.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The three kits from Dobies</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The new kits came with some pretty straight forward instructions to follow..... how could I go wrong??!??...oh how naive I am sometimes!!! :) It all sounded so simple for the button mushrooms, and having done pretty well last time, I thought a bumper crop was a foregone conclusion. So far I have nothing showing but a bit of mould on the casing compost, whereas the oyster mushrooms which I thought out of the three would be the ones not to grow, are coming along splendidly!! :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBEwVMb_Sk7dOK6AOkIrOthGQmCesvD1i597jmISvnbQRgQRChtRWRiCNe3oukIW-u7oWX7bvlHUm_YNfjn2Bz5XeMWfZvbZlx2ZTLE0loiN_Ih2ip0Ej9-ypJ91OH0El0sT0CkCNy2c/s1600/SDIM3677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBEwVMb_Sk7dOK6AOkIrOthGQmCesvD1i597jmISvnbQRgQRChtRWRiCNe3oukIW-u7oWX7bvlHUm_YNfjn2Bz5XeMWfZvbZlx2ZTLE0loiN_Ih2ip0Ej9-ypJ91OH0El0sT0CkCNy2c/s320/SDIM3677.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A group of yellow oyster mushrooms forming</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Yellow oyster mushrooms</u></strong> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Pleurotus ostreatus. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The kit comes with impregnated straw in a plastic bag to grow the mushrooms on, which sits inside a little mini plastic propagator. The plastic bag stays around the substrate all the time, and you just make small incisions in it for the mushrooms to grow through. You keep it in a warm place, 20 - 25 degrees until the straw is covered in white Mycelium, then make the incisions in the bag. After about 10 days or so the mushrooms start to show through the plastic... this is the stage I am at now!! :) I'm not sure how long it will be before I can pick some... but to say I am excited about it is an understatement!!!! Once i've exhausted the first flush of mushrooms, apparently I just make some more incisions in the plastic, and another flush grows through..... happy days!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOadlKV8G4__imCCknZpw7XIKVLbSmHz4nemC2nT3gcslOIL09osHawl7_MTW_oVqo4sYSgQr88nXPTFz1uoeeGzF6IceiLSeanItFouEsmxqy2opPo62GxKzeRo9Ep5E4UIAYDFUd1o/s1600/SDIM3675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOadlKV8G4__imCCknZpw7XIKVLbSmHz4nemC2nT3gcslOIL09osHawl7_MTW_oVqo4sYSgQr88nXPTFz1uoeeGzF6IceiLSeanItFouEsmxqy2opPo62GxKzeRo9Ep5E4UIAYDFUd1o/s320/SDIM3675.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow oyster mushrooms going for gold!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Button mushrooms</u></strong> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Agaricus bisporus.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">These two kits come in the same mini propagators, but they have a seperate impregnated straw growing substrate, and a dark casing compost to go over the top of it. With this kit you have to place the straw in the bottom of the proagator and keep it warm as you do for the oyster mushrooms until it is covered in the white Mycelium again (completed this part successfully), but then you have to put the casing compost on top of the straw and then apparently the mushrooms grow through the compost..... so far I have a distinct lack of any kind of fungii activity in these two kits... buggar! ... well, unless you can call grey mould on the surface activity?? :( I've given them a good watering at the weekend, as they seemed quite dry under the surface, so now i'm going to wait and see what happens. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> I'll keep you posted on my progress with all three kits. I also need to find some oyster mushroom recipes pretty quickly, as it looks like the yellow oyster mushrooms will outgrow their mini propagator in a few days, so i've sorted out an old electric one that doesn't work anymore over the weekend that I can put them in when they reach that point. </div>Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-52589197882937983462011-02-16T08:17:00.001+00:002011-02-16T08:19:24.272+00:00Another weekend gone by...!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Blimey!! Is it just me, or does it seem like this year is flying by already!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nelson</td></tr>
</tbody></table> This post means the end of yet another busy and productive weekend in the garden... at this rate, summer will be here again very soon!! :) To be honest, saturday could have almost been the summer.... it was glorious!!! out in the garden in my T-shirt, the sun shining and the dogs sunbathing while I worked (I did try to get them pricking out, but they are just far too ham fisted to be any good at it!:)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30x5rY1aLoLhU9AZETSTf_n4zHqL_r0YZgkr5ZdIpbeX3lHbn077me8lkQsdLF57UVMgPaJ4QR4P8yo8d7P9Mp-X44u62RmHQwgWedV14FgH5H9imkd0VXMcQC1VYRPtclbEL-2tmTVc/s1600/DSC00130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30x5rY1aLoLhU9AZETSTf_n4zHqL_r0YZgkr5ZdIpbeX3lHbn077me8lkQsdLF57UVMgPaJ4QR4P8yo8d7P9Mp-X44u62RmHQwgWedV14FgH5H9imkd0VXMcQC1VYRPtclbEL-2tmTVc/s320/DSC00130.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charka</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Things in the vegetable garden are generally moving on quite well now. The digging is slowly but surely getting done, and all the old spent compost, the manure, the buckets of fish blood and bone, and the builders bags of leaf mould are quickly disappearing into the ground as I go. I keep thinking of doing some tests on the soil while i dig, as it would be nice to know the PH of my soil just for reference, but I just never get around to buying one of those kits at the garden centre (too obsessed with looking at seeds and bulbs most probably!!).<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hLKYj0nATPSrYjn3aez0u9N-tWiFrsLyUIhgZBqn16GXL5uttxUxyG5vJ79821nucMyLYpGdwOEaQGvg1lZHE6nng3OmWvZPM2ie4SgHKWYqZ37bOUgBpfGhyphenhyphenffWOaqi4i75E1SswdI/s1600/SDIM3592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hLKYj0nATPSrYjn3aez0u9N-tWiFrsLyUIhgZBqn16GXL5uttxUxyG5vJ79821nucMyLYpGdwOEaQGvg1lZHE6nng3OmWvZPM2ie4SgHKWYqZ37bOUgBpfGhyphenhyphenffWOaqi4i75E1SswdI/s320/SDIM3592.JPG" width="213" /></a></div> The polytunnel is now ready for covering (Sarah shouts "at last"!!), the weekend saw me get the raised beds inside it finished and filled, and the aluminium base rails around the bottom were all fixed on, aswell as the last few battens around the door frames to fix the polythene to. The next step is the cover, and I am eagerly awaiting the next warm, dry and wind free day for that (please let it be this weekend!!) Oh, and a couple of extra pairs of hands wouldn't go amiss if any of you are free this weekend?! :) Food and drink can be provided :)</div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8MRCmfhjEP39dgNUdhwnbaKE818xrbawzkdJSokyRGfQC3Z9QBalZkaMx1Pel9UqLSWgw6PgJtdcDHzSio292ce0UunncYdDv9D08O541nDGuaKUmgAw0g3X9uk3SMy0WSdZWo_GCYw/s1600/SDIM3493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8MRCmfhjEP39dgNUdhwnbaKE818xrbawzkdJSokyRGfQC3Z9QBalZkaMx1Pel9UqLSWgw6PgJtdcDHzSio292ce0UunncYdDv9D08O541nDGuaKUmgAw0g3X9uk3SMy0WSdZWo_GCYw/s320/SDIM3493.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aubergine "Diamond" (Geezer)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> The seeds in the propagators are germinating well, and more and more are going in each week now. Sunday was Chilli day!! Yeehaa! when all my chilli seeds went into pots in the warmth finally. One day next weekend will be Sweet pepper day!! :)<br />
