What a Sow and Sow - February.

Hello there, before I begin here is my usual greeting at the start of all my posts, just incase this is your first visit, so best wishes to everybody as we are once again in lockdown and hope you are coping well physically and mentally.

**************************

Right it's January 18th today and, as is the norm, I'm not getting up to much outside in the garden. Having said that I have begun some work in the polytunnel which is adding fresh compost in a couple of places. I also gave my compost 'daleks' a bit of a turning but if you have seen my recent super professional, 🤣 ,YouTube video you'll know I explained my plan of making two compost bays out of pallets. I really would like to get these made as soon as possible; Jon has access to as many pallets as we need so we can hopefully get this done by the beginning of next month.

Ok, seeds. These are the things we like to eat and that I hope to grow this year!

I may sow some Early Nantes carrots in the polytunnel in a container this month. However next month will begin the main sowing dates. As I said in my last post I'll be following advice from Charles Dowding and my polytunnel book; I've decided to keep sowing, keep sowing this year to make sure I have no gaps in the polytunnel or outside in the beds. I'm sometimes worried about wasting seeds but I often put things outside the front door in our egg house for people to help themselves to and hopefully I'll still be able to do that again should I still have some spare seedlings. During the first lockdown I enjoyed swapping lots of things, including plants, via our community Facebook page. 

Right February will begin with the following: (MS stands for multi-sow)

Turnips (MS) Purple Top Milan, the classic variety.

Spring Onions (MS) Ishikura, a mild flavoured bunching variety.

Khol Rabi Delicacy Purple tasting similar to stems of broccoli which I love in soups or stir fry.

Cabbage Greyhound, an early variety with pointy heads to harvest  from June/July.

Cauliflower All The Year Round, such a versatile seed.

Broccoli Matsuri F1 which is a compact variety, may be easier to protect from pests.

Aubergines Black Beauty which I'm trying really hard with as never been successful and so want my own ratatouille!

Salad leaves of various sorts, whatever takes my fancy really and these will go direct into the polytunnel near the door again so they don't get to hot.

Peppers including a Romano red one and one called Etiuda Orange, possibly a third that I may have ordered - more of that later.

Basil Red Leaved which is so very tasty and Sweet Green as it never fails.

I have some herbs in pots in the polytunnel ready to plant out when the weather is right.

Tomatoes are something I'm determined to keep improving on after last year's better efforts - 

Maskotka a bush variety to grow in pots, some outside and in the polytunnel.

ILDI F1 a lovely, small yellow plum type needing some support.

Marmande which are a large, fleshy, late maturing bush variety.

Big Mama Plum Large are good for soups, sauce and salsa - these I hope to have a go at bottling if I get enough!

Tumbling Toms which are not frost hardy so will be in hanging containers in the polytunnel.

Maghrebi are a fleshy, blight resistant variety.

Should be something to suit everybody out of that little lot.

In pots, not sure of the name but red, I have 60 sets in the poly house. Of those 20 are looking good but not so sure about the others. Here comes the order issues, I received an email the other day saying my order of Vulcan Spring planting onions are on their way! I don't remember ordering them but they may be a replacement as I've had a few issues with orders recently! Some space will have to be found for them along with something else. My seed spud order came but only half of it was right. I expected a 1st and 2nd early order but got the first and then some maincrop ones. I'd decided not to grow the latter as I just don't have room for the plants when they get to the full size and they are the only things I really like to rotate and that doesn't work well for me - where they'll go I don't know, probably growing bags as I do luckily have some of those in the poly house.

The MS items are the only things I will have tried this method with so far along with the leeks I'm still harvesting and we're really enjoying those in soups and pies just now.

Still on the subject of orders, I have coming in the next month or two Rhubarb crowns of  Temperley, an early harvesting variety and I'm also very excited about establishing an asparagus bed so have three crowns of Mondeo variety arriving in March - work to be done on the bed for those.

Flower wise I'll sow some marigolds to pop in between the tomatoes plus they look pretty. I have annuals outside the poly house and various perenials and others in the planters outside the Airbnb rooms.(Funny describing them as such seeing as we're not intending to take any guests throughout 2021.)

So that is my plan for February so far, quite a lot of work but I'm really looking forward to it. The weather here in Wales is quite wet and miz right now and I'm only inclined to get outside if the sun is shining a little bit, guilting me to get my wellies on and so something! I love it when I get out there, though, and here's why.

