Wednesday 9 July 2008

It stopped raining for five minutes so....

It actually stopped raining long enough for me to pop up to the plot on the way home from work yesterday and do a bit of weeding, something that proves much easier after a bit of rain I have to admit. It’s surprising what 45 mins weeding can achieve because afterwards the paths looked almost clear which gave the plot a much nicer look to it.

My other reason for popping up there was to collect some salad leaves for dinner. I never got round to thinning out the salad which has led to some pretty congested rows but I figure if I pull up whole baby plants rather than just cutting the leaves off so they re-grow that should have the same effect and allow us to eat the ‘thinnings’ so to speak.

(Those are sprouts in between the rows of salad, I ran out of space in the brasica bed so thought they could go in the gaps here…)

The brasicas we planted a few weeks ago have all taken well to their new home and are thriving. Almost better than that, my homemade netted cages are also all still standing which I’m quite pleased with.

The tomatillo we’re experimenting with (we’d never heard of it before we saw the seeds in a shop) seems to be doing well too, or at least one of the two plants is, so best concentrate on that one for now…

It looks like it’s going to rain from today all through to Sunday according to the weather forecast so this could have been the only plot time we get this week, fingers crossed for another break in the clouds soon…

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Welcome back matey! I know how you feel, quite how i manage to keep it up sometimes, i still wonder...that's when the Mrs. steps in and drops a post in. The plot looks wicked, you must have some damn good soil there...the buy before you must have looked after it well!

Anonymous said...

Just to let you know I've awarded you on my blog. You don't have to forward it or display it if you don't want, but I just wanted to draw your attention to it :) http://www.smallestsmallholding.com/

Lucy x

Anonymous said...

Your allotment is coming along well :) It was just like yesterday you were still on the waiting list.

HayWayne said...

Sssh, don't mention the rain!

That's a very neat looking plot dude/ess, job well done I'd say. Real proper paths and everything.

Keep it up what-oh.

glosterwomble said...

Hiya both, hope all is ok with you and that the plot is producing loads for you, my plot is getting very full ...of WEEDS!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Paul and Melanie,

I Have you down for two seats at the Oxford Food Growing Blogger Get-Together on 20 September. Are you both still planning to come?

http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/?p=386

If you would send me an email or leave a comment and let me know I would appreciate it. Thanks!

Blicky Kitty said...

Great blog! Thanks! We're just beginning this year and are learning things the hard way. Does your netting keep out just critters or littler pests too. I ask because my broccoli got attacked and the rest of my garden is pathetic. :)

Ottawa Gardener said...

Rain, rain... at least you don't have to water at the moment. Yes, I am always telling people that actually weeding can be done in rapid time if you have the stomach and strength (of course how much of those you need depend on how long you've gone between weedings). Your tomatillo is much more upright than mine were.

Anonymous said...

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Together with my wife and two kids we own and run Victoriana Nursery Gardens - http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk - a sniff around our site should give you all the info you need about us and our ethos, if you do not know of us already.

I was wondering if you would like to try a few of our bits and pieces for free - well nearly free... if you do send us an email at info AT victoriananursery DOT co DOT uk

Mike said...

Watch out for those Tomatillos... pollen is self-incompatible, so raising just a single plant may lead to some disappointment. Drop me a line if you want more Tomatillo seed -- I've plenty to spare! (Should still be early enough in the season for you to plant more, no?)