13th June 2022 - Preparing For a Trip Away
With the weather now permanently above freezing and all the plants benefiting from being in the sun, we are taking lots of the plants outside. Here, in the first picture you can see we have used a pallet for a makeshift shelf on which to put many of the seedlings. Lettuce, radish, alyssum, marigold, cabbage, and lots more besides.
The cold frame is now emptied and we will be using it to store empty seed trays and containers as they become available.
Round the back of the polytunnel we have also created a “potting on” shelf to move plants on to the next containers as they grow. Basil, Dill, Coriander, Parsley and other herbs are also being grown this year… so plenty of work.
The Lobelia are starting to look nice and attract the bees. Behind the Lobelia is a fine array of different lettuces! On the shelf atop the structure behind the polytunnel some lettuces are starting to find their feet. This is a bit of an experiment. It might be that the guttering is used mainly for seed germination rather than growing the actual plant itself.
Over on plot no. 2, corn is in, beans have been sown directly into the soil and the 4 butternuts are now in the ground. We have also sunk some pallets into the ground at the end of the strip of land. This we have used to secure a fence, which we will use as support for whatever we decide to grow there, maybe cucumber.
The wooden makeshift fence has been strengthened (to the right) although to be fair it is still very makeshift!
The potatoes have now almost completely hidden the greenhouse behind us, as they continue to grow!
Around the front of the polytunnel, the courgettes are doing well. We are using the cloche to provide some protection against the wildlife until they settle in and outpace them.
On the other side of the path, Desi has planted out some cabbages and cauliflower and has sewn two white nets together so that we can extend the protection from the Purple Sprouting and cover these new brassicas. Still loads more cabbages, cauliflowers, and sprouts to plant!😲
Meanwhile, inside the polytunnel, tomatoes are galloping along. We have also planted spring onions, marigolds, and some small basil plants. Some of the tomatoes in pots are getting a bit leggy now, and need to go out somewhere, the peppers are also in need of getting in the ground, the problem being most of them will go on the other side of the polytunnel which at the moment is in use and needs a bit more of a clearout and then we’ll get those peppers in.
Round the back of the compost bins the first sweet pea flower shines forth. We are looking forward to a long and plentiful flowering. The scent will be awesome if this ends up being everything we planned.
