Paddy Field or Plot

The incessant rain finally abated about 1015 this morning, after putting my kayak back into the garage I drove down to my allotment to assess the outcome of the weekends storms. Only 2 other allotment holders were on sight and were busy draining rain water away from their plot.

My 2nd Plot from the road

Many plots were partially or mostly flooded, mainly the plots close to the allotment road, which was acting as a barrier, preventing the surface water from draining down the, (North to South) slope into the drainage ditch on the South side of the allotments.

Middle area of my 2nd Plot (Lettuce & Beetroot Under Water)

Top area of my 2nd Plot

My main plot was looking O.K. Although the ground was saturated the only area which had standing water on the surface was around my shed close to the drainage ditch.

My second plot was a different picture. Most of the area planted with spuds was waterlogged. 4 rows of Letttuce were under water and the lower end of the plot, nearest to the road was well under water. Sticking a garden fork into various parts of the ground, to see if the water would drain off, achieved little, except to stir up lots of mud. I checked my sheds for wind damage & water leaks, all was well. After filling a couple more rainwater barrels with water from the swollen drainage ditch I picked a couple of soaking wet lettuce for tea, swam back to my car & sailed home.

Another plot further along the road

My neighbours plot (other side of the road to my main plot)

Angle shade moth sheltering from the rain in my shed

There's more rain tomorrow!!

Thursdays Top 10 Tryouts (Or Show Us Yer Tips 9)!!

1. If you have used "permanent marker pens" to write on your plant labels try cleaning off the writing with wire wool/scouring pad and water, easy to do.

2. When planting Tomatoes, instead of planting the plants upright, lay the plants along a shallow trench, leaving only the top leaves above soil level. The whole stem should put out extra roots and will soon grow upright. A larger root area should give more nutrition to the growing plants.

3. Many Daffodils & other similar plants have finished flowering. Leave the foliage to die back naturally, this will put extra energy back into the bulbs for next seasons stronger growth.

4. Recently I read an introduction to an allotment blog indicating that crop rotation was too complicated & a waste of time. I realize that in some circumstances crop rotation is not practical but it is important and not really that complicated. Remember the following "phrase" for rotating your veg.

 Potatoes  Like  Being  Roasted in Oil.               

Potatoes/ (then)  L = Legumes/ (then)  B = Brassicas/ (then)  R = Roots/ (then)  O = Others.
 This assumes 5 different areas of ground over a 5 year period.     
You can grow some of the others (O) with some of the others for a 4 year rotation.

5. Pyrethrum (made from chrysanthemum flowers), is one of many natural insecticides. "Natural" insecticides can still be harmful to humans. Keep them away from children & wash all fruit and vegetables correctly before eating them.

6. O.K. so its probably raining "cats & dogs" at the moment but when the dry weather sets in again, try watering your plants with water left over after cooking your veggies, (after it's cooled down). The extra nutrients in the water from the cooked veggies will benefit the plants as well as saving more water.

7. If you are troubled with ants (outside areas), try the following (for adults only). Find the entrance to their nest. Liberally pour some bleach into the nest, let it soak in for a few minutes then pour boiling water into the nest. Take care when using bleach & boiling water. An alternative to this method is use garden lime, putting 2 or 3 handfuls into the nest.

8. Liquid feeds. Use a plastic container with a hole in the base, fill it with nettle leaves & put a heavy weight on top of the leaves. When a black liquid oozes from the hole, bottle it. Dilute the liquid 1 part liquid to 20 parts of water before WATERING AROUND plants with it.

9. Avoiding Eelworm.
 Plant certified, eelworm resistant potatoes. Use a crop rotation of at least 4 years. When lifting your Potatoes don't put the roots onto the compost heap. Don't plant diseased tubers.

10. Peas are normally ready for staking (adding pea sticks or supports) when the plants have developed their third set of leaves. 

Wet, Wet, Wet.

Unfortunately no posts about the plot since the 12th of April, due to the recent persistent heavy rain, hail, wind and low air temperatures. I managed a visit to my plot yesterday but the ground is saturated throughout, so seed sowing or working the soil was out of the question. I watered the seedlings in my cold frames & shed & did some weeding, removing weeds which I could reach from the paths around my planting beds, to avoid walking & compacting the wet soil. Funnily enough very few weeds have been germinating recently, partly due to the cooler temperatures and it seems that the regular hand weeding of the plots over the past couple of years has paid off, with less and less perennial weeds re-appearing. Remember the old saying, 1 years seeds are worth 7 years weeds?