<br />
Spring is slowly creeping into the garden all around, and the days are getting longer! Last week actually saw me get home from work in daylight a couple of times, so I got to survey things and fill the bird feeders without the use of the torch for the first time this year. <br />
<br />
One of the things that isn't going so well yet this year, is my crop protection strategy... or more to the point "lack of crop protection strategy"!! I have been having a few issues with mice in the last couple of weeks! They didn't bother me at all last year, so I can only assume that the harsh winter has left them short of food, and now they see my seeds as an easy source!! They have eaten broad beans, parsnips and peas so far.. cleaned out an entire lot of the broad beans... and they have been nibbling all my salad leaf seedlings off as well as the odd other seedling.<br />
Also, I am lucky that although we live in the countryside, there are no rabbits in the village.... or so I thought! I saw a rabbit in the wood on sunday morning... that is one visitor I don't want to see too much of in my garden again!<br />
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Right then.. i'm off back to writing another list of jobs for this weekend coming. :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-91521603378402591132011-02-15T19:37:00.000+00:002011-02-15T19:38:18.663+00:00Here come the spuds.<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> It's that time of the year again!<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHOtn0XqV-zucns639C-YGklA7k5xOXpbxb-D4xW85G3jfMShiqeAeUCe4HQl7G3BJ2jShZPKiysSIkUpEzTGA6x5DYsnREtpVKZbVG4DYMzPCct7VSSdMxTVEeKC8QGMsGDs7i6EF9c/s1600/SDIM3425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHOtn0XqV-zucns639C-YGklA7k5xOXpbxb-D4xW85G3jfMShiqeAeUCe4HQl7G3BJ2jShZPKiysSIkUpEzTGA6x5DYsnREtpVKZbVG4DYMzPCct7VSSdMxTVEeKC8QGMsGDs7i6EF9c/s400/SDIM3425.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> The seed spuds have been delivered. <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Most of my seed came from JBA again, but I also had a couple of bags from Thompson and morgan, and a couple more from Medwyn's of Anglesey. I'm still waiting for one packet to be delivered, but it's only a small packet of a new variety to try out.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> They have been looked over to check the quality... thankfully all is good, and then dropped into seed trays to chit... I didn't have enough egg trays (I can't find them actually) so I opted for seed trays again this year which did the job perfectly well last year. Altogether we have about 30kg's of seed potatoes, which will hopefully keep us harvesting right through until this time next year again.</div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4ALcywH1aKRa4xwPlcqjvAAh69vl3WHJefgWMiyL9LixCJhGgKNjEqg6G4ieWGk-S7olZSkVxcsKuUyzQY-Aa6eJeUM_obl8AkhTGq45gnkLoPvkk8PD8j-oHLaOe-fWyZPcNDVijXU/s1600/SDIM3605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4ALcywH1aKRa4xwPlcqjvAAh69vl3WHJefgWMiyL9LixCJhGgKNjEqg6G4ieWGk-S7olZSkVxcsKuUyzQY-Aa6eJeUM_obl8AkhTGq45gnkLoPvkk8PD8j-oHLaOe-fWyZPcNDVijXU/s400/SDIM3605.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firsts, seconds, maincrop and exhibition.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I've sorted them out into their different classes.. firsts, seconds, maincrop and exhibition, going from left to right in the photo... here is a quick rundown of what i've gone with...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <u>First earlies:</u> Dunluce and Red duke of York. These both did well last year, so i'm playing it safe and sticking with them again this year.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <u>Second earlies:</u> Kestrel, Edgecote purple and Shetland black. The first two also proved themselves last year, so i'm rolling with them again, but the Shetland black just looked interesting so I thought I would give it a go.</div> <u>Maincrop.</u> Ambo, Celine, Congo and Mayan gold. Ambo did well for me last year (about the only maincrop that did) but the other two are new. Celine sounded pretty good on the website, and the Mayan gold are supposed to be really delicious!! (yes, thinking of my stomach again :) Congo are only being grown because I want to make some blue crisps out of them!! :)<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <u>Exhibition.</u> Winston and Blue belle. Never grown either of these before, but I am only looking for aesthetics with these two, not flavour (they had better win us a red card at the village show! :).</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISgGvaRS9tTZVj540Rqg-7lVH5r7_cObHd0XnRo-19DAy8LkXtUliqTJBlFIFUe4pFgxLZ-1h9kDDOYDzz8HZj7O3UZaT60YK0vohUp1ybFbnxOVlemW16x4kUTSnTH5xRdi9-3ODupw/s1600/SDIM3624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISgGvaRS9tTZVj540Rqg-7lVH5r7_cObHd0XnRo-19DAy8LkXtUliqTJBlFIFUe4pFgxLZ-1h9kDDOYDzz8HZj7O3UZaT60YK0vohUp1ybFbnxOVlemW16x4kUTSnTH5xRdi9-3ODupw/s400/SDIM3624.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The seeds are chitting away nicely in their light windowsills, and I am planning on getting the first earlies in the ground in around two to three weeks time, but that will depend on the weather really. Last year I started planting on the first weekend of march and everything worked out pretty well. They will get a nice bed of well rotted manure to sit on when they are planted, and then mounded up in the first couple of weeks to protect the emerging shoots.</div> The exhibition spuds are going to be put in a compost mix inside a 17 litre polypot, and then sunk in the ground in a row in the garden. Hopefully the compost mix will mean I get some nice looking tubers free from blemishes for the village show. That reminds me... I must get onto <a href="http://blickys.blogspot.com/">Darren</a> and get the compost mix for the pots as he is my exhibition guru!!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAAqnDPGd-QGGEfqs-mAj1uZZU8dNbPllcgUN2V2dPGdkL-pEQoASSiE1BYSftEUuleG-37Z_8rl1wf7ryrWLFk6YaKWIfZgBx9wnUwwSUNUZ54jLEIFyXmXjgIE0LeO8Kj8-0kTmjOk/s1600/spuds.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAAqnDPGd-QGGEfqs-mAj1uZZU8dNbPllcgUN2V2dPGdkL-pEQoASSiE1BYSftEUuleG-37Z_8rl1wf7ryrWLFk6YaKWIfZgBx9wnUwwSUNUZ54jLEIFyXmXjgIE0LeO8Kj8-0kTmjOk/s400/spuds.bmp" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dunluce, Red duke of York and Edgecote purple.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