I'll keep you up to date when I get started but would also love to know if you are growing something for the first time and how you get on with it.

Bye for now, 

Lou.xx

 

In And Out Of The Garden

Hello?!

I'm still here. It has been a while since my last post but I thought it was time for me to have a bit of a ramble. I have some good things, hopefully you agree, to share. (Apologies to those who follow me on Twitter who may have seen some of my ramblings there.)

Of course let us start in the garden. (I'm doing the wordy bit first then will add the photos so if it looks a bit skew apologies but just want to get something down!)

Right, the veg patches are coming on well plus we've have had some good things to eat. These are the views from each end of the growing area a few days ago I think. I'm sure you can see the potatoes in the middle of the main patch; very pleased with these after total failure with maincrop last year.

The onions have been taken up and,along with the shallots and you can see they are now in the cellar drying out and will be ready to store very soon. I did see Darren Lakin, I think, on Twitter talking of pickling shallots for Christmas; I'd would be interested in trying that.



Other yummy treats we have had from the garden have been the early spuds, courgettes, cabbage, dwarf peas and I can't forget about the sweet peas (obvs not for eating).



However, one of THE most exciting things in the garden is this. People say they are very hard to grow and I have to say I have taken super good care of them and look -  a cauli!!!!!

And I have 4 of them I think!

Other seemingly successful edibles this year are cabbages,

garlic is now drying in the poly house due to the rain,not a massive harvest but enough for our needs,

and we are picking red and green lettuce bowl daily - this is my BEST year yet and proves I should not really bother trying to grow it in the poly house, much better result outside.

Also outside I have celery for the first time; these are looking healthy as are the other two plants in the bed outside the poly house. Growing this for Jon.

I haven't taken up any carrots yet; they've not been the most successful of edibles in the past and not all have taken this year but will take a look at them soon.

There are lots of flowers on my dwarf beans but nothing else yet. I did well with a smaller number of plants last year so I really hope to have a good yield this year.

Ah finally the PSB. Was very grateful to be given these plants, along with the celery.

Into the poly house now and the two Marketmore cucumber plants at the back are just flowering and the Butterbush squash is doing well, too. 

I have some seeds which have germinated, on the left are some more cucumber which I'm going to chance my arm with and plant out shortly where the onions were. Top left are cabbages and Kale at the bottom, again to see what they do outside over the next couple of months.

My basil posts continue to thrive. I've given some away and put one in the kitchen but I just like taking a leaf off when I pop into the poly tunnel, especially from the purple one which is delicious.

Tomatoes have, again, not been good for me this year. But, I have two fairly healthy plants - don't ask me what variety they are!

Lastly I have been given three red currant bushes and a goji berry one. I have them in the poly house as there is no way for me to net them; hope they survive.

Outside my wild flower chimney outside is proving very pretty. 

I've been working hard on the flowers outside the Airbnb rooms and have taken new photos to put on the listing details. The hanging baskets have wowed me and the planters are now full to the brim outside the first two rooms.

I'm going to have a brew now and then turn round the room from guests who left earlier this morning. My bookings have gone crazy; so good, so very busy for the next three weeks at least and it isn't even August yet!

Right, I think that is enough of a ramble for the day. Apologies again for those on Twitter who may have seen some of my progress.

Bye for now. 

Lou.xx

Just How Tired?

Hello!

Flippin' heck, tired?

We went to the Spring Festival at Builth Wells last Saturday. Before we left the house at 7.30am a booking came in for one of he Airbnb rooms. Everything was ready but I still like to be home some time before guests say they will arrive in case they call for directions due to being lost! We had a good time at the festival. Having been out I had a few jobs to do in the afternoon so that is where it began. 

On Sunday we set to cleaning the new listing from top to bottom. After lunch we headed into Aber, looking like not sure what still in our work clothes, to start getting stuff basically. We bought towels, bedding including quilt, pillows, topper, toaster, kettle etc. All very exciting! We were tired but still found time after tea to take a drive and walk up near Teifi Pools.

