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 :)

Leaf And Flower Week

One of my Grapevine chums started a thread around the old adage of "oak before ash in for a splash. Ash before oak in for a soak!"
Now we are having some pretty wet and cold weather for April and all I can see at home are the oaks, no ash trees up here. So I have no idea if we are in for a soak other than we have yet to see much sun. The tomatoes have been back and forth from the greenhouse to dining table more times than I care to admit owing to very low night time temperatures. The gamble on us having a warm start to Spring, as we had last year, has not paid off. All seedlings are currently in a state of limbo whilst I wrestle with my itch to sow. This brings me nicely to my next post of what to sow in April during my lunar period of leaf and flower week, which starts today. I must set out that raised bed of salad and herbs at home, but need to sort compost and top soil, so this is a job for later on. But what else at this time of year? I have sown pretty much everything I need to for now, coupled with a lack of room in the greenhouse, except kale and maybe some PSB. I intended sowing those, along with Winter cabbage in May, as by then some seedlings should have left home. All other seeds that need sowing in April are my roots and fruits...but lo and behold the postman came to my rescue. For it was he, who brought a large brown A4 envelope from Garden Organic, which contained my exotic seeds. Back in February I signed up to a new project led by GO called "Sowing New Seeds". This is designed to get non traditional crops growing across the Midlands. I have Shark Fin Melon, Chick Pea, Calaloo and Fenugreek. The latter two fall into my week of leaf, so guess what I will be sowing now!