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Hopefully in a few months time we shall be harvesting some more of these little beauties... and no doubt giving lots away to friends and family.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-66668049707895215852011-02-11T18:37:00.003+00:002011-02-11T23:06:14.398+00:00February photo update. Well.. what would you have done on a nice sunny afternoon if you had the option of an early finish from work?? <br />
I don't think I would be on my own in saying that pottering around the garden, while at the same time taking a few photo's of anything that catches the eye would be the choice I would make.<br />
Here is the evidence... <br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZUXdjwGRZjdbwSTawqA6eF9jMScRZ8rXxHUHlmU2OIXYYwi7cwGaGcZ_HTPW7HPiFp5NbxrVYWjKfSpKTe0v1eG6LmQupg02ZReY9pa9x-YUhmdYHsHGn9zjMIOw1v7dGfpOM__ankg/s1600/SDIM3495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZUXdjwGRZjdbwSTawqA6eF9jMScRZ8rXxHUHlmU2OIXYYwi7cwGaGcZ_HTPW7HPiFp5NbxrVYWjKfSpKTe0v1eG6LmQupg02ZReY9pa9x-YUhmdYHsHGn9zjMIOw1v7dGfpOM__ankg/s400/SDIM3495.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Sweet pea "Candy cane" growing on in the greenhouse. I shall be training these along the fence at the end of the veg garden.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgB2eEuS45Kd-fcdEIaAUtKw-vDL7HhDtKte3QKrhtQinixL3EDSb8i582S2oPXCq6BtmolI0w-EPRPfyt0oXGkiS7wxnhXGrQyAF0Alzxcy0O32B2371903KKbkqVYs6jlWFgOpGdwI/s1600/SDIM3504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgB2eEuS45Kd-fcdEIaAUtKw-vDL7HhDtKte3QKrhtQinixL3EDSb8i582S2oPXCq6BtmolI0w-EPRPfyt0oXGkiS7wxnhXGrQyAF0Alzxcy0O32B2371903KKbkqVYs6jlWFgOpGdwI/s400/SDIM3504.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The Caraway plants look lovely and fresh! :) This is the secret ingredient for making Latvian "Piragi" ... I am drooling at the thought of them now!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDWW7DoA2xR7QZmo0iZwyN2_JlHhQAjnqvvFB9mxidnV2lXM0bdMrgZKfA3n6XYzcMcyPDOdh73nBouZNLFnMemm-nmpgzw1rXy4UbEJQuAUtb8uny4W4ONcZrlzgCzT0uoavd-SZ9II/s1600/SDIM3509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDWW7DoA2xR7QZmo0iZwyN2_JlHhQAjnqvvFB9mxidnV2lXM0bdMrgZKfA3n6XYzcMcyPDOdh73nBouZNLFnMemm-nmpgzw1rXy4UbEJQuAUtb8uny4W4ONcZrlzgCzT0uoavd-SZ9II/s400/SDIM3509.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Chives are one of my favourite herbs! :) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUuD3-tcSizQE4RmP5kw6A0gZvh7A3zvIZix2lfqB2v2_r6N4tHdlwpg6JMdL9RMzLiiDzYU-D3P5G5yM723nTIXOxnMMY-zkLL-Mube1MOfw74wK_FzNTnj99dJ8EyQRDs_Nt_28AH0/s1600/SDIM3518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUuD3-tcSizQE4RmP5kw6A0gZvh7A3zvIZix2lfqB2v2_r6N4tHdlwpg6JMdL9RMzLiiDzYU-D3P5G5yM723nTIXOxnMMY-zkLL-Mube1MOfw74wK_FzNTnj99dJ8EyQRDs_Nt_28AH0/s400/SDIM3518.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Sarah and I both love Flanders poppies, so we have a few trays to put a row in across the veg plot this year. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KEuegsj_pb20z5I8y1EBguE26DPYEQ8-OJbQ7SQH3nh6UwT_r4UxCkjNHUZalq7ylTI887CKwXJrJWRvZeaoPIvL5hwhPP1ytRiGXAO1R8rd7BE0MhIBRFyjSEc3eG0DJgP7R0grPP4/s1600/SDIM3523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KEuegsj_pb20z5I8y1EBguE26DPYEQ8-OJbQ7SQH3nh6UwT_r4UxCkjNHUZalq7ylTI887CKwXJrJWRvZeaoPIvL5hwhPP1ytRiGXAO1R8rd7BE0MhIBRFyjSEc3eG0DJgP7R0grPP4/s400/SDIM3523.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The first signs of the Tulips. I cannot for the life of me remember what variety they are!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZQ2gikl5V0N78B9SSfiOhILXLyRM4LVhnNwSqDYF5_bHnJYs9Ghyphenhyphen0jrh12BPVNt4hwrEFBflx_P0me3BZcMlQVfpxZ0xf9ex008Z0h7FIJMDRAHuQNZKmlsCblvFKn9Y3xO13m4NYck/s1600/SDIM3525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZQ2gikl5V0N78B9SSfiOhILXLyRM4LVhnNwSqDYF5_bHnJYs9Ghyphenhyphen0jrh12BPVNt4hwrEFBflx_P0me3BZcMlQVfpxZ0xf9ex008Z0h7FIJMDRAHuQNZKmlsCblvFKn9Y3xO13m4NYck/s400/SDIM3525.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Getting a bit of colour back into the garden! :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHMGKcELhBVyizlNPE-hKYrbrMnPRRcj3EG8bV8SKGLcQm80NvbDK7jdBtN95PhSlVLk6epQ_Sb5g60MzQVfWRLa99KHAjy4TSBI3ewdo9JsZckbbRdOvCf4RtBw6ZY8gjht2tGKE81A/s1600/SDIM3538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHMGKcELhBVyizlNPE-hKYrbrMnPRRcj3EG8bV8SKGLcQm80NvbDK7jdBtN95PhSlVLk6epQ_Sb5g60MzQVfWRLa99KHAjy4TSBI3ewdo9JsZckbbRdOvCf4RtBw6ZY8gjht2tGKE81A/s400/SDIM3538.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Snowdrops a-plenty everywhere this week! :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaDbkohgjbs8KypjUK12SzurXljrDwDDD2lLJeGg_RusqObTTPMkbPozhdTtUpd2bpDjCxfY4JMEPV4AS3OGGfMyx2BiEPY2ZRP0nnSGtfOEX8-fhkrCOztfuccIoIzCBh5n7fmLpt_c/s1600/SDIM3551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaDbkohgjbs8KypjUK12SzurXljrDwDDD2lLJeGg_RusqObTTPMkbPozhdTtUpd2bpDjCxfY4JMEPV4AS3OGGfMyx2BiEPY2ZRP0nnSGtfOEX8-fhkrCOztfuccIoIzCBh5n7fmLpt_c/s400/SDIM3551.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Hmmmm... anyone have any ideas what this is?? It has completely gone from my mind.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtooGmDoo1meH86pBp2bP3hxU-iH_dnrFbnD4lnKj5rNmcDp91SpiwwdlS6USmQL8iejpxpzYRBsXt0WQhT0xteAQUYLqesEqLq4pmjw6k0oTIlg4uNu4-LlL_svqmzoDzYb3bsb_o4I/s1600/SDIM3556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtooGmDoo1meH86pBp2bP3hxU-iH_dnrFbnD4lnKj5rNmcDp91SpiwwdlS6USmQL8iejpxpzYRBsXt0WQhT0xteAQUYLqesEqLq4pmjw6k0oTIlg4uNu4-LlL_svqmzoDzYb3bsb_o4I/s400/SDIM3556.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The first sowing of my "Meteor" peas. (My OCD came into play here... after taking the pic I had to turn all the pots round so that all the shoots were pointing the same direction.... much better!! :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgw3pjhPmImA1YXQO6h62dqgbAOHcDhHIz_BMtfE7qj66OpHGeYKCViYhZyCleDi-Dmao1tH-Aqfla5i-YXzi894jW2QlTimuEfrDbHudvDmwnHSb1dYs81AHfiS5iYwQttrKyrEW9FM/s1600/SDIM3562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgw3pjhPmImA1YXQO6h62dqgbAOHcDhHIz_BMtfE7qj66OpHGeYKCViYhZyCleDi-Dmao1tH-Aqfla5i-YXzi894jW2QlTimuEfrDbHudvDmwnHSb1dYs81AHfiS5iYwQttrKyrEW9FM/s400/SDIM3562.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Passion fruit seedlings happy to be basking in some sunshine at long last! :) These will be growing in the polytunnel when it's completed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNkW86l_WmLZSG15w2iZb3Op17ZgW8Af3cPJhHohLUlXN6fGPLI755TI4U_CeBxk_9i6LDYuFFniFIg_RRyidVtCCxF_Gt4FuaITMUfa8kxZl8cXbpjQlCoIqGIPcF9S8tA7XPGQrlD8/s1600/SDIM3564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNkW86l_WmLZSG15w2iZb3Op17ZgW8Af3cPJhHohLUlXN6fGPLI755TI4U_CeBxk_9i6LDYuFFniFIg_RRyidVtCCxF_Gt4FuaITMUfa8kxZl8cXbpjQlCoIqGIPcF9S8tA7XPGQrlD8/s400/SDIM3564.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Sorry... I know I have put two Snowdrop pics in here... but they do look splendid at this time of year!