Paved area @ the bottom of my garden 10 a.m. today, waterlogged.

 One bonus of the recent (and more to come), heavy rain is that my rainwater barrels are all full again. I had used almost 2 barrels of water, just watering seedlings during February & March. The following plants have benefited from the extra rain, Spring Onions, Leeks, Parsnips, Turnips, Cabbages and Rhubarb and especially the Lettuce and Carrots. The Carrots in fact, didn't germinate for some time, until after they had experienced the first heavy downpour of rain. On the downside my Sprouts and Peas don't seem to like the persistent very cool wind accompanying the rain. Usually by this time of the year I have already planted out my Runner Beans. They are still languishing in pots in my shed until the temperatures rise considerably more than at present. The 3 Tomato plants hanging from buckets, alongside my shed, don't seem to have been adversely affected by the cold and rain. I expect if they had been planted conventionally, they would be struggling by now. Tomatoes generally like warmth and warm soil around their roots. The extra rain seems to have aided the growth of my Potatoes, with several "earlies" and a few of the "maincrop" plants showing through the tops of their "earthing up".

Oca plants & Peppers still indoors

By 2 p.m. yesterday the rain started yet again so I toddled off home after putting some life-jackets around my Sweet corn plants. My latest project of constructing a roof over my manure "bin" to harvest rainwater is on hold at the moment. I have decided to use the wooden pallets, which I scrounged, to build a " Noas Ark", along the top of my drainage ditch bank, and load it up with 2 species of each vegetable I like, just in case the rain keeps coming.

Gotta be prepared for tomorrow.

P.S. It rained from 2 p.m. yesterday until 10-30 a.m. today. The sun has just appeared for a change, but no change to this areas drought restrictions at the moment?

   

Thursdays Top 10 Tryouts (Or Show Us Yer Tips 8)!!

Wildflowers

 1.  Saving Cucumber seeds. Leave the Cucumber on the vine until it is FULLY RIPE & the vine is dead. Keep the vine & cucumber dry, leaving it for about another week. After the Cucumber has turned soft, scoop it out, placing the "scoopings" into a container of clean water. Leave the seeds for a week then separate the seeds from the goo. Rinse & dry the seeds for a month then seal in a dry air tight container, keeping them in a cool dry location.

2.  Yet another spray against Aphids. 1 grated Lemon rind (or other strong citrus fruit), 1 Pint of water. Boil the water, remove from heat source add the rind & allow to soak for 24 hours. Strain the liquid, add to a spray bottle & spray the Aphids with it.

3. Hostas are good plants to grow in moist shady locations. In dry weather keep them mulched and add fish blood & bonemeal feed in Spring. If you grow Hostas in containers ensure that the soil does not dry out. Propagate by division in Spring after new growth has started.

4.  April is a good time of the year to prune Roses. Prune back last years stems by approximately half and add some feed around the plants.

5.  A list of a few plants that will add various fragrances to your garden/plot. Antirrhinums, Marigolds, Nasturtiums, Poached Egg Plants, Sweet Peas, Sweet Scabious, Buddleia, Daphne, Lilac, Magnolia, Mahonia, Mock Orange, Ornamental Quince, Witch Hazel, Roses, Clematis, Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Wisteria, English Bluebells, Hyacinths, Narcissus.

6.  The best times for planting out your seedlings (after they have been hardened off): Early morning, late evenings, cloudy/dull conditions, showery weather or after rain. Try to avoid planting on hot sunny days.

7.  Got a good memory? Check those containers you used last year for keeping various liquids in especially if you use chemical sprays etc. If you are not sure what has been in a container, dispose of it safely and use a new container.

8.  Some fruit and veggies, ideal for growing in confined spaces/containers. Carrot (Parceba) (in pots), Cucumber (Mini munch) (in confined spaces), Lettuce (Cut & come again) (confined spaces), Pepper (Caldero) (Hanging baskets), Tomato (Garden pearl) (Hanging baskets), Runner bean (Hestia) (Large pots on the patio), Strawberry (Florian) (Hanging baskets).

9.  Has your old electric kettle just burnt out, use it as an extra water jug for watering houseplants.

10.  Summer flowering bulbs can be planted at this time of the year if the soil is not waterlogged? Plant in well drained soil into a hole approximately 3 times the bulbs' size. Add drainage (gravel) to heavy clay areas of soil. Mark the areas where the bulbs have been planted, especially if other, later planting is planned.

