The Frantic Gardeners’ Blog

I really must get the blog picking up my flickr pics. just need a widget i guess also wanting a widget to autonotify twitter - hoping my sysadmin can sort that out too. [please ]

Sowing

So, we have sown today [frantically admidst all sorts of other jobs ] globe artichoke, tomato sungold and gardeners delight, and golden sunrise[ sungold is orange - confusing or what!] . Was v disappointed in the sungold, as there were only 6 seeds in the packet, and it says average of 10. i think 6 is too far away, so emailing their customer care, and hope to have a replacement pack. will see how that goes! I also sowed my DH choice of seeds for pots and his vegbed: datura for the pots, echinacaea and eryngium for the bed. I think I need to remind everyone about THE VEG!! I am v happy for some flowers to attract in beneficials, and also for general wildlife and looks, but i do prefer to mostly have VEG. I also sowed lot of nasturtiums, which admittedly he bought, but i am very fond of . With 6 seed trays in the propogator, there is only room for pots now, so no more sowing until things move out. For me, i sowed canteloupe melon mmm mmm

Germination

Mistakenly, thinking the propogator in greenhouse not quite so warm as when in conservatory, i put the peppers and aubergines in a mini electric one in conservatory, and it doesn’t seem to have worked, and none germinated. Peppers are awkwrd things tho, so will keep my fingers crossed for another week. If they haven’t grown then i will by a few more packets to resow.

the broad beans tho are having erupted looking earth in some of the modules, which suggests they are about to appear and the sunflowers have all germinated for DD2.

Maintenance

It has been far too rainy recently to want to dig over and further organise veg patch, but this is getting higher up urgency list

Maintenance

well, we have been working hard in the garden, clearing from the veg bed and the greenhouse 2 years of accumulated rubbish and weeds so that we can start again. A HUGE bonfire was had, and we have lots of compost from continuing to compost through the last 2 years, but not used it!

DH has set up the greenhouse with the propagator there as well, as the conservatory has been renovated, and no longer suitable for the mess of potting on ;)  . The previous shelves have been renovated a bit too, so i have a potting and sowing area in there for now, though when we get far more things I will have to lose it . contemplating bubble wrap, and also capillary matting and autowatering.

Planning

we have planned out the veg bed a bit, and the bit nearest the house will have 4 beds which are to be permanent, and one each for us. The girls are really excited, and bought mostly flower seeds, though DD2 has also chosen some woodland strawberries.

Sowing

Today i sowed the peppers - jalepeno, inferno and red grill, some from a mixed aubergine packet and physallis. These are obviously planned for the greenhouse. Later i will be sowing melons and tomatoes and that should fill it up! I also sowed some broad beans into a module, as that area of the veeg bed not quite ready yet. All are out into the propagator in the greenhouse, which is a home made job with coldframe on the top, and the individ trays get those seed tray lids on as well. It is the first year that the propagator is in the greenhouse, so i do hope it stays warm enough at night. Hmm, think tomorrow may add bubblewrap to make sure!

SO, nice to be back after a 2 year break.