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XXpDiv1gW6fJAek-zQgn2Dkr0Td5IuLnpj4zpfvWVz8t8rSSItMDsi4yihXUgaMn4WNGcxx4OcRTQEa9dvXP48VQfsd2DZ_JBevBbjHI3TxW3zPRXpE3zi0ThgzWv5zJWfznB3FaHsE/s1600/SDIM3577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XXpDiv1gW6fJAek-zQgn2Dkr0Td5IuLnpj4zpfvWVz8t8rSSItMDsi4yihXUgaMn4WNGcxx4OcRTQEa9dvXP48VQfsd2DZ_JBevBbjHI3TxW3zPRXpE3zi0ThgzWv5zJWfznB3FaHsE/s400/SDIM3577.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-51685760608454008452011-02-07T19:23:00.000+00:002011-02-11T23:05:39.317+00:00Polytunnel progress 2. This weekend was a bit of a windy one!! so i'm glad I hadn't arranged to put the covering on the tunnel (by now I would have been hanging on to the plastic sheet somewhere over Norway in the wind :)!!!<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I had planned to get a load of jobs done on the tunnel over the weekend, but to be honest I just didn't get them all done. I did get the other door frame on which was on my list to do, but I only got one of the raised beds done..... where on earth does the time go to??!!?<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECoZHDqnvWgSN1xjI0XSfdY8A4FxQAwhwu229uAUXXY4aW3g6rVGJ8eACZmGRKzeyyI8vveeCf4UjQotCrI6k21KFXjzKRT8AuRSthyphenhyphenVsOew8mgfTL0K9HJ_8YwMKZtrn4xHxq_vLJhY/s1600/SDIM3464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECoZHDqnvWgSN1xjI0XSfdY8A4FxQAwhwu229uAUXXY4aW3g6rVGJ8eACZmGRKzeyyI8vveeCf4UjQotCrI6k21KFXjzKRT8AuRSthyphenhyphenVsOew8mgfTL0K9HJ_8YwMKZtrn4xHxq_vLJhY/s400/SDIM3464.JPG" width="266" /></a> You can see the first raised bed in the photo. It is made from 9x3 reclaimed timber and just cut to length, then nailed together. It is about 5.2m x 1m, and as my arms will verify.... it weighs a LOT. I am going to make some brackets this week to screw onto the corners aswell, just to go all "belt and braces" on it :) The bed on that side doesn't run quite to the far end, I have left an area which I will fill with gravel and have it as hard standing for some big planter bags. The other bed will be full length.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I did at least get the timber for the other bed collected from the timber yard on saturday, so i'm ready to get it done next weekend now. I also managed to get one or two more slabs down aswell, but not in the tunnel (I have gone a bit paving crazy now). <br />
Well that's about all for my progress report on the polytunnel this week, I just never really got going on it what with the weather threatening to rain all weekend, and then having a huge list of important clean up jobs that needed addressing. Hopefully next weekend the other raised bed will be done, and then get them both filled, and maybe even get all the aluminium base rails around the bottom aswell.</div>Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-1341155549932042422011-02-07T18:22:00.000+00:002011-02-11T23:04:06.473+00:00Onions, Garlic and Leeks.<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Last weekend saw my plans for the crop rotation on the garden starting to take shape. I have decided to slowly divide the garden up into five sections, and then to operate a five year rotation plan on it (probably way too complicated for me to get right, but i'm going to try). The Allium bed is the first of those sections to come together, and it is going to have all of my Onions, Shallots, Garlic, Leeks and spring onions in it. :) Each section will be around eighty square meters give or take the odd awkward corner or shaded area, and they will be divided up by the path down the middle and then some permanent plantings dividing each side up.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KGh-hTi4Hae4VxySH3kIAzqKyy5d29Qmo1HrL3SNg0anCEwOvhbr9pS3ChpdUI_CZuS1fRqGHvgLzS8DZ-eWsdpgWJvWqVffvkjEmu21MfzGZ6cirZ4UK4lV4ezaWLF-Ipo-UP5pxVw/s1600/SDIM3476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KGh-hTi4Hae4VxySH3kIAzqKyy5d29Qmo1HrL3SNg0anCEwOvhbr9pS3ChpdUI_CZuS1fRqGHvgLzS8DZ-eWsdpgWJvWqVffvkjEmu21MfzGZ6cirZ4UK4lV4ezaWLF-Ipo-UP5pxVw/s400/SDIM3476.JPG" width="266" /></a> I am surprised on close inspection of the bed, how well my overwintering onions and garlic have done to be honest, out of nearly 300 sets which I put in last autumn, I can only count 3 or 4 which have not grown despite the cold weather. Saturday and sunday gave me a bit of time to tidy up the autumn plantings, get the rest of my sets in, and finish digging the bed up to the first permanent planting section (starts by the wooden stake in the foreground of the photo). You can just see some of our new "Star" row markers in use in the Onion bed too:) </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKuUVbz8mzZ_VD9mO4zLwMKSFZzjy5slICc8tNvCpAmFn6IBegWOg-tWhgLIXX31AYUMzdksjHMwFVLo2BIL_I7uQoITcEjhzR5mbsQiktwpKR4MA0Akau2U3x36aiuguRQ0jz7At88dg/s1600/SDIM3485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKuUVbz8mzZ_VD9mO4zLwMKSFZzjy5slICc8tNvCpAmFn6IBegWOg-tWhgLIXX31AYUMzdksjHMwFVLo2BIL_I7uQoITcEjhzR5mbsQiktwpKR4MA0Akau2U3x36aiuguRQ0jz7At88dg/s320/SDIM3485.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"> Weeding was first... onions hate the weeds!!!! Then followed by a quick scan round to push any loose ones back in. I was really happy to see my elephant garlic and my Jermor shallots are coming up really well as they are my own saved sets from last year!! :) <br />
(Elephant garlic in the photo)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"> As for varieties, I have no doubt gone over the top with the amount, but there are worse things to get carried away with :) </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">Onions... Radar, Red electric, Senshyu yellow, Stuttgarter giant and Ramata (seed). </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">Garlic... Vayo, Solent wight, Albigensian wight, Elephant and Tochliavri.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">Shallots... Jermor, Yellow moon, Pesandor and Echalote grise.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">Leeks... Bleu de solaise, Musselburgh and Jaune de poitou.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">Spring onions... Paris silverskin, White lisbon, Cipollini yellow, Ishikura and Lilia.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"> With the garlic and shallots, I intend to keep my own sets every year like I did with some last year. I am also going to leave a couple of leek plants in this spring to allow them to flower and save some seeds off them. I figure if I only allow one variety to flower, then I won't have to worry about cross pollination :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"> Most of the Leek seeds are in modules now, I have some spring onions in pots, and my Ramata onions are growing away nicely in modules too... the only thing that needs sowing is the rest of the spring onions, but most of those will now go directly into the bed when it's a bit warmer. I can now just sit back and start to dream of all the strings of onions and garlic Sarah and I will have hanging in the shed come autumn time!! :)</div>Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-11409736612026301912011-02-07T13:58:00.000+00:002011-02-07T13:58:14.517+00:00The stars of the garden!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHzMS0oAJzU2pmAjOUBmGvVYrVbkyy9DNgbm3O0sd-je_YmmHQ-oKKt9HmY879eoobaM3mMHeunwHq_9HGQsufYu7cnTC5Bg5gGGnj_EI_7683mv0vdtM9g55UfQITQAw9csftRWrYPQ/s1600/SDIM3457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHzMS0oAJzU2pmAjOUBmGvVYrVbkyy9DNgbm3O0sd-je_YmmHQ-oKKt9HmY879eoobaM3mMHeunwHq_9HGQsufYu7cnTC5Bg5gGGnj_EI_7683mv0vdtM9g55UfQITQAw9csftRWrYPQ/s400/SDIM3457.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> I decided that as the vegetables are the stars of the garden.... they needed some row markers to suit their status!<br />