Images courtesy of National Garden Bureau

  

Gardening Free Stuff

I came home from the plot earlier than expected today due to the cold weather. Although I have already got my packets of seeds for this year, I thought it might be an idea to list some links to websites that are giving away free seeds & other gardening stuff. I cannot vouch personally for the sights listed but you might be lucky:

1. Free flower bulbs worldwide.  >>>>>>>>>  CLICK HERE

2. Free flowers plants seeds & bulbs  >>>>>>>>>> CLICK HERE

3. Germplasm (CANADA) >>>>>>>> CLICK HERE

4. This is a community based tree planting scheme from the Woodland Trust >>>>>>> CLICK HERE

5. Free Delivery (on seed only orders) free packet of seeds + labels with order >>>>>>> CLICK HERE

6. Free seeds & catalogue  (You will need to send 3, 1st class stamps for this one) >>>>>> CLICK HERE

7. Link to Applegate Gardens website for a variety of free gardening downloads >>>>>>CLICK HERE

8. This is a link to a gardening freebies website (U.S.A.) >>>>>> CLICK HERE

9. Vegetarian/vegan starter kit >>>>>>>>CLICK HERE

Good Luck Don't wait until tomorrow,

Rooko

Tomatoes in the Sky, Dinosaur Bones and Sweetcorn in a Bottle

Well, yet another relatively fine week with warm sunshine, showers, cool breezes and colder night time temperatures.
All in all a good week in which I have achieved  more sowing, planting & other "bits & pieces" down the plot.

The allotment rightly took second place to family visitors & visits over the Easter weekend & Monday saw me pruning a couple of large shrubs & generally tidying up my back garden again. I discovered a swarm of bees, in the flower border alongside my patio, had established an underground hive in the dry soil. Although I was loathe to disturb them the situation had to be dealt with.

Tuesday I was back down the plot & potting up was the order of the day, Runner beans (Scarlet Emperor), Sweetcorn (Lark F1) and Tomatoes (Alicante) were sown into various pots & containers and put into my cold frame. I decided to loosen up the soil in between my Potato ridges with the intention of utilizing the space for Lettuce or another crop at a later date, (maybe more Onions)?


Yesterday was spent checking all my seedlings, watering them and placing them out in the sun from their protection in the cold frames and shed. I discovered one tray of pots, marked Runner beans 23rd February. There was no signs of germination, so checking each pot I found not a bean. Either a very clever mouse had taken the lot without leaving a trace or I had filled the pots with compost & omitted to add the Beans. Must have been a mouse Agatha?

Tuesdays Teatime Salad & Crumble

The Sweetcorn which had been sown some time ago was ready to be planted out so I got started with the first 2 rows of the block. Whilst I was hoeing around the Sweetcorn I unearthed a miniature Dinosaur skull or possibly some sort of rodent, probably the one that had nicked my beans earlier. Later I potted up 6 more Gooseberry plants from some layering and sowed the first row of Runner beans direct, on my second plot.

Sweetcorn in Bottles & earthed up (213 to go)

Today I scrounged some pallets and timber from my local garden centre ready for constructing a sloping roof over my manure bin which will enable me to collect more rainwater. Just in time as the local news reported earlier today that drought restrictions are being announced in our area next week. After stacking the pallets and wood I laid out the trays of seedlings again in the warm sunshine and set to work planting more Sweetcorn & Cauliflowers, then watered the Leeks, Carrots, Turnips & Lettuce. The soils' surface is extremely dry even  after a few recent rain showers. 

Tomatoes in the Sky

Return of the Mallards (to Drainage Ditch)

There's always tomorrow.

Thursdays Top 10 Tryouts (Or Show Us Yer Tips 7)!!

1. When earthing up your Potatoes, (the last earthing up), ensure enough earth is in place to cover all tubers, preventing sunlight from reaching them. Also ensure that the top of the ridges are not too FLAT, also COMPACT the sides of the ridges. The theory behind compacting is that any spores from blight on the plant, are less likely to get to the tubers and will be washed down into the trenches between the ridges.

2.  Broccoli (Purple & White) is not really fussy about soil, but firm ground with lime added will help Broccoli. Sow in Spring 18 inches (45cm) between plants and 2 feet (60cm) between rows. Keep mulched. Repeatedly pick the flowering heads as they develop.

