WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY - 2021

This morning I weeded the top raised veg bed, ready to put the bean frames up, and then put up one of the wigwams. I will do the other one tomorrow, before we underplant with the onions. In the past we’ve grown the runners on a long frame, but we’ve had problems with the wind hitting it, and blowing it over when the beans are in full growth. So that’s why this year we are going to try growing two separate wigwams. Then if we loose one, we may not loose all our crop.
I know you shouldn’t grow onions amongst other things, but we had this strange idea of planting them near the beans, so they can share the water. Last year was such a disaster, with the “giants” coming out the size of a pickling onion! I’m fairly sure that it was lack of water, so we’ll see if the experiment works. I’m determined to succeed!!

This afternoon I cut the grass on the lower half of the garden. The sedge grass had finished flowering, and was looking a little untidy. The top area won’t be cut for a few months yet...

 

This afternoon weeded the blueberry pots then put on a slow release fertiliser then watered them. One of the blueberries had died so i removed the roots to plant another. Had to cut off some dieback on one. Got a blueberry seedling to replace the one that had died.

 

I can understand your frustration Andy.

If you want to try and cheat the weather, sow the seed and cover it in clear plastic. When you see the first shoots remove it.

 

Watering, repotting and planting a couple of things.

 

Emptied out some of the big planters yesterday ,any plants found in them were replanted out into the borders.

Every overwintering plant and all new seedlings enjoyed a day out in the fresh air. It took an age lugging them all out and in. Working up the strength to do a repeat performance again today.

Planted up the Sweet Peas , ready to be placed in their permanent position ( in pots)

Strawberry plants are all looking good.
Blueberries are out in flower and looking pretty.
Surprised to see that both grapevines have survived after the fencing came crashing down on them during a storm a while back ....how come all the things you're not keen on seem indestructible and all the ones you love are so fragile ??
The Cherry tree has once again been hit by the frost so along with the birds nabbing any juicy offerings, should they be so lucky to find any , we won't be getting a look-in once again.

Blackberry looking good too.

Pear , Apple and Plum trees are budding up nicely just hoping this return to minus temps doesn't last long!!

 

I've been checking over, and adding to compost in all plants which over-wintered in pots. Please can anyone tell me the best feed to add to hostas?

 

It feels like I've been busy in the garden recently, but not sure how much I've actually accomplished by way of progress as opposed to moving stuff around and repairs lol.

I re-potted the gardenia (its in well-draining ericaceous compost with sulphur chips and I've been giving it ericaceous feed and a motivational talk every day - if it doesn't perk up now I'm not sure what else to do) and popped my little cyclamens in a few spaces in my "shady" tub.

I put all my spring bulbs together in a planter - I'm not sure what I was thinking when I decided it would be a good idea to just shove them in wherever there was space last year but I was probably drunk. All seem to be doing well after the transplant

Salvaged a few squirrel-ravaged violets, planted an evening primrose and sowed some forget-me-nots and salvia Blaze of Fire. Potted up my new chocolate cosmos (that's gone in a pot I can move inside over winter this time - lesson learned there lol) and prepared a planter for a couple of chrysanthemums I'm hoping will arrive soon.

Best wishes to everyone and their gardens

 

Watered the polyanthus that goes around the path in the front garden, it's that time of year again when everything goes dry through lack of rain.

 

The cold frame I moved recently was too low so I decided to put it on top of some blocks ... so I carried 16 'spare' ones down the garden (not good for discs in back and hiatus hernia) and put 4 under each corner, then I put lengths of wood inside it to hold the plants :-





It has been checked and approved



... she turned away just as I was clicking the camera

 

I gradually collect a pile of garden debris as the weeks pass, twigs, cones etc. So at dusk yesterday my incinerator was put to use. I won't have an open bonfire as my neighbours wilderness is full of trees and scrub and the prevailing wind blows that way.

Today I used 'Wet and Forget' for the first time on the three sets of steps that are attached to my bungalow. I then put together the shelving of a 'blow away' greenhouse to be used indoors without the cover and ready for seeds I will start off tomorrow.

 

The usual spring jobs, moving seedlings from warm to lukewarm to outside (daytime trips only) and re-discovering the warm window in the living room. It looks very empty now that the cucumbers etc have graduated to the kitchen unheated shelving.

Potted on the Cosmos. Now this is a plant that could be described as the Golden Retriever of the plant world. Unlike any other seedlings that get personally offended by any manouvre "I believe I have root disturbance"

P rick (or "thorn" as this forum likes to call it thanks to the automated swearword control) the Cosmos seedlings and re-pot much deeper upto their necks and they go "wee... root disturbance... my favourite!!!!

 

I've been out today on a nice sunny day to the garden centres and a nursery , picked up 3 Lavenders Niko which are supposedly superior to others.

Been watering the pots and plants around the garden today. And throwing out all the dead pelargoniums and fucshias out of the GH .

I would use just general all round feed for the Hosta @JJ28 Chicken pellets - fish blood and bone - growmore .