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Plain white labels or bits of wood with the old packets stuck on top would just not do them justice anymore... they needed something with a bit of style, something that stands out in a crowd, and most of all something that Sarah likes (yes, she is mad on stars!!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9j9V1MEcRM-ePYrrIwiF_gxU1syeV31Yz2hcIFAuXyy_GOQdVI_jKrbhT1y7EyY8nzBlsToX__iTgCpKc2YNPdWlzyi8xHxC9vK7IzusTFkBPXmx9Ozgbfrwllb4Dvkx-PqDirtvLPMM/s1600/SDIM3458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9j9V1MEcRM-ePYrrIwiF_gxU1syeV31Yz2hcIFAuXyy_GOQdVI_jKrbhT1y7EyY8nzBlsToX__iTgCpKc2YNPdWlzyi8xHxC9vK7IzusTFkBPXmx9Ozgbfrwllb4Dvkx-PqDirtvLPMM/s400/SDIM3458.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> A bit of messing on the computer.. some laser cut steel, fold the top over, and then off to see a friend to get them powdercoated... and voila, some cool looking labels for our rows of veg!! I did however slightly underestimate the amount of them that I need, and so only made 40.... just the Allium bed will need nearly half of that lot on its own come spring/summer (Sarah also decided that they make a good magic wand, and so kept one, that left 39, and she now waves it at me while using phrases like "Get me a drink" and "Run my bath" amongst others :). I may try out some other designs for the next batch... maybe flowers or bees or something else garden related. :)Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-28350135347585820502011-02-02T11:55:00.000+00:002011-02-10T23:17:47.282+00:00A bird in the hand...... quite literally There have been a few mentions of the RSPB bird count this week in peoples blogs, so I just wanted to post this up on here, as i'm quite pleased with it!! :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtZYIZaLQsxXRpO9XP0r7MRph3ULsmKh6rqLGW1N4W9W44mU4T8u9FLyrPZqjx6SPv_qX9oz_ACoYX9z78HgxgvDzzROn_ElhGPZJaok2dGnN8Qc2qEUy2MaQWkWn5Ft0sIs5kavgyP4/s1600/DSC00214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtZYIZaLQsxXRpO9XP0r7MRph3ULsmKh6rqLGW1N4W9W44mU4T8u9FLyrPZqjx6SPv_qX9oz_ACoYX9z78HgxgvDzzROn_ElhGPZJaok2dGnN8Qc2qEUy2MaQWkWn5Ft0sIs5kavgyP4/s400/DSC00214.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>This is one of our garden robins at home, who after a bit of perseverance will now eat out of your hand! :) <br />
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He is available for childrens parties and the Royal variety performance, but he does command a high price nowadays (I think the fame has gone to his head a bit)!! :)Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-84898023962944098292011-02-01T19:17:00.000+00:002011-02-01T19:17:00.275+00:00Chapter 5.... Clearing the way for the new season 2010 turned out to be a pretty good year on the whole, although I did let the weeds have a bit of a free run of the site for the last bit of the growing season..... the result of that is some pretty serious cleaning up needed again this year to get the ground and the established plantings ship shape again.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKu1lMlj34k-Cq4FGCXYp5kJLdNTQL5JLEtow6rFdB6Ypqrqw70iTV3U_WEs1PgJtfZ6sMrZFKgebxLxwCo8ENHyIhK-Jg5-6cuNmM7Ee9Jo-6Q0EiAA3wmqVm0G-7TwM4FxleYh2F8s/s1600/SDIM3445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKu1lMlj34k-Cq4FGCXYp5kJLdNTQL5JLEtow6rFdB6Ypqrqw70iTV3U_WEs1PgJtfZ6sMrZFKgebxLxwCo8ENHyIhK-Jg5-6cuNmM7Ee9Jo-6Q0EiAA3wmqVm0G-7TwM4FxleYh2F8s/s400/SDIM3445.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Last weekend saw me getting started on that, with the herb bed at the far end of the garden getting most of the attention. It needed a good old prune first to get rid of all the dead stuff, followed by a bit of a weeding. I was pleased to see quite a few of the plants starting to shoot again, especially the Bronze fennel, Caraway and red veined Sorrel, although no doubt the frosts this weekend have slowed them down a bit. My pineapple sage looks like it may have given up the ghost at some point through the winter.... maybe it will shoot again, but I fear I may need to find another :( Sunday saw me throwing some Fish blood and bone all around the herbs, and then following after with the hoe to remove any weeds and get the fert into the ground. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5d5vjvT6pMnImE4Qje9vpbpXQKtFFXqnIUfWDGOTGVmC7bz4eSNhtNfe-hPIsElhxGkgbk1qCupIs9B7CBfGy7twcajNpLuK3dShfX5RBwPxNUaw3sndM2njh_Bj6x6i9Z1pDnYUnufM/s1600/SDIM3444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5d5vjvT6pMnImE4Qje9vpbpXQKtFFXqnIUfWDGOTGVmC7bz4eSNhtNfe-hPIsElhxGkgbk1qCupIs9B7CBfGy7twcajNpLuK3dShfX5RBwPxNUaw3sndM2njh_Bj6x6i9Z1pDnYUnufM/s320/SDIM3444.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The fruit trees got some attention after that, and the last two apple trees had their haircut before the new season starts. I have a row of eight mixed dessert and cooking apple trees along the side of the veg garden which I cut back quite a lot last year as they were getting too big for their boots, and they were starting to grow into some slightly funny shapes. Even after their major surgery last year, they actually produced some pretty good crops of fruit, so i'm hoping that this year they will be even better again. The raspberry patch had a few newcomers in the shape of some runners that I potted up last year... I slotted those into a few gaps in the rows to thicken it up a bit.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikv1gFaOyWF-drBDUMtXTbxxLlIunJ2v2Cp6XdYLgDnwq8Vh-6a9kgkDORCw2EwU3ALJNgvT7jqdY_wxKl0Ol-fIMIjZTtRZOfFUtM5Z3xQxK4ZYOLruZ9_d8B5-PETKPNkhc0vbtqgiI/s1600/SDIM3446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikv1gFaOyWF-drBDUMtXTbxxLlIunJ2v2Cp6XdYLgDnwq8Vh-6a9kgkDORCw2EwU3ALJNgvT7jqdY_wxKl0Ol-fIMIjZTtRZOfFUtM5Z3xQxK4ZYOLruZ9_d8B5-PETKPNkhc0vbtqgiI/s400/SDIM3446.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Sunday turned out to be gorgeous in the garden... the sun was out, the wind was bracing, the birds were everywhere, including two woodpeckers playing the drums in one of the poplar trees behind the garden..... and everything else was going brilliantly! It was an absolute pleasure to be out there! Don't you just love days like that! :)</div>Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-81017093880277919242011-02-01T18:40:00.000+00:002011-02-10T23:17:11.109+00:00Polytunnel progressHow exciting is this... ??!!??!!??!<br />