3.  Look after the Bees this year by planting some Bee friendly plants/flowers in your garden or plot. Some examples are, Coltsfoot, Elder, Borage, White Clover.

4.  One job you know you really want to do? Give your lawn a good raking before feeding & cutting it. It is surprising how much good compost able material will be raked up after the Winter.

5.  Using Foxgloves as a companion plant to root vegetables is said to improve the storage qualities of the root vegetables.

6.  Some examples of vegetables that don't mind growing in partial shade: Cucumber, Kale, Swiss Chard, Parsley, Turnips, Peas, Summer Squash, Radish, Lettuce.

7.  Another method of preventing slugs/snails from getting at your potted plant. Spray the outside of the pots with WD-40. (Don't let the WD-40 get onto the plants).

8.   A water saving tip when planting trees and shrubs. Plant them into well rotted water retaining compost and add a good layer of mulch after planting.

9. When choosing plants for your garden consider the following factors. Size, habit, soil type, season, sun or shade loving, perennial, annual etc.

10.  When you are doing a spell of gardening, remember to take a break now and again. Don't try to do too many things at once and spoil the experience with back-ache or injury.

 

Thursdays Top 10 Tryouts (Or Show Us Yer Tips 6)!!

1. If you are sowing Sweetcorn, sow into compost able pots. The pots can then be "planted" into the ground, thus avoiding disturbing the seedlings roots, which Sweetcorn dislikes.

2. Bay has many uses in the kitchen. Being an evergreen storage is not a problem. Bay does not like frosts but can be grown easily, outside in warm climates. Keep protected from cold & frosts in less warm climates.

3. If you are having problems with animals on your garden or veggie plot try sprinkling some of the following around your plants. Red Chilli Pepper, Cayenne Pepper or freshly ground Black Pepper.

4. Many vegetable growers find Cauliflowers difficult to grow. Try the following. Check that their soil is neutral to slightly alkaline. Ensure the soil is very rich in nutrients, prepared the previous Autumn. About a week before planting apply a general fertilizer (about 90 to 100 grams per square meter). Full sun is required away from trees shrubs & hedges.

5. If you intend to sow Pumpkin seeds (or similar) ensure they are sown at a depth of approx 1 inch (2.5cm) on their edge, do not firm the soil/compost down on top of them after sowing.

6. Recent longer periods of dry weather may mean more watering of plants, but try to avoid over watering. Soil should be evenly moist but not waterlogged. Try to water early morning or in the evening to avoid evaporation from the soil. Water at soil level but avoid splashing soil onto plants which can spread disease.

7. If you have created an Asparagus bed, the following are good "companion plants", Basil, Parsley, Tomatoes, Pot Marigolds. AVOID SOWING/PLANTING ONIONS NEARBY.

8. Radishes are a good vegetable to grow in succession. They like cool moist conditions in an acidic soil. Sow thinly in drills. They will mature quickly within a month or so.

9. Myth or magic, try mixing 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts to 1 gallon of water. Water your Tomato plants with the mixture if they show signs of magnesium deficiency.

10. The Himalayan Blue Poppy is an ideal flower to grow in shade/partial shade in your garden. It is a hardy perennial which prefers a well drained but moist acidic soil. Seeds can be sown from March to May.

Sunny Somerset

Random picture of Clematis flowering in my garden 28th March 2012

Overwintered lettuce (left) Salad Mix (right)

My heartfelt commiserations to all gardeners & allotmenteers who have been affected by the snow, cold & low temperatures, over the last couple of days "up north". Apart from a cool breeze and some very light rain overnight & this morning not much has altered weather wise, here in Somerset. The sun is now trying to break through the patchy cloud, so with a bit of luck I will be down the plot again tomorrow. I went down to the plot earlier this afternoon to pick some Rhubarb, and to take some photographs to add to this post
. The seedlings had benefited from the "dusting" of rain but the ground underneath larger plants such as the Rhubarb was still dry. The following photographs show the progress of the seed sowing and planting which has been done over the last couple of months.
                                                                                       

1 Row of Crispheads transplanted from trays yesterday

Onions Spring onions Parsnips & Turnips

A view past my Plum tree.

No more room in the shed.

Runner beans in Shed

Maincrop Potatoes Appearing

Cabbages & Turnips

If the weather gets warmer this week I will be enjoying sowing more seeds this coming weekend.

Then again there's always tomorrow.