WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2023

I wouldn't worry so much about not scraping them, they say have to soak lupin seeds, but i didn't and they still came up in 2 weeks.

 

Been potting on lettuce and early brassicas into modules and chillis into small pots

 

Started some veg seed off in modules in greenhouse, planted chitted lupin seed in modules.
Set some Early Onward peas and sweet pea seeds to chit on damp kitchen towel in the kitchen.

 

Just keeping a eye on the seedlings in the conservatory and just watered them.

 

I'll be making a new cuppa in a little while so once the kettle has boiled, I'll dump a bit on them. Thank you

 

I've been starting off a new compost bin (now it's empty)

 

Cleared another smaller border , re-staked a couple of the large Wallflowers. Mixed up some free draining compost to use over the next couple of days.
That's it for today as I'm visiting a friend this afternoon. Westerly breeze tomorrow so hopefully it will feel a tad 'warmer' .

 

Sowed Portulaca and Balsam seeds. Upgraded pots of Hamelia patens, Oleander Double Peach, Plumbago coccinea, Beloperone guttata lutea and Hibiscus rosa sinensis ''Kiss of Death' ... didn't get the sowing done in The Courtyard as it was too cool!.

 

Friday, more burnt leaf sacrifices to the wind God. raising some crowded daffodils for thinning out to new homes. Saturday--too much rain, so nothing.

 

Stupid Christow

I have this walk in plastic greenhouse that I use as a raised bed with the frame providing support for tall tomatoes and any climbers.


Walk In Greenhouse (4 Shelves)


Now I had the great idea to use it as a greenhouse for the spring to acclimatise seedlings.

Well, when I originally bought the thing the cover ripped in the first storm so I complained and asked for a replacement cover, but stupid Christow sent me a full kit. So, I have two sets of metal rods and connectors happily scattered around the various corners of the garage (it's hard to believe the garage is in fact rectangular as it has at least 34 corners, all dark and spider infested). One cover, no instructions.

Now, how hard can it be? Honestly, just put the frame together over the existing lower part-aka-raised bed and shelving and slip the cover on.

After an hour of garage excavations I had located the cover and various metal rods of assorted lengths and a bag of connectors, plus some spares that seemed to fit this greenhouse rather than other, historical ones. Off we go to build!

Things went fairly smoothly with a little aid of extra virgin olive oil (all I had at hand), two hours of hard labour and later on, kind assistance of The Baby.

At least the neighbours had something to watch when we finally declared the frame ready to fit the cover on. Sadly, the apex is all wonky and the sides of the upper half lean outwards so it was unlikely from the start to think the cover might fit.

We tried very hard, and decided to leave it (the thing now looks like a teenager with an ill fitting miniskirt but hey ho) and I googled the stupid manufacturer to complain.

Well, it turns out that the apex has long rods with a bent end plus a shorter rod. We put the bent end up, as anyone who has any logic in their mind would, but apparently stupid Christows think the wonky end should be down and the straight end up.

Who could have possibly thought of that, I just ask!

Well anyways, hours of laughing fits and hard labour with one's offspring is allegedly very healthy. Tomorrow I'll email stupid Christows to see if they sell replacement covers as ours is somewhat damaged, must be low quality.

In other news, rummaging through the garage corners unearthed (uncobwebbed? ) loads of gardening gloves that are now washed and ready for spring. Most of them are left hand gloves, probably it's a trick from stupid Wilko's to get me buying more in order to get bidextrous coverage. What victims of retailers we are!

My glass of wine and baked Camembert are well deserved after today's ordeals, I think. The Baby said she will let me win in Carcassonne. Life is good

 

Planted some shallots, garlic and Elephant garlic. Then cut down a couple of old elderberry bushes, trunks were half rotten.