Busy Doing Nothing

Bedraggled Primula After the Snow Melted

My Favourite Autumn Colour in January (Tayberry)

   As most of my regular readers will know, My blog posts recently have been, one per week generally speaking, (or rather typing). The 2 main reasons for this have been the continuing naff Winter weather and also, when I've been lucky enough to get down to my plots during a break in the weather, the scenario has been much the same, that of clearing N2 Plot, for this seasons sowing and planting.

Snow Melting 1 Hour Ago

This week has been yet another none event due to snow covered allotments. I made 1 visit to my plots a couple of days ago, but only because one of my buddies wanted to borrow my wheelbarrow for removing turf from his garden. The snow has almost disappeared here now, after overnight rain, but within the last half hour more is coming down mingled with rain. Now that the snow has melted it is evident that the ground is still waterlogged and any further "gardening" will be on hold for some time, I fear. From my point of view that may be good news as I will be in hospital at least this coming weekend and out of action for a while after that. To compensate for these delays my plans for this year were to sow and plant more veggies in situ, rather than into pots, early, giving me twice as much work. Funny how you miss blog posting, reading and gardening when its not there.

Peeking Through the Snow 2 Days Ago

 Speaking of waterlogged ground, remember the almost nationwide flooding before Christmas. Spare a thought for the residents around the Curry Moor, North Curry and East lyng areas of Somerset (Taunton Rurals). Flood warnings are still in place and water is still being pumped from the Somerset levels at a vast rate. As I type heavy snow is again falling here.

Snow Melting 1 Hour Ago

5 Minutes Ago (Golly Gosh)

There's Always Tomorrow!!

Merry Christmas???

We Don't Get Snow in Somerset??

Still Digging (Part 9)!! More Delays and Stones

Alpine Strawberries From Last Season Flowering 13/1/13

  Okay so I realize that it's almost the middle of January and Winter weather is to be expected across the UK but just how much more rain is the ground expected to put up with into this year. The various weather forecasts seem to conflict from day to day and even the weather itself is fluctuating regularly. As an example of this, when I left my plots for home yesterday at about 1530 the weather was dry and cold with the temperature dropping enough to make my feet extremely cold despite the fact I was wearing 2 pairs of thick woolen socks. By 2000 the temperature had actually risen several degrees and remains at about +5 degrees with rain at the moment. Although I appreciate the very nice gardening related presents I received for Christmas, no-one decided to buy me a weather related crystal ball to help me in planning this years sowing/planting agenda. If anyone is planning a Summer holiday in the West Country this year my advice is to pack an umbrella and waders, forget the Bermuda shorts. I expect the price of fish and chips will go up next, due to the fish drowning.

Well that's the Monday morning feeling, moaning over with for another week and the sun is trying to shine through an overcast sky, its just a pity that the ground is already too wet for any work down the plots today.

Lower End of Plots Much the Same After Latest Downpour on 12/1/13

  Since my last post I have paid several visits to the plots, continuing to prepare the ground for this seasons sowing and planting. Last Tuesday I continued turning over the foot of the L-shape on Plot N1, parallel with the drainage ditch. This area is the lowest part of N1 plot and contains the shallowest amount of topsoil, a depth of only about 12 inches (30cm). The soil was wet and heavy as I turned it, removing the few perennial weeds. Lots of Goji roots were still present under the surface of the soil, these were all removed and composted. One root in particular was about 3 meters in length and had been growing towards my Rhubarb plants. A word of warning to anyone planting Goji Berry Plants, their root systems are very extensive and spread quickly, with suckers popping up randomly from the roots. Plenty of space is required to grow these plants. As I progressed along this part of the bed I was incorporating well rotted compost into the soil and breaking up some of the subsoil at the same time to give more depth and body to the whole area. Due to the wetness of the soil most of Tuesday, Wednesday and a further hour on Thursday morning was taken up completing the work on this bed. By this time the clay soil was fed, lighter and ready for planting. I then spent the remainder of Thursday morning, which was a pleasant, crisp, sunny morning, re-planting some more Cabbages into this years Brassica bed, turning in the compost from the surface of the bed at the same time. I was almost finished when down came more heavy rain, putting paid to any further progress until Friday afternoon.

Foot of L-Shape Plot N1 Weeded Fed and Turned 14/1/13

 On Friday afternoon I arrived at the plots about 1300. The ground was still wet from Thursdays rain but I decided to continue the battle against the Dandelions on the central bed of Plot N2. Only about 3 of inches (8cm) of the topsoil was actually still wet and slippery despite Thursdays rainfall. By late afternoon I had progressed back down the central bed another meter removing a barrow load and a half of Dandelion roots and stones. As dusk descended I locked up and headed home, relatively pleased with my progress.