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A polytunnel for the garden!! Woohoo! :)<br />
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Well, I haven't actually finished it all yet, so I still have a load of hard work to do.... but I can't wait to move my first plants into it as soon as it's ready (and maybe even get a deck chair tucked in the end of it too ;). My plan is to get it finished by the end of february (trying not to rush it), which should be just the right time to start planting it up (maybe even a bit late for one or two things) The kit came from First tunnels, and I was very happy with the service I received.... I rang a couple of times to ask questions and they were excellent. The kit turned up in just a few days, all in perfect condition (couriers are notorious at damaging packages) and all present and correct. They even changed the free book they give you with your purchase for me, as I already had the one they advertised. I shall be using them again for my second one soon! :)<br />
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The construction started in earnest on the 22nd january, when i broke the surface of the plot with my spade :) Two days later and the plot was just about clear. It took a lot of hard work to get the overgrown site ready to accept the foundation tubes (as mentioned in another post :), but I happily got on with it while the thought of that nice new environment i'm creating was in my head :)<br />
I took drastic action against the weeds on the plot, it's been overgrown and pretty wild for years, and the amount of roots in the ground were unbelievable..... I have never seen nettle roots quite that size before!!!... so out came the knapsack sprayer fully loaded with Glyphosate..... I don't usually like spraying chemicals to be honest, it's not that I consider myself an organic gardener, but I just don't see the need to use them on weeds (or anything else really)... digging and hoeing has the same effect... ok, it takes longer, but it's kinder to the soil and our precious environment. I did however concede defeat on this occasion, as I want to put raised "no dig" beds down either side and don't want all of those pernicious weeds poking through constantly.<br />
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Meanwhile, in the Batcave (my workshop :), some of the tunnel parts were starting to take shape........ <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhJUvq_uusj9dZT_OsMbQ-xjc9FQr1uaBTje17VGDqkOp0I6ky7CbkFJnB1wwc__FXc4gDLF6c0i-iuf4rLw-YpWPJ6mi8Bwns5y64AP255lCaXyKEFrdTsQrMwdWL4r1BC0ZfejUOdo/s1600/SDIM3420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhJUvq_uusj9dZT_OsMbQ-xjc9FQr1uaBTje17VGDqkOp0I6ky7CbkFJnB1wwc__FXc4gDLF6c0i-iuf4rLw-YpWPJ6mi8Bwns5y64AP255lCaXyKEFrdTsQrMwdWL4r1BC0ZfejUOdo/s400/SDIM3420.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The hoops went together first. They are constructed of four pieces each, just screwed together on the joints. There are six of them in total.<br />
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Next came the doors. I had opted for wider doors at both ends to give a bit of extra ventilation.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HN8vZOirWNtxyAkQKLuC8k7pD7aoJyIi491BqyNvASJOTsegxfb8DHuRcmsERC-1nkGcGYxO5iRJ81i7Iwt2BBgD4P0axk2yFH_NEIihYNMG2MXzH-G5Tfheq3gUpgtDVc8qlzNvkFA/s1600/SDIM3426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HN8vZOirWNtxyAkQKLuC8k7pD7aoJyIi491BqyNvASJOTsegxfb8DHuRcmsERC-1nkGcGYxO5iRJ81i7Iwt2BBgD4P0axk2yFH_NEIihYNMG2MXzH-G5Tfheq3gUpgtDVc8qlzNvkFA/s400/SDIM3426.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Most of the timber in the polytunnel door kits comes already cut to size, so it's just a case of screwing and nailing the pieces together... cut a few bits of lathe... staple on the net and plastic to cover the door... hit it with a hammer a few times..... and hey presto, a pair of nicely finished doors!! :) The frames are then simply assembled around the doors, taking care to leave the correct gap so that the finished assembly actually opens and closes :) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKscppPQIQNKcM8HK1MGBbddv4Lgafp_Xr9Ntr6EaT5Sn2-pDZbnt_5wvwV9D5aI0CW_PYoQ5HFQ3tgJ-zBGQySec9ykCkfC3MKPEuWGQdlSqhvCm3w5rWFThyphenhyphenxyAaFdgf4F0vvjpO44/s1600/SDIM3437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKscppPQIQNKcM8HK1MGBbddv4Lgafp_Xr9Ntr6EaT5Sn2-pDZbnt_5wvwV9D5aI0CW_PYoQ5HFQ3tgJ-zBGQySec9ykCkfC3MKPEuWGQdlSqhvCm3w5rWFThyphenhyphenxyAaFdgf4F0vvjpO44/s400/SDIM3437.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Once I had finished my evening tasks in the Batcave, it was then back outside the following weekend to get the frame up. My aim was to get all of the steel frame up on the 29/30th, so I could then get on with the door frames and raised beds the following weekend. It took me a while (and 3 tape measures, 2 string lines and a laser level :) to get the foundation tubes in place.... and only then did I realise that my site was sloping from one end to the other (I thought it was nearly level) It was only 200mm or so over the twenty five foot length, but I wasn't happy with it, so I ended up moving a load more of the topsoil to get it just right. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXf8CpPXdC0jxL26UsKscIYRA0wa3G3cImSPETry6mgjKUHKrUW4zGyM1vO2kBeBHO9wMkYfp0YCvkeusKN8ObmlJAdpxhe1S4h3UKKo8I2jNYBtMJh_QgaxtbCPwmk0lnWjNJgfwgG8/s1600/SDIM3453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXf8CpPXdC0jxL26UsKscIYRA0wa3G3cImSPETry6mgjKUHKrUW4zGyM1vO2kBeBHO9wMkYfp0YCvkeusKN8ObmlJAdpxhe1S4h3UKKo8I2jNYBtMJh_QgaxtbCPwmk0lnWjNJgfwgG8/s400/SDIM3453.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>The hoops then just dropped on to the foundation tubes, followed swiftly by the ridge tube which just bolted on with the clamps. Corner braces were fitted to the four corners, and then my two extra "crop bars" bolted into place down the length of the tunnel. A quick dash round with the drill and some more Tek screws..... GREAT!!!.. all the steelwork is up!!!! It didn't take as long as I thought on my own either.... what shall I do next?? :)<br />
At this point I got carried away, and the order of doing things got a bit mixed up..... I decided to put a few slabs down at one end as I had plenty of time left, which was very exciting..... until I realised that I had to take a couple back up again to put the door frame up!! Oooops. Well this meant that I had to put the door frame up now, just so I could get the slabs back down again :) So... lift slabs... dig trench... insert door frame... cut frame to suit... check door frame for square... backfill... drill... hammer... lay slabs back down... job done!! I love it when a plan nearly comes together :)<br />
So at the end of a busy weekend on the polytunnel, I ended up getting further than I had bargained for... which is fantastic!! Metalwork is up, one door frame is up, and i've started laying the slabs at one end and down the center of the tunnel. A satisfactory weekends work fitted in amidst other tasks in the garden! :)<br />
