WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2023

Not able to do anything today being as we are at the eye clinic at the hospital in Peterborough.

I did sweep the balcony of the pigeon dropping, as I have to do most days when it is dry, I looked at the African Marigolds I pricked out yesterday & they seem alright. These are destined to go into the church gardens, hopefully during the next bank holiday. I still have a couple of trays of Calendulas to put in as well.

 

Weeding the far side border which is pretty solid clay in places so I've been working in mulch and home compost to break it up a bit. Planting out plants as I go.
Dug up and rehomed some Heucheras that were being smothered by some shrubs.

 

I've potted on a few tomatoes that are destined to be grown outside but I'm going to hang on a bit as I dont trust the weather.
But moved my rain shelter to the allotment ready to plant the incas under, being non blight tolerant.

 

Moving all the pots into the greenhouse and hooking up the heater to run on a low setting. Then covering the annuals in the garden with light plastic. I used lots of supports and other things to keep the plastic above the plants.

This is the first time I have ever had to do this. We've had frost warnings before but after last night's low of 1.3c and tonight possibly being almost on the 0c, I got frightened and decided to give the plastic a go. I can't unplant everything!

 

Fingers crossed for your plants Lori.

 

Transplanted all my sweetcorn plants, 32 in total and covered with fleece. Same with two outside tomatoes in large pots and covered them with an old blowaway cover to get them up and running. Also moved the rest of this years chillis (12 i think) into a pop up greenhouse I got as a gift. I'm hoping we don't get any winds above 20mph otherwise I suspect I'll have a pop up kite escape the allotment. Also Planted some marigolds I'd raised from seeds, no doubt the slugs will eat them.

 

Made a pathetic start on weeding the borders.....clay soil was rock hard and sooo difficult to get a hand fork into. No rain forecast until maybe Thursday next week. I also have 3 vegetable beds covered in weeds preying on my mind. (I've been away and so very much behind with getting soil sorted out.) I'm realising I won't be able to manage it all in future and will possibly try to encourage ground cover....thyme or marjoram??

 

My garden lady came this afternoon and we moved the raised bed between us, although it was rather a struggle.
First of all we emptied most of the soil into bags and then we could move it slowly. Then put the soil back in.

I fell twice, once cutting the back of my hand on the door latch of a shelter, and the other time smashing a nice trough my brother and sister-in-law gave me one birthday, and my hand went on the side of a large sheet of glass (which I keep meaning to move it but haven't) I wasn't able to save myself, and pressed on the glass for what seemed a long time, but I just had the corner of the glass make a nick below my thumb. It's quite painful but not bleeding.

 

Oh dear Michael, this after your other fall. You are ahead of me now! Are your knees playing up?
I know you don't like them but big hugs from me. Vxx

 

I repotted my one remaining Adenium, bought a plastic pot a while back, but decided it needed a ceramic one to look right.
It hadn't been repotted in yonks, and I had to break the old pot to get it out, hopefully it will be good for another few years now.

 

Planted out 8 winter squash plants and 4 courgettes, all under fleece and another crimson crush in a large fabric pot. Courgettes cunningly placed is less than optimal positions in the hope they aren't too productive. Also pulled a load of bindweed out of a corner.

 

Oh Michael so sorry to hear of your falls today, is the issue with legs or perhaps balance?
Sounds really painful, take care now.
xx

 

Sorry to hear you have taken a fall (or 2). Thank goodness you didn’t end up with the glass through your hand. I hope it stops hurting soon.

 

Enjoyed another whole day out in the garden, all meals eaten outside too.

Tidied up 3 more borders pulling up plants that weren't performing well anymore and planting new ones.
Edged the lawns too.

I had hoped to carry on where I'd left off from yesterday with the 'clay ' border ' but it was too warm and the sun made the clay areas harder to work. I will carry on when we next have a cloudy day.

 

Oh dear Michael sorry to hear that you had another 2 falls, hope that you are better soon.