On Monday it was the turn of the fridge to get a spring clean so that could be turned on. With other regular jobs to be done, too, I was pleased Alf had decided to stay at Urdd club then I had to fetch him at 4.30pm. Harry came home from school and said it was boating with cadets but his name wasn't down, however he managed to wangle himself a space - he wasn't going to miss kayaking! This meant after tea I had to drop him off in Aber just after 6pm, came home and went through with Jon what we still needed to buy, then went back again at 8.30pm to fetch Harry getting home at about 9.45pm. I did take some great photos of them coming back into the boat yard, though!

Then yesterday I headed into Aber, again, with a long list to finish off the listing. I managed to get ALMOST everything, along with pillaging from the house and changing my mind on a few things but, I washed all the new things, got it dressed. We're also building planters and need to buy compost and plants to finish off the outside of the listing

After tea I finally got into the poly house and was determined to get a few things done but to just relax a little.

Things are really looking fab now. Salad leaves and herbs are growing well enough to pick every other day.

Both First and second early spuds are coming on well. In the 1st bed I also have radishes and spinach.

 

. 

Other progress is happening with the strawberries,

blueberries

and Autumn planted onions.

I have taken the plunge and planted out the courgettes...

a bit close maybe but what the heck - the foliage can grow over the sides of the tyres!

The sink where I planted more lettuce and spring onions are doing ok;I always seem to have trouble with spring onions. In the tyre at the top of the photo I have planted out a couple of cabbages, too,and the others are ready to go out, too. I am PRAYING the last frosts have passed but our weather is set to be lovely other the bank Holiday weekend when we are full of guests!

Here are the first of my tomato plants in their final places; these are called Red Zucker and to be grown indoors,.

The sweet peas are starting to flower which I'm very pleased about - hope to get lots.

Today I have taken things a little easier but still jobs need to be done so I'd better post this.

So that's a little update of what is happening her on my little patch of paradise and I always enjoy seeing what everybody else is sowing and growing, too.

Bye for now.

Lou.x

Easter Was Crazy!

Hi there!

Easter weekend was crazy as both our Airbnb rooms were busy from Thursday until the last guests left on Tuesday; this is the first Easter we have been soooo busy. We had some lovely guests who brought with them dogs and vintage cars. The car was a 1934 Talbot and its owners were taking part in an event at Devil's bridge.

So I've been catching up with washing and ironing as well as getting the rooms ready for our own visitors who came yesterday. The boys don't go back to school until Tuesday but uniform has been in the ironing pile to make sure that all is ready. Me and the boys went to town on Thursday for the barbers and had lunch then did the food shopping so I could come home to finish both rooms. 

Another job I've had was to clean the bathroom from top to bottom. Being an old house the walls are very thick and it isn't a quick job to put in an extractor fan so we have to keep an eye on any mould spots, also in readiness for our visitors; we plan to install the fan some time this year.

I baked an almond pound cake and iced it yesterday ready for having with tea and coffee for my friend who arrived yesterday afternoon.

I also made an apricot tear and share scone to be served with chutney and apricot Stilton as part of anti pasta as Jon's cousin and her fella weren't getting to us until 9pm for supper and drinks.

We had a great evening with fantastic food, some guitar playing a singing before taking ourselves off the bed far too late! We are just about to head into town for some lunch and hopefully Storm Hannah, who arrived this morning, will have calmed down a bit by the time we get there.

Now enough of inside so here are photos of how things are coming along in the poly house and the garden. 

Starting with the poly house here are my courgettes Tondo di piacenza; they're going great guns! I grew these last year to about the size of a tennis ball.

I'm growing a variety of Squash called Butterbush this year to be grown in containers and they'll be planted in one of my big tyres.

Now the Meteor peas are growing really well but I'm not going to pick them yet; I'm slightly concerned as I'm supposed to be planting my cucumbers and aubergines in the poly house bed.

My tomatoes are a little bit behind some people's but never mind; I'm growing Ailsa Craig, Gardener's Delight, Red Alert, OutdoorGirl, Cuor Di Bue and Yellow Delight!

Leeks for the first time seem to look like they should; I've sown another tray, too. 

Oh, I have a third variety of courgette which is Goldena; I loved growing these yellow ones last year as they look great when pickled with radishes and in stir fries!

I moved one of the strawberry plants from the bench into the poly house and it has flowers!

Here are my first early spuds Swift on the right with the radishes peeping through.

Bye for now.

Lou.xx