Planted 15 Nicola spuds (row of 11 plus 4) and prepared ground for rest

Planted Shallot Golden Wonder x 26 (1 row)

Planted White Onion Set Stuttgart x 27 (1 row)

Planted Red Onion Set Karmen x 27

Planted Peas Early Onward 1 row

Sunny.

Raked over spud and legumes beds.

Sowed Parsnips - Tender & True (organic) ½ row and White Gem (2018 seed) ½ row

In seed trays: Cabbage Savoy Vertus, Cabbage Greyhound, Cauliflower All the Year Round. (never yet had success with caulis, only trying because I had some seed), Basil, Thyme, Lemon Balm (herbs all old seed)

In mini-pots: Cabbage Red Drumhead

In plug trays: Aubergine Black Beauty, Celeriac Monarch

Sowing day. In pots/trays in tunnel.

  • Sweetcorn Conqueror x15
  • Melon F1 Arva x 8
  • Melon F1 Lavi Gal x 4 
  • Courgette Green Bush x 8
  • Squash Butternut Hurricane x 4
  • Squash Sweet Dumpling x 4
  • Cucumber Telegraph x 4
  • Cucumber Ridge Marketmore x 4

 

Yesterday was peening of blades. Previously I had been away in France with Chris & John for 10 days collecting the tractor and boat - both of which are now parked here. Managed to finish the new hardstanding just before we went on 24 Feb. 

Tractor needs a good service, it is a Kubota 7000 but has a 4 wheel drive option. Hydraulics are not working properly (loosing pressure somewhere) but it starts...

Apricots have blossomed, the door had been opened most days, but I did some hand pollination yesterday just in case - might be too late as petals are all falling off. Raspberries have all been cleared.

Today planted Alicante and Gardeners Delight tomatoes (as last year) in seed trays. Digging potato bed (New Shed Quarter).

Windy this morning with intermittent sun. Apparently much rain last week while I was away in France. Buds bursting on Vranja Quince and damson. Nearly there on most pears and plums.

Have now ordered two more dumpy bags of 20mm chippings and some timber to make compost bins and also hard standing in front of shed for tractor. May also do the area between the sheds. Coming tomorrow.

Sitting in the polytunnel eating an apple (still a few left in store) and admiring the raised beds which I built over the winter. Outside the big 1000 litre IRB tank is slowly filling with water via a hose from the rainwater butt. The apricots have been trained onto wires going up to the centre crop bar and canes tied in between the crop bars. 

It seems many weeks since I made a proper entry here. But today is sunny with a clear blue sky and a light wind - albeit with a slight chill in the air - and I've just sat down to eat an apple for lunch having been mowing for an hour or so.