Last Seasons Spring Onions

More Cabbages Re-Planted 10/1/13

 The heavy overnight rain on Friday and all day Saturday brought things to a halt again until yesterday, when I arrived at the plots about midday. They lower end of Plot N2 was yet again under about 4 inches (10cm) of water across the beds, with the remainder of the grass areas being very soggy indeed. Inspecting the beds on my main plot it was evident that they were being well compacted/flattened by rainfall. Despite 1 heavy midweek frost and another on Saturday night, the frost wasn't penetrating the soils surface to any extent and thus breaking it down. I decided to hoe over 2 of the beds yet again, or at least as much of them as I could reach from the paths. The idea was to loosen up the soil allowing wind/air to dry it out slightly and any further frosts to get more penetration further into it. By 1530 the temperature was again dropping so I called it a day, cleaned off my hoe and toddled off home for a hot cuppa.

Mainly Ash Trees (No Disease)

Mal from Mal's Edinburgh Allotment will know why I posted "The Stones Photo" and why Sue was sent home from school?? I found the book in a cupboard, over the weekend while I was looking for some gardening magazines. I must be getting old when I can remember going to see their first British Tour (gig) that is for the ankle biters.

  There's always tomorrow!!

Still Digging (Part 8)!! Dandelions 0 Me 1 More!!

Just An Average Sized Dandelion Root Today

  At the beginning of last week patience had to be a virtue. Two consecutive days (Monday and Tuesday) without rain as I waited for the soil on my plots to dry out enough to resume the battle against the Dandelions on Plot N2. Finally on Wednesday the soil was just workable and mid morning I commenced clearing the fourth small bed on N2. The soil on the main central bed was still too wet to deal with. Although the soil was still fairly sticky, this gave me an advantage over the roots breaking into bits, as each fork full of soil was lifted. The soil stayed bonded together with moisture as I turned each lump over. I then teased out the roots from their bases upwards removing any soil still sticking to the roots, by hand. Quite a few smaller roots pulled away from the moist soil easily without breaking. By late afternoon I had progressed back along about 50% of the bed.

First of the Cabbages Transplanted

 I was back down the plot on Thursday morning but decided to clear the drainage ditch of decaying vegetation and debris cutting, back the weeds and dead vegetation from the banks at the same time. By the time this was completed, across the width of 2 plots, I had accumulated 5 well filled barrow loads of various vegetation and deposited it onto my compost heap. Having removed several items of rubbish from along the length of the ditch, along with a few tree branches and some brambles the water was flowing away more freely, thus helping to drain off the water from my plots. I decided to thin out some of my Cabbages, replanting them into this years Brassica bed. The first row of 9 was done by mid afternoon and I then, finally got round to removing the dead Runner bean plants from Plot N1. The viable beans for this years seeds had been removed some time ago. The canes used as supports were removed and stored in my shed. The area I have been using to grow the Runner beans, on the L-shape of the plot, is well laden with soot. Due to the vast amount of soot in the soil here it is relatively free draining and was dry enough for me to hoe it over removing various perennial weeds in about an hour.

First of the Daffodils Showing on the Drainage Bank

Bluebells Showing on the Drainage Ditch Bank

 Friday afternoon saw me back down the plot continuing the battle against the Dandelions on Plot N2. The surface of the soil was a little damp due to heavy overnight and early morning mist, but was drying out slowly. On Saturday, Sunday and this afternoon the digging continued and by four p.m. today. I had completed clearing the fourth bed of everything except soil. If the rain holds off, the main central bed on N2 should be dry enough to work on in the morning.

One side of N2 Plot Finally Cleared of Dandelions

Can You Identify This (If I'm Correct it Devours Earthworms and Birds Don't Eat it)

As Above Picture

Just an update on the "BEASTIE" in the photographs. It is likely to be a Horse Leech (Haemopis sanguisuga). They can exist several meters from water and eat small snails and other invertebrates. The other possibility is a foreign imported species (Trocheta). Anyway I'm glad it wasn't a flat worm which I first thought. Leeches have gone up slightly in my estimation now I know they eat snails.

There's always tomorrow!!

Free Seed Vouchers

Just a quick post which I thought might be useful to my readers. Vegetableseeds.net are currently sending out free seed vouchers to the value of £10 if you link to them from your blog or website.

This is the link to their site (it is not the voucher link) - ClickHere