This is the entire plot, etched out. This is not to scale, but a representation of how the land lies.
Project othello has seven beds of varying sizes. They are all roughly rectangular with a path for wheel barrow access. The sukh shaanti garden remains largely the same.
I’ve never grown spuds before. Last year, was a complete and utter slug fest. So there was heightened anticipation with the onset of September, the wilting and keeling over of foliage. Today, king Edwards potatoes were taken up.
I have to say, I am little disappointed. I was expecting some proper, big, chipper potatoes. As you will see from the picture, there are few big ones, and a lots of little diddly ones. Diddly ones no bigger than say new potatoes. These were all planted at Easter, in lots of horse poop. Had heard horse poop would be useful for them. I think as they were in raised beds, they have suffered, There was a fair bit of grass thrown into the bed from time to time. . There a few green ones, that have caught the light. Lots of pink splodged tubers.
Lady Balfour and Maris Piper remain. These haven’t wilted or keeled over yet, if at all.
Could have collared by the fashion police, wandering down in my Smart navy school suit and red wellingtons.
I am pleased to announce the posh roses, some of them, have buds. And at least three roses are forming.
My grapevine, is looking beautiful. As tiny as she is, I think the one that you see is a red one. She had been presumed dead. So very, very happy to see her get going.
Broadies look a bit bent over; has been a very miserable, wet and windy day today. They are, however, starting to flower. That was reason for the visit today, to see if the Wendy was still there. And it was. Home to the chillies and bells, frauzauber has some rather nice yellow tinged floo’ers. Lipstick does too, so we shall see!
Whilst the garlic is sending up scrapes, shallots show no sign of wanting to budge. Will be keeping an eye on them. Pickle, perhaps.
The difference a spot of rain makes. Potatoes are going crazy. Didn’t think they got that tall.
Out of 9, I have seen 3 cucumber plants. Have started to grow a little. But still not very big.
Some of Ma’s mustard has bolted, is sending out floo’ers that will be yellow.
All is not bad ^_^
Yours in anticipation,
Horticultural Hobbit
But will they survive. Chilies sown in the first round, February sometime.
Not sure what they are, but there are purple ones in there somewhere.
As the weather turns on its head, there are still many things lurking with intent on the window sills.
The broadbeans are still there, getting taller. Purely as the weather is having a tantrum. Watered daily, they are being monitored closely. I intend to make further sowings later, after the Easter holidays. By which time further paper pots will be made. Allowing sowings of dwarf French beans and runner beans to be sown.
The tomatoes are sat there too, having grown leggy in modules. Being transplanted, they sulked and they pouted. They remain in that state.
The Lyon 2 prize winner leeks are still standing. Just. These are also being watered, in their up, down, shake it all about state.
In other news, desert the cactus is flowering. Beautiful red bloom.
Yours in anticipation,
Horticultural hobbit
You have seen the extent of the current weather and winter woes. Plot 2A is currently under a foot of snow. There is not an awful lot I can do with that.
At the moment, there are various seeds sat on window sills. In the propagator, are chilli seeds. In the last week or so, a few have peeped out of the dirt. Only to keel over again, once on the window sill. A combination of poor light, and reduced heat is most likely what has caused them to keel over. I daresay that I will be sowing seeds again, as not many have yet removed their head from the dirt. Beetroot is germinating, cylindra and bonel were sown into modules about a week ago. As was self blanching celary, but this is yet to show it’s face
I have sown some cauliflowers, three different varieties. Mayflower, purple cape and All year around caulis have been sown and are sat covered on a window sill. I tried once upon a time to sow these, but didn’t know enough about their propogation. Fingers crosses this time. I will be intrigued to see whether or not they come off. For many, cauliflowers are a staple. What will be amusing, is if the purple ones come off. Yes, I am aware of the need for environmesh. I remember sowing Kohl Rabi and having an infestation of white fly thingies.
That will mean, that at some point; Cabbages will be sown. I’ve had very limited success with cabbages in the past. They’ve been eaten by slugs and snails despite blue pills, collars, ceramic tile bits and beer traps. I am convinced, that the hobbitland slugs are particular about the types of beer that one attempts to dose them with.
Well, If I’m not going out there, I’m not going to the plot….
The home wendy house is at least standing, compared to the one on the plot.
The seed stashers are bulging, with lots and lots to sow. With the snow, that is not going to be easy. Let’s hope it clears, and soon….
yours in anticipation,
Horticultural Hobbit
Without a shadow of a doubt, this year has been shocking. Dire weather, has robbed many of us of a decent crop and enjoyable growing season. It would be easy now, to throw the trowel in. Yes, trowel. But then perhaps, we won’t have learned anything. There is no man, woman, or gerbil for that matter, who can tame the elements. I firmly believe, that whilst weather conditions can be challenging, their effects devastating, there is always a way of making things happen in the horticultural sense.
Plot 2a has spent more time wet and windy, that it has cultivated and cropping. Though, there was a hearty crop of weeds and slugs, these are not the sort of crop I envisaged. You can’t eat slugs, for a start. I mean, would you want to? It may all have been a wet wash. And I may have nearly gone bottom over top some times in the clay. But the potential still stands.
The seed stashers are sat on the side. Yogurt pots have been retrieved from Dad’s shed. All in eager anticipation. Each and every seed is a pocket of potential; and all seeds want to grow. All seeds can come off….all right, parsnips would argue the toss. But you know what I mean!
Seed potatos have been ordered. Though that won’t stop me from going to the Potato Day at Ryton. I went last year, and bought a hand full of King Edward Potatos.They all got rained on and eaten by slugs and the clay, but they were sunk.
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/events/show_event.php?id=863
Spring garlic and onions have also been ordered. I want some more of these, and I don’t think those planted in October will have survived the winter deluge. So I am adopting a Robert the Bruce and Spidey approach. Trying again. Simples.
Wishing The Dirty Shovel club, the very best for 2013.
Horticultural Hobbit
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