What are we doing in the garden 2024

I decided several years ago not to do this, because of the frustration and delay caused by relying on 'old' packets previously opened, which did not germinate sufficiently well. Now each year* I buy new, fresh seed from Real Seeds and from Lidl, both of which are 99% reliable, because they:
a) produce fresh supplies annually,
b)Do not apparently recycle unsold packets as many seed companies do.
(I declare an interest as a ex-retailer who had all seeds supplied on a 'Sale or return basis)
This may sound extravagant but:-
I offset by selling surplus plants at the garden gate, (honesty box on barrow!), mainly tomatoes, curcubits etc and am able to raise /sell sufficient to meet my outlay. Unsown seeds are either used to grow microgreens into winter or fed to wildlife as appropriate according to variety.
*Unopened packets, large seeds are kept, runner , broad and french beans self saved.

 

Nothing today it's too cold.

 

Hi,

Our local garden center had whole tables full of Wilco bulb packets; very sad really just more of the UK decline.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Very neat and tidy especially now the flag stone has been removed out of the wall, and will last for years to come.

 

Hi,

Too perishing to do anything in the garden so an alternative plan yesterday;


One dozen oat/mixed fruit cookies; I'll spend a bit of time scoffing some of these today.

Frost overnight so now we've got a black and white car instead of a black car. Amazingly the patio is finally fully dry; it's months since it was dry.

I feel a violin practice coming on in the studio whilst I look out onto the garden and daydream of warm dry weather.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Lovely cookies @Retired, I'm making a mixed fruit crumble for today and tomorrow.

 

Allotment was all frozen, so I was just planning when and how to prune the fruit bushes and apple trees

 

Nothing been done on the balcony in a couple of weeks - at least (probably a couple more will go past without my doing anything as well!) Though I shall probably bring in the Amaryllis bulbs that are still outside as well as the 2 pots of Clivias. We are forecast some pretty cold weather over the next 7-10 days & I don't want to push my luck too far. They all came through 3 nights of -3C frosts during December 2023 but I made not be so lucky a 2nd time around.

The Amaryllis are dormant but bringing them into the flat will no doubt break their dormancy. The Clivias still have most of their leaves green but some got damaged during the frosty nights of December. They have been kept completely dry for about 3 months so, together with the cold, all these bulbs should start to flower in a few weeks time. I would have liked to space them out by bringing in only a couple at a time but that won't work with a prolonged cold spell.
.

 

Since my succulents have been put in the cold frame for the first time, away from winds and rain instead of overwintering in the house. They haven't stopped growing and are now pushing through the fleece wrapped around them.
Last watered/fed at the beginning of October last year.
"I'm hoping they won't look stretch when covering is taken off"

I can view them every day through the patio windows and having this spurt of growth will probably mean re-potting into larger pot in the spring.

My Bunny Ear Cactus (Opuntia Microdasys) is desperate for repotting, I should have done this last year but I was just getting over a craniotomy for a brain tumour (I'm fine now )

The Bunny ear was a gift from my grandson 9-10yrs ago and I'm hoping if I plant it in a taller pot I will be able to bury a further 2inch a the bottom of the plant as even though it is sturdy its looking weathered- just like me

 

Hi,

No gardening at all today; I've already had enough of being perished whilst shopping this morning. Workshop or violin practice then for today perhaps both.

Specially for you @Grandma Sue;

Surprise With This Cute Hug!

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Good that you are better now @Grandma Sue

 

Hi,

Too cold to play out today. I wonder what a used NASA space suit would cost.

Kind regards, Colin.