Polytunnel Planting

Have polytunnel, will sow. One side devoted entirely to tomatoes (and this is not all of them)! Second side has sown a double row of dwarf peas, Charmette and Hatif D'Annonay, a single staggered row of Champion of England peas, Goldensweet Mangetout, courgettes, patty pan squash, Boothby's Blonde cucumbers and French beans. Various salad leaves and basil completes the planting for now. It's very exciting having another space to grow in.

Cool Cucumbers For Hot Houses

Back in February I sowed my cucumbers and gherkins, now in May they get planted. I sowed two Beth Alpha cucumbers which are for greenhouse growing only. They are six inch sweet fruits which I harvest one of daily. Two plants give us all we need.
The gherkins, I sowed three of Piccolo Di Parigi and two Cornichons de Paris. All are now planted upon the staging in ring culture pots and growbags. I find this method works well for me. I then grow up strings attached to the high shelf above, once they reach that far, all seedlings will be off the shelf and planted out. Three cucumber plants of Boothbys Blonde will go out into the allotment later.
Pics here...

Changes To The Garden - polytunnel pics

It's been a long time in this garden, nearly fifteen years and in that time it's been transformed, albeit slowly, from old bloke's wrecking yard to herbaceous beauty. Well I think so anyhow. We must have dug out hundreds of stones, rocks, metal objet d'army and car parts. The old tea roses stuck around a square of grass have been replaced by a willow, alchemilla, David Austin roses, tree peonies, standard peonies, choisya, oriental poppies, hellebores and much more. The other side was hard standing for a tatty caravan. Both went and the new soil provided a superb start for what are now mature trees, shrubs and plants. It is only now as I sit back and admire the verdant growth pitched against the indigo blue of the ceanothus that the years of backbreaking work bear fruit. I feel smug. But not for long, because beyond the paradise is "the Somme", formerly badly laid or very old hard standing, ripped up to make way for a new polytunnel and gravel area. This is where I intend to put my permanent raised beds, be they wooden or brick built. Hopefully it will not take another twelve years to see this come to fruition, but I know in the end it will be worth it...life already has taught me this much.

Petit Haricots Francais

Today is another fruit day, biodynamically, not synodic I know. But I'm behind and needs must. I have sown
- Pinto
- Zuni Bush
- Ying Yang
- Dapple Grey
- Kingshorn Wax
- Black Valentine
- Tendergreen
- Flavert

I leave you with a picture of the very pretty Ying Yang Orca Bean

No Longer A Squash In The Greenhouse

Well that is strictly true, as I'm germinating them in the house on a windowsill!
It's also less of a squash physically in the greenhouse, owing to my moving the tomatoes out of there and into the house (orangery/garden room). The polytunnel arrives Monday, so once that's up (ahem Mr VVG) the tomatoes will reside in there.
I have today sown Mrs Connells Black runner beans, given to me by the ever experimental Zazen999 - thanks to you! Also in the potting mix today went all my chosen squash for 2012; eight varieties, two of each.
The gherkins got planted into greenhouse growbags on staging. Tomorrow, the cornichons and greenhouse cucumbers will join them! I also plan to sow all my chosen French Beans for 2012, whilst Mr VVG prepares the footprint area for the polytunnel...can't wait!

Second Base

OK as you know yesterday was shed day and we worked tirelessly until daylight diminished. All shed walls got up, roof trusses were fitted, decking put in place. The shed is now ready for its final skin up top. The roof!
Doors need a little modifying to close smoothly too, so we need an early start tomorrow before wending our way to Malvern. This should enable us to throw on a roof, felt and to fix the decking. Looks like I'll be painting Monday, if the weather holds.

More pics for you to enjoy!

First Base

Last weekend we purchased a shed, 7 x 10. It's for home and will provide much needed storage. First job, prior to its arrival today, was to build an elevated base. So last week we purchased timber to do this and some decking for steps and a front area for the doors to open onto.
We started to build this today, as well as taking delivery of said shed. Despite explaining to B and Q that we live up a single track lane with restricted access, they sent a very long flat bed lorry. So the car was taken to the bottom of the lane, not for the first time, where it was loaded up with a large load of timber parts.
Here are some pictures of the base building...to be continued.

Playing Catch Up In May

Well, what with the wash out that was April and still waiting for last frosts, I have, waiting to go into the allotment, the following:-
Runner Bean Blackpod
Sweetcorn Double Standard
Too many tomatoes to name
Assorted cucumbers and gherkins
Celery
Celeriac
Assorted Peas - too wet to work the soil

I have not even begun sowings of swede, French beans or any squashes yet; owing to an already overstuffed greenhouse...take a look for yourself!

Wet, Wet, Wet

No, not a group from way back when, but the weather. First we are told we are in drought, then the heavens open and we are all on flood alert. From our garden we can see that the River Trent has indeed overflowed onto its flood land. We are atop a high hill, so nothing for us to worry about. The main problem I've had is not being able to get any planting done up at the allotment, which renders me unable to sow anything else. The greenhouse is burgeoning. The night-time temperatures have been so low, I can't harden anything off either. The cold frame is full to the brim with brassicas. I may have to be brave tomorrow and pop on some water wings and get on the allotment, if only around the bed edges. Fortunately we have free draining soil, so I am hoping it will not be too wet.
The garden at home is sopping and everything has grown a hundred percent. The grass needs mowing - too wet. The weeds need hoeing off - too wet. The compost needs turning - I'll get wet! I did however manage to get two large trays of tomatoes planted into Morrisons pots. I have another large tray to complete, but need more compost. My varieties for the greenhouse grow bag planting also need to be started. On the upside I have had a move around, yet again, and I think I can safely say I have lots of plants to fill that polytunnel when it arrives.
Happy swimming everyone :)