Next stage will be the other door frame, the raised beds inside and finishing the slabs off, which I hope to complete on the 5/6th February.Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-69716616549464016232011-01-25T23:25:00.000+00:002011-01-25T23:25:18.436+00:00What a great evening!Aint life brilliant!!!!<br />
I'm sat here in front of the TV watching "The inbetweeners" :) while surfing gardening blogs on the net and looking at my seed spuds which turned up today, topped off by scribbling down garden jobs for the weekend in my pad (Yes, i'm an obsessive list writer :). <br />
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Bliss!!!<br />
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Also, I got home tonight to find my lemon grass had germinated already.... the packet said 21-40 days.... how on earth did it come up in 3?<br />
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Happy but confused :)<br />
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Lastly, had the best dinner cooked by the best girlfriend!! (obviously that's Sarah, just incase she thinks I meant someone else ;) We had roasted chicken thighs, chorizo and sweet potatoes, with a good dressing of olive oil, chilli's from the greenhouse (got a load frozen in the freezer) and cumin seeds. Some delicious buttered sweetcorn, and a few spears of broccoli on the side did their best to green it all up a bit aswell :)<br />
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I shall retire to the boudoir a happy man tonight!! :)Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-38643405808365719472011-01-24T20:00:00.000+00:002011-01-24T20:00:19.786+00:00A busy weekend. I return to the blog a satisfied man!! I have just managed to get a whole weekend in the garden (give or take the odd little detour :) and as a result, a lot of jobs have progressed a bit further, one or two have even been finished ( I did forget all about the tiling in the bathroom that I told Sarah I would finish though :(.... oooops.<br />
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The weekend saw a bit more sowing in the greenhouse. I'm lucky enough to have a large Vitopod propagator, and a large fluorescent growlight over the top of it. It's a good setup for the more delicate stuff, and also for generally getting a bit of growth early on, before the days lengthen enough to support good growth. I am having a go at "Lemon grass" this year, so I managed to sow a few of those seeds and get them in the propagator, it says it can take up to forty days to germinate..... patience is not one of my best virtues, so I can see me impatiently checking them every day now to see if they have come through :)<br />
Some leek "Jaune de poitou" seeds went into modules, aswell as some cabbage "Greyhound" in another module tray. I put my first chilli seeds "Alberto's locoto" into a pot (excited to see if these grow as they are my own saved seed :) Also put some spinach "Medania" and some red iceberg lettuce in too :)<br />
I got some peas and broad beans into pots, "Meteor", "Aquadulce" and "Masterpiece green longpod". <br />
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Also on the list for the weekend was planting up some of my old terracotta pots, so a few of those got a good scrub up (after thawing the damn hose out) and then got filled with some compost. Firstly I wanted some nice early carrots, and decided to do a couple of pots of orange "Early nantes 2", and then a couple of pots of yellows "Jaune obtuse de doubs".... some nice early carrots are eagerly anticipated again this year!! :)<br />
Another pot had some spring onions in it, a mixture of "White lisbon" and "Lilia", then the last pots for the weekend had parsnips in, as Sarah mentioned something about baby parsnips in the shop the other day, so those two pots have "White gem" in them, and i'm interested to see how long it takes to get a baby parsnip big enough to eat, from this early sowing in pots.<br />
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At the top of my list for the weekend was clearing the plot for my polytunnel, it was however not a two minute job. Firstly some rotten old livestock fencing and the attached gate and post had to come down.... most of which is destined for the burner in the kitchen soon ;) then I must have had a good two tonnes of hardcore to move that had been dumped there some time ago, followed by digging, levelling, raking etc. I did adjust the position of the tunnel slightly from my first plan while working (so I can squeeze another in next to it soon ;) but not so far as to effect any of my crop rotation plans. I still have a bit of digging to do to finish levelling the site, but other than that I am just about ready to drop the foundation tubes and anchor plates in, which will hopefully be this weekend coming if the weather is kind.<br />
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I cruised the gardens with my camera and a mug of tea for a while on saturday morning.... that resulted in my other post "January photo's" which is hopefully the first of twelve this year, just showing a bit of what's happening in the lost gardens of Broadwelligan :) <br />
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Now don't tell Sarah about this one, but while I was out and about on sunday, I had a quick look round the old horse/livestock trailer that is rotting away in the back field, and I have got a bit of an urge to drag it out and restore it (it's got to come out anyway and be repaired or scrapped), after all I do fancy some sheep to keep in the field this year (will save mowing so much grass, and provide free fertiliser :), and the trailer would be handy to take them to market later in the year (I have to try and justify it somehow ;) I just have to get it into the workshop without Sarah noticing now....... any ideas? :)<br />
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To my surprise my Passion fruit seeds have come up already... I was expecting to have to wait a few weeks for them, but they have only been about ten days :) Exciting!!!!! :) My cress and mustard pots are in full swing now, with pots of each being sown at seven day intervals... just enough to give me a pot of each to go in our salads each week. <br />
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Lastly was some more of the mundane stuff.... weeding, digging, general tidying up here and there. It takes time, doesn't really excite the senses, but when it's done, it does give me an immensely satisfied feeling! :)<br />
