15th May 2022 - Switching from Construction & Maintenance to “Growing”
This is the time when the workload switches from maintenance and construction to improve the plot over to what it is really all about: growing food! Still some jobs to tackle though, Desi is more involved in germination, planting, watering and feeding whilst Chris has still plenty to be getting on with, especially that of finding space to put the plants!
The grass is starting to get long. Just one week from the last blog post and what a difference! Still not able to cut the grass yet and we can spot some weeds also enjoying the sheltered spot, so these will be the first tasks: cutting and weeding.
Some mallows (seeds from last year) are in the terrace border, along with the Agapanthus (survivor from last year). The Horseradish is growing well although we never expected it to produce flowers!
First two flowers for the decorative fence planters are Echinacea. Let us hope they like it there. We’re on the lookout for other things that might enjoy this location.
In go the courgette plants next to the tomatoes. Last year these grew huge, we might have to work out how to “train” them this year as they have less space available to roam.
Can’t stop the potatoes, now 5 planks of wood high, and they are still looking to grow higher. We’re also running out of soil so perhaps just one more plank? In the next picture, we have dug the plot between the potatoes and last year's “tired” brassicas ready to pop in other plants there. We keep finding potatoes growing in places we had them last year, so we have relocated them to buckets. Evidently we missed digging them out last year. There are a few (lots).
Jerusalem Artichokes doing well, now accompanied by Rosemary… a little bit shady around here, but let's see how they cope.
Up at the top of the plot, the Horseradish is winning the race against the Sweet Peas. Having to fight them off to give the Sweet Peas enough light to get going. The good new is, they aren’t dying!
Inside the polytunnel we have acquired some seed trays and a long water tray to simplify the germination process and to water from underneath to promote strong long roots. There is an additional modification in process for the polytunnel too. This will be a window. The polytunnel got super hot last year so this will enable us to ventilate the polytunnel without having to always open the door (we are thinking).
Onions and the Purple Sprouting Broccoli continue to do well. The Purple Sprouting filling up the white netting these days, but not too much purple sprouting as yet, just lots of leaves.
On the right hand side of the next picture we have attempted to conceal the water pipe with some wood surround. Hopefully this will prevent it from being seen from the road and vandalised, which unfortunately has happened during our tenure here.
Time to wind up operations here today, and Desi having a last walk around checking on things. We are quite pleased with the start to 2022. The plot looks and feels much better than on February 8th this year, and now things are starting to grow it is beginning to be our preferred destination each day.
