Exposed

This weekend, I exposed my squash (which had been under bottle cloches since planting out) to the elements. They had to come out as they had filled the bottles and where they were touching the side, the were getting sun bleached due to the condensation. They are good looking plants though and so far, I haven't lost one to the slugs or snails (last year I lost the lot and I normally lose over 50%) They are now big enough to withstand more than a combined attack so I am optimistic about geting some squash this year. I have also plated out my two competition marrow plants in lots of muck and compost. My four cucs have gone out and they have been bottle cloches because I normally lose quite few of these as well and they can be slow to get going.

I have prepared some more ground for savoy cabbage, red cabbage and cavalo nero. I shall get those in next weekend and covered with debris netting. I will remember to take my camera too.

I dug about half my garlic on Sunday. This year, a lot of it has had very bad rust. The western most rows did not have any more green on so I thought they had better be lifted. These are the ones that got off to the better start despite being sown two weeks later than the rest. Despite the rust, they have grown to a fairly good size and are drying (except one or two that I have removed to use as wet garlic) in the plastic growhouse in the back garden:

A Challenge

I have been challenged by my Mother in Law and Sister in Law to a marrow growing comp so any suggestions from the wider world will be gratefully received. I plan to give my one competition plant as much space as possible. Put in a good deal of cow muck and compost. Plant, possibly bottle cloche for a while. Feed lots of chicken poo and powdered seaweed, regularly water (not at all like me), bury the stem to encourage rooting, restrict to two fruits and in the final few weeks give it a final feed of cheap beer direct into the stem using a wick. If any of that is misguided or there are any better suggestions, please let me know - I must win!!!!!

I have now planted out (in the persistent drizzle) greyhound cabbage, red russian and dwarf curly kale, all year round cauliflower and romanescu. So a bit of an inroad into the brassicas has been made. Still have cavalo nero, red cabbage and ormskirk savoy to get out and have sown some calabrese, trevi cauliflower and swede.

Playing catch up!

Right, ain't been here for ages and for those who are bothered, I apologise. OfSTED sort of screwed up all my plans. The weekend before SATs week is usually a free one - very little planning to do for assessments. However, the OfSTED call came on the Friday afternoon - inspector the following Wednesday and Thursday so no free time that weekend at all. Very little plotting done the following weekend either as that is recuperation weekend!

Also, don't think it rained more than once between the very wet and cold spring holiday fortnight and half term. And then half term started cold and wet. I was really starting to think that one of the Gods was really out to get me. I have managed to catch up a little bit though. My tomatoes went out this week - but I still have to find time to plant ones that my Dad and Mother in Law have given me. I have planted out French beans. I have built my runner bean rig and planted out runner beans. I have planted out most of my squash - the only ones that remain are the resown ones and the butternuts that are still pathetic little plants. I have also put out celery (a first) and celeriac. I have still got to get out loads of brassicas and sweetcorn (due to go out next weekend under the three week rule - pity I am on scout camp next weekend! Once the remaining stuff is out, I will be done and I can then maybe turn the back garden into something that does not resemble a junk yard and dog toilet!

Stitch in Time

Phew - I have just finished sowing all the summer stuff - Runners, French (Green, Purple and Yellow), cucumbers, winter squash, summer squash, courgettes. I also potted on my Tomatoes, they needed it, but I am not doing sweetcorn until next week.

Yesterday I noticed that my potatoes are just starting the break through. My parsnips have started germinating, which is quicker than unsaved seed has done in the past. I may have one or two carrots coming through too.

I have also prepared ground for my peas to be planted out in next week. I will put out my last broad beans at the same time.

Jobs to do - brassica, tomato, chilli and squash ground to prepare.

Last of the spuds

Whooo - got the last of my ten 9m rows of spuds in today. Decided to do it this afternoon during my PPA time. I looked at the weather on Saturday and it said showers all day Sunday and a nice afternoon today so I decided to make sure all my work was done yesterday to leave my PPA free. So, did all my planning and marking yesterday whilst the sun beat down outside - it did not rain until about 6.30pm yesterday. This afternoon I put the potatoes in and got rained and hailed on. Can't win. Well at least it's done and I can now concentrate on getting other things done.

My little one's plot has small calabrese seedlings and her carrots have just started to germinate. I think mine are just starting to poke up under their fleece too. At the weekend, I need to prepare a bed for my peas (onward and greenshaft - I am comparing the two as our plots are not suited to peas so I need a reliable one). I also need to prepare umpteen brassica beds and space for my calabrese. After that, it will be get space ready for my tomatoes and chillis.

Punctured Day

Well, today I was going to put my final two rows of spuds in but I have a dispute - not of my making with a neighbour across the road. He once (actually more than once) accused my son of stealing one of his son's Playstation Games. We heard from his son that the game had been found at their house but he has never acknowledged this and has continued to treat me and my family badly ever since. Anyway, the other day, yet another supermarket delivery van was blocking our road (we cannot get in and out when they do) and there was parking spaces by the side of the road so it could have pulled over. This happens time and time again and often makes me late. This time I was exit side of the van so I made a peaceful protest by parking my car in the middle of the road in front of it. I only visibly left it but monitored in constantly - the plan was to move it the minute the Asda man wanted to leave - I was only making a point. I was watching out the front room and when I saw him come out, I went to move my car. This neighbour got there before me and was slagging me off to the Asda man calling me a all the names under the sun. I did object to this (well you would) and the Asda man apologised. I moved my car, the Asda man left - end of matter. NOT!! My new front passenger tyre developed a puncture over night - this coincidentally happened when my son didn't steal the game too and when my partner tackled him about a similar allegation. The car was deliberately (according to the garage who changed it) punctured in two places in the wall so needed replacing as wall punctures cannot be mended. I am seething. I have better things to do and do not have the money to spare. This guy is a worthless human being who bullies and beats his kids and his wife. He has no friends, some members of his wife's family have told us that they all loather him but because I have no proof I am powerless.

Anyway, I did get one row of potatoes in this afternoon. I also carefully checked the wind direction and lit a fire - the wind then changed direction so I had to let it go out.

I do have PSB to harvest tomorrow and my spring cabbages are very nearly ready - I may cut one of those to go with my PSB.

Didn't do much today but did sow 186 stations of parsnip seed saved from last year. Unlike counting out three seeds per station with bought seed, because I had so much, each station got a pinch. Supposedly, it should germinate better than bought seed as well (according to Icy and Real Seeds) so may have one hell of a thinning job coming up. When it was bought, it was White Gem.

Sowed them on 8th April last year but it was much hotter and drier.

Having looked at last years blog, I had got the last of my spuds in a year ago tomorrow. I still have about four rows to do this year and I am not doing them tomorrow!!!