Hi all, a quick update on the seeds! I am pleased to report that 5 of the 6 cucumber seeds have germinated so far and are currently uncurling themselves on the landing window! So today I bought them a grow bag to 'graduate' into when they get big! So far no sign of the Kolh Rabi but the packet did say 7 to 21 days and they've only had 14 days so fingers crossed they poke their heads out soon!
I have also purchased some bargain hanging baskets (special offer at Aldi for this week for anyone inclined to follow in my footsteps!) Given that just a basket would usually be around the £5 mark I decided that the basket plus compost and plants was a good deal - I have 3 hanging basket hooks on the front porch so I figured this was good use of space - I already have one basket and some cherry tomato seeds to plant in it so I got two more baskets, one chilli pepper and one strawberry. They have been planted and have joined the cucumber party on the windowsill upstairs. For anyone with a love of non-functional growing (i.e. flowers!) they had flowery baskets too.
Fingers crossed they grow well (or at all!) because I love the idea of exiting my front door surrounded by the smell of strawberries, chillies and tomatoes! The Smalls can pick their own packed lunch on their way out of the front door in the mornings!
This puts my current planting total/growing potential to: 6 chilli plants, 3 basket strawberry plants, 2 garden strawberry plants (inherited), 1 pineberry plant, 1 redcurrant bush (inherited), 1 raspberry bush (inherited), 1 blackcurrant bush (inherited), 1 apple tree (inherited) one cherry tree (inherited), a big patch of rhubarb (you guessed it, inherited!), 6 cucumber plants, 6 kolh rabi....
So, watch this space!
Thursday 21 February 2013
Wednesday 6 February 2013
Planted!!
Snow, wind, rain, ah the trials and tribulations of a Welsh gardener!!
We finally made it outside today in an attempt to get the veggie patch started. The Madams were determined to thwart the attempts; 'Mummeeeeeeeeee' my hands are cold', yes, that's because its 4C out here and you've been splashing in the bird bath, dear child of mine! The Smallest Small also ended up with an unexplained bump on the head (she didn't cry out at all!) and a muddy mouth... I don't want to know what she was eating!
Anyhow, in the brief time spend out there some constructive activity took place. The ground has been composted, probably could have done with a bit more on there but there was no way I was going to be allowed! Biggest Small stopped whinging long enough to plant some broad beans. She planted two rows, albeit in a slightly wonky manner, but I lost count of how many - maybe around the 15-20 mark?!? All will be revealedwhen if they come up. I hope they do; I LOVE broad beans but they are so expensive, if you can find them at all and the frozen ones are foul. If mine don't grow I'll have to fight a path to my Nana's door and compete with the rest of the family for her stash!
A small row of early carrots were also sown. This is from a packet which last year produced a whole carrot (which if you remember I stuck my fork through!) which is why I didn't use up too much growing space on them. Will be interesting to see if it is more successful this year but I won't be holding my breath, especially as the packet with the instructions on went sailing off in the breeze!
My beloved pineberry was given a new home next door to the strawberry plants (As recommended on the label for cross pollination purposes) and The Smalls have been threatened with living in the garage if they stand on it (although as we are currently out of heating oil its entirely possible that the garage is warmer than their bedroom anyway!). Can't wait to try a pineberry - that plant is on a very high pedestal at the moment!
In other news 6 cucumber seeds have been potted up and taken up residence in the landing window. Apparently they need to be at around 20C... so with our current (lack of) heating situation I'm hoping they aren't too fussy, they apparently take 7-21 days to come up so here's to a tense 3 weeks at Clueless HQ! Five kohl rabi seeds are also in the greenhouse (instructions said to grow in an unheated greenhouse so here goes!) - the plan is to plant a few every month to try and ensure a constant supply. Kohl Rabi? I hear you cry! Surely that goes against the KIS mantra?? And yes, maybe so. But they are apparently easy to grow and I was intrigued thanks to Mr Bloom....
For those uninitiated in the world of children's television, Mr Bloom is a kids gardening program featuring some talking vegetables and a rather trippy 'composterium' called Compo. Once upon a time in Mr Blooms Nursery they once grew some kohl rabi. The Biggest Small spent the next day shouting about cold rabbits, so they stuck in my head! No idea what they taste like.... or, now I think of it, how to eat/cook them... hmm, hello Google!
We finally made it outside today in an attempt to get the veggie patch started. The Madams were determined to thwart the attempts; 'Mummeeeeeeeeee' my hands are cold', yes, that's because its 4C out here and you've been splashing in the bird bath, dear child of mine! The Smallest Small also ended up with an unexplained bump on the head (she didn't cry out at all!) and a muddy mouth... I don't want to know what she was eating!
Anyhow, in the brief time spend out there some constructive activity took place. The ground has been composted, probably could have done with a bit more on there but there was no way I was going to be allowed! Biggest Small stopped whinging long enough to plant some broad beans. She planted two rows, albeit in a slightly wonky manner, but I lost count of how many - maybe around the 15-20 mark?!? All will be revealed
A small row of early carrots were also sown. This is from a packet which last year produced a whole carrot (which if you remember I stuck my fork through!) which is why I didn't use up too much growing space on them. Will be interesting to see if it is more successful this year but I won't be holding my breath, especially as the packet with the instructions on went sailing off in the breeze!
My beloved pineberry was given a new home next door to the strawberry plants (As recommended on the label for cross pollination purposes) and The Smalls have been threatened with living in the garage if they stand on it (although as we are currently out of heating oil its entirely possible that the garage is warmer than their bedroom anyway!). Can't wait to try a pineberry - that plant is on a very high pedestal at the moment!
In other news 6 cucumber seeds have been potted up and taken up residence in the landing window. Apparently they need to be at around 20C... so with our current (lack of) heating situation I'm hoping they aren't too fussy, they apparently take 7-21 days to come up so here's to a tense 3 weeks at Clueless HQ! Five kohl rabi seeds are also in the greenhouse (instructions said to grow in an unheated greenhouse so here goes!) - the plan is to plant a few every month to try and ensure a constant supply. Kohl Rabi? I hear you cry! Surely that goes against the KIS mantra?? And yes, maybe so. But they are apparently easy to grow and I was intrigued thanks to Mr Bloom....
For those uninitiated in the world of children's television, Mr Bloom is a kids gardening program featuring some talking vegetables and a rather trippy 'composterium' called Compo. Once upon a time in Mr Blooms Nursery they once grew some kohl rabi. The Biggest Small spent the next day shouting about cold rabbits, so they stuck in my head! No idea what they taste like.... or, now I think of it, how to eat/cook them... hmm, hello Google!
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