A Frantic week, and a summary
HelenHaricot on Apr 3rd 2006
so not a lot of gardening. Work went crazy [and still is] and the little beans [our kids] weren’t so well, SB in particular.
Today though, I was sooooo stresdsed by the time i returned from work, only cuddles with the girls and contact with the soil [and soon a glass of red wine] would do.
So on the veg plot front, the planted broad beans seem to be doing well. the mangetout are pretty much acclimatised, but since we are expecting a cooler bit at the end of the week, perhaps I’ll plant them out at the weekend. the weeds have also got going. SO now I’m debating whether a quick weed as i can’t see any carrot seedlings, though may decimate the radishes [but they were only in the drill for it to show up more quickly…].
on the fruit plot, the buds are coming on nicely, but not all our minarettes are planted - we had better get our skates on!
So into the propagatory. I potted up the rest of the tomatoes today. The potted aubergines are coming on nicely, and the peppers [though they aren’t ready yet for potting on. Sweetcorn germination has been overall poor - roughly 1/4 only. Was older seed, and have some this years for sowing next. Maybe should try chitting it? but not sure - maybe do an ‘experiment’ with my daughter. Speaking of experiments, the sunflowers in the large home made propagator germinated more quickly and better than those in a cheap electric one. the sprink onions have germinated well, and the leeks are just starting. The second sowing of artichokes also not germinating well. HMM! The caulis all came up, and all the salad leaves have. soon think of pricking them out to grow on. I always grow sacrifical spares, but when the time comes, my heart isn’t hard enough to not just ‘let them have a go!’
Amazingly, some of the asparagus seeds collected from the garden are also germinating - I had thought that would be a dead loss.
Today I sowed the cucurbits - I know, a bit early, but the conservatory is doing such a good job as a propagatory that I think its worth a show. So I sowed courgette gold rush, Squash Festival, and pumpkin Mars. i also sowed a tray of rootrainers with sweetcorn minipop - you know the one you are supposed to microwave to get popcorn. Should be nice.
No camera on me today - wil try and remedy that!
i think we will definitely try the North American 3 sisters thing with beans, sweetcorn and squashes and see how it goes. Probably in what will be half of the fruit bed next year.
Hello, thought I would *pop* over and take a look.
My, My you are busy, I am really missing all the gardening stuff this year, we did so much last year, but as we dont know whether we will be in our own house or staying with my parents it really isnt worth planting out much.
I always find soaking seeds in warm water overnight seems to help germination rates. No idea why, only found it out accidentally as I merrily tipped a packet of something or other into the warm water I had poured for the sweetpea seeds
but seems to work for anything big enough to handle.
Hope you are feeling better now!
woohoo first comments on new blog!