All in all this last weekend has been a great success!!! My wellies are covered in mud, my tools are dirty again and i'm thouroughly happy with progress!! See you again soon :)Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-48169336834150695322011-01-24T09:07:00.002+00:002011-02-11T22:54:35.272+00:00January photo'sAfter reading a post on Carrie's "Grow our own" blog last week.... <a href="http://growourown.blogspot.com/2011/01/reality.html">Reality</a> (Thankyou very much for writing it Carrie :) I have been inspired to have a go at various things a bit more, and one of those things (take more photo's) gave me the idea to do this. I have decided to do a post each month with a few photo's to show the progress, or anything particularly seasonal, or just anything of interest around the grounds at home. It gives me a good reason to wander round with the camera and a mug of tea or two for an hour, and see if I can spot anything that makes me smile :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVN5sVQZHhlOGNZxwLvhH4OYsmsVdsR0PTHJ3Tb723lmwCs7YdQSjQkF9eYeJd8JeSx2ySS2NhnD76YrDusiG48ZWRb5Or547kaMMhS_oLlxIvO1NRZooZ3wwToR8l8FPT4wJ4hyZuWX8/s1600/SDIM3377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVN5sVQZHhlOGNZxwLvhH4OYsmsVdsR0PTHJ3Tb723lmwCs7YdQSjQkF9eYeJd8JeSx2ySS2NhnD76YrDusiG48ZWRb5Or547kaMMhS_oLlxIvO1NRZooZ3wwToR8l8FPT4wJ4hyZuWX8/s400/SDIM3377.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center">The wood store..... very important during the non gardening months ;)</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyiYGlUMSGaNOmMsnqD76duIqCSJ9wBEWI-NvFG-AjCx1iGbCQ_ghVooST4qFBji3hUoB_B-BGtDKqJZCFh7ub4pu5rxV3nusBmUkAJxRYZUEd0We_ASIEZgOkw7ekDKAzvgTkIn0MCI/s1600/SDIM3385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyiYGlUMSGaNOmMsnqD76duIqCSJ9wBEWI-NvFG-AjCx1iGbCQ_ghVooST4qFBji3hUoB_B-BGtDKqJZCFh7ub4pu5rxV3nusBmUkAJxRYZUEd0We_ASIEZgOkw7ekDKAzvgTkIn0MCI/s400/SDIM3385.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCT4QamzCJ6Wo9NNQWJ-nn7OBRXUJOl4aX_EQj7FSOwV6k-7c4hrtNyLiEkOPaPbLJfX8ND4SCdWB7QGnZp1sFkKS1wZY0FEXXkUrM-_MlxOewKzGnicH1UrYLEIRrSUkN3Gt3KZ_gHJg/s1600/SDIM3392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCT4QamzCJ6Wo9NNQWJ-nn7OBRXUJOl4aX_EQj7FSOwV6k-7c4hrtNyLiEkOPaPbLJfX8ND4SCdWB7QGnZp1sFkKS1wZY0FEXXkUrM-_MlxOewKzGnicH1UrYLEIRrSUkN3Gt3KZ_gHJg/s400/SDIM3392.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My truffle tree is ready for spring.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bcCIguCVnrkjA_bst52xwFyHqkxKi95oBhsl7kk1AfqDrSHVkEEEdchYVxusDDpE5B6ruMAEGNzaTvH99KUvTma7Il_OVokhTRPchNxoAx8UnrdTAqM8dNxniUVX7ww4f7cFGcWcVYA/s1600/SDIM3409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bcCIguCVnrkjA_bst52xwFyHqkxKi95oBhsl7kk1AfqDrSHVkEEEdchYVxusDDpE5B6ruMAEGNzaTvH99KUvTma7Il_OVokhTRPchNxoAx8UnrdTAqM8dNxniUVX7ww4f7cFGcWcVYA/s400/SDIM3409.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">First signs of some growth.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, that will do me for january..... I can't wait to do february's pics now (patience Simon:), there will hopefully be a whole load of new growth, some flowers, and maybe some sunshine in that one :) Until then, I hope you enjoyed these photo's, and i'll be back soon.</div>Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465961403933341421.post-3864404398789101242011-01-21T15:16:00.001+00:002011-02-20T19:17:50.489+00:00The village show. This year I am planning (hoping more to the point) to take the village show by storm (kind of depends on how good my produce is to be honest though ;) Sarah and I tested the water last year, and came away with two red 1st place cards for our efforts :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmrHa_AY7QGKVvQMx75G81ou9sffHgdPHidL4PvOkD-YEjQIw87Z4okf0w9z8Yw1fj5aWbIsnO5sBlyUdBrGBPYUuEr1JEx5LpXC9UNgezHkM9kl18GiiON7Lw-cYHZTaA748dEbKKh8/s1600/veg+box.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmrHa_AY7QGKVvQMx75G81ou9sffHgdPHidL4PvOkD-YEjQIw87Z4okf0w9z8Yw1fj5aWbIsnO5sBlyUdBrGBPYUuEr1JEx5LpXC9UNgezHkM9kl18GiiON7Lw-cYHZTaA748dEbKKh8/s320/veg+box.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(non show related photo... just a veg box for friends :)</div><br />
On the morning of the show, Sarah decided on the spur of the moment that we should enter some produce from the garden. We raced down to the veg plot to see what we had that was up to the task, then ran over to the village green to enquire about entering. The people were really helpful actually, and told us a bit about presentation and what we had to do for each class (although I don't think they told us quite enough for us to be in with a chance of beating them :) Another frantic dash back to the garden (that reminds me.... I need to get fit :) and some produce was hurriedly snatched from it's home. It was then whisked up to the kitchen and given a bit of a clean (polishing vegetables does seem a bit weird when you do it for the first time:) We didn't have enough time to clean and present everything we had picked from the garden, so I think we ended up with about eight entries. We just got back to the village green and the show marquee in time to throw our stuff on the tables before judging started. Some of the competition looked really good, I knew we wouldn't win some of the classes :( but it's the taking part that counts! :)<br />
We had to wait until 3pm to find out whether our home grown beauties were worthy of any recognition on the show bench or not..... tense was an understatement!!!<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> On our return at 3pm we were greeted by a 1st for our french beans and a 1st for our dessert apples..... a lot of "Woohoo's" and some big smiles later, and I was already thinking about doing it again this year :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFFNMu_vv1DgRtCZM_j5bGY_xfduTFDkcUs8F9nBEmYgRyGxArdGVPnkPcYCLwA-jVJ92a3K4AcDwrBX4s2LVOZi5DHzku_g46JVICpEMn4ZybYFBLbhAGmT0kAmirB9H-K55aIHrnFk/s1600/SDIM3373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFFNMu_vv1DgRtCZM_j5bGY_xfduTFDkcUs8F9nBEmYgRyGxArdGVPnkPcYCLwA-jVJ92a3K4AcDwrBX4s2LVOZi5DHzku_g46JVICpEMn4ZybYFBLbhAGmT0kAmirB9H-K55aIHrnFk/s320/SDIM3373.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I've just received my copy of the "Horticultural show handbook" today, and i've got a copy of last years village show schedule to plan what classes to enter (all of them :), so i'm ready to win more this year if all goes well.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Medwyn's of Anglesey have supplied some of the seeds, and i've a few of my own saved from last years prize winners, the garden is shaping up nicely, the new polytunnel will be up soon, and i'm hoping for some nice weather, so fingers crossed I should have some eligible fruit, veg, flowers and preserves for the show come september.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I also need to try and beat the record I set at the show last year for the most expensive jar of chutney sold on the day..... my beetroot and orange preserve went for £5 in the auction at the end (it didn't win a card unfortunately) .... but it was delicious!! :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I shall keep you all posted on my progress..... and if we win the village show "challenge cup" you are all invited round to ours for a barbecue! :)</div>Simon baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183344770395470577noreply@blogger.com1