Johnplotman's Journal

In the greenhouse Feb 2011..

Still some more final touches need doing.

For a few hours over the weekend,i decided to spend more time in the greenhouse.The area for the Tomatoes is almost complete,with the centre canes there needing to be tied up and finished there.

A form of a mini well supply is in place,and into these the water supply will go.Similar with the centre containers only smaller there again.The shelves have been given a final fast washing down,and here will be used as a form of hardening off area for the next while.

The coldframe outside the greenhouse is next on the list,to leave it ready when called upon.[will do that later in the week].

Going away earlier this morning the weather reading was back to -2 and quite nippy.That changed in a few hours with bright and sunny weather,a touch of summer.

Rhubarb [Rheum] 2011.appearing well.

Rhubarb [Rheum] 2011.

Looking over some of the lower tubs,the Rhubarb is coming on well with them.Still quite young compared to the upper tubs.The Rhubarbs will be given one of its favourites throughout the summer [some liquid manure] every two weeks.

Rhubarb does not have much pest or disease problems,though at times can get a touch of Leaf Spot [Ramularia rhei] and Crown rot [Erwinia rhapontici].The Rhubarb is known as a member of the night shade family.

Young Spinach 2011.[Tetragonia]

Spinach [Tetragonia]

Some people like this vegetable and some do not.The seeds will keep quite well and with a little luck,they should last up on 3 to 4 years.They germinate in app 12-14 days.Seeds will be started in module trays.Can be chanced and moved on[pricked out],but they prefer to be in a single section each.Not to fussy about having to get the roots disturbed.They will go down through successional sowing,every 3-4 weeks.

Daffodil in the vegetable garden.

Hello my friend.

Over a while now this Daffodil always calles back to visit,Has been here a good many years now,close to raised bed,number one.

That bed is raked and ready for take off now.When the weather suits,in the new visitors will go.

Checking around the front.

Almost out.

I spent a short while yesterday morning taking a quick walk around the front of the house here,to check on the latest life in some of the plants.A lot of tidy up work needs doing,but that will have to wait now until later in the week.Some of the weather damaged plants are holding well and new growth has appeared on in places.The first to catch my eye was the appearance of the Daffodill infront of the door.They look quite green now but in all short while the bed will be yellow with them.Hoping so.

Potatoes,part of the night shade family.2011.

In the seed room.

Known as members of the night shade family,Potatoes,[Solanum tuberosa],i have started off those,on trays a few weeks ago.The trays this year will range from Rooster,Golden wonder,Red Duke of York,Desiree, and Charlotte.They will be arranged to suit containers,earlies,second earlies,and maincrop.Tomatoes are also members of the night shade family and the only setback with them and Potatoes is that well known problem,Potato Blight.That will travel from one to the other as both suffer from it.I keep them apart to be on the safe side.I will add pictures when they develop more as seed Potatoes.

Another member of the seed room,Onions.

More Onions [Allium cepa] started.

I have started more onions for a brief spell,before moving on to a deeper area.Onions do well with the Cabbage[Brassica] areas,and also with the Tomatoes.[Lycopersicon esculentum].Onions do not like the Legumes,Peas and Beans.

A fine Saturday morning.

Early Sweetcorn [Zea mays,] inside until weather suits.

The sun shines and the day is just what we need to attack the gardens.I have to draw up a plan for the jobs throughout the day,there.

The main vegetable garden bed is first on the list for time spent with,and then in to the tunnel.For the next hour or so first off,garden notes have to be checked on.

Watering needs doing in the seed room and if any need moving on there they will also be seen too.

Checked on them this morning,on return just after 5 am and all are looking well.If the temperature comes on our sides and visits asop,then out some of them will go to the tunnel and greenhouse.

Wet and windy.

Petunias[Confett,]in the seed room.2011.

A poor start to this morning.Rain and a touch of wind have returned.Though not cold,still the rain spoils outdoor work in the garden,for the first half of the day,according the weather report.No plans for today except to take notes,and on return,if all goes to all,then some time will be spent inside the tunnel.The weekend plans will be to spend time in the outer beds close to the arches in the lower section of the main garden.Tubs need some work done on them there.Plans with those this year will be to extend the flower section with them.If all goes well and the rain holds off,those are my plans.I will check updates on the weather throughout the day and hope for the best on.Done a check in the seed room late last night and all is going to plan,there.

Notes on growing Peas from 70 years ago.

Peas.[Pisum sativum] for 2011.

I discovered this in a very old garden book.When picking Peas make sure to take care not to break the haulm [Haulm is the stalk section of them].Hold the stem with one hand,while gathering Peas with the other.

Quite tender they are and will break easily if treated rough.

Peas take in atmospheric nitrogen and send it down to the root nodules.This will leave the ground better for the following years vegetables grown there.

Collected last week.

Garden colour..

Some of the papers i missed over the week gone by had different areas of the garden pictured.

I was delighted after getting them,and to have a good look over them.Different  Trees,and Irish Flowers,etc were mentione.

A fine bright morning we have today.

Wet,wet,wet.

Not the nicest of reflections with rain.

Back it is to hound us again.How long will it last this time.

The touch of mildness is in the air,so no complaints.

Evenings are getting brighter a little at a time, and the weather will be on our sides soon.

All going to plan in the seed room.

Keeping them happy.

Late last night i had a long over due check in the seed room.Though all is being well looked after for me,i always like to be amoung them.

Some more trays will be moved out to the greenhouse later in the week and the final touches given there for canes etc.

Just a few more of the beds in the main rotation area with the vegetables,need the final compost feedings.

Sorry about the late journal.

Looking on at the job.

Eyeing the job for me.

Last Sunday for a few short hours i done some more of the next stage of work in the centre flower bed.No that plans are taking shape the next move will be the compost and the setting up of tubs etc.Hopefully some pottaging [mix of flowers fruit and veg]will come into place over the next few months.When the time suits and all is going well,into place they will go for the next stage.[Pictures will be added]

Timber in place in the seed room.

Just a very few final touches.

Some old timber i spotted earlier in the week came in very handy for making a shelf to hold the seeds in the seed room for me.I spotted it on Tuesday at lunchtime,and that night after a quick check around the seed trays in action i worked on it.By about 1 am it was just a case then of setting the seed holders into place.Another problem out of the way.When the use of them this year is complete back to the outer cool area they will go.After another fast check around the trays,a quick cuppa,and a very short read,it was time to go.