16th May, 2012

At last a half decent weekend and a chance to get outside.  I started by pricking out the parsley and lettuce. 

I bought some dahlias which will go in containers for some colour on the front porch.  When I potted them on I was able to split them further into about 11 plants.

It's time to lower the shelves in the greenhouse to allow more space.

I also fixed the broken louvres on the side vent; one of the glass panels kept falling out of its frame, so I used some adhesive filler to secure it.  Otherwise the glass obstructed the vent from opening and closing automatically.

I planted out the kohlrabi after a few days outside to harden off.  I should do this for about a week bringing them back in at night but I am not around during the week to easily do this.  I reckon that they are hardy enough and keeping them in the greenhouse makes them grow too fast.

I spread the sieved compost around them, the soil is still very clumpy especially when it dries out.  One day I may be in a position where I don't complain about the soil but I can dream. At the moment it goes grey when it's dry and I want it to be much darker. 

I'm happy with the autumn sown onions and garlic, the onions are swelling!

The strawberries are showing lots of flowers.

The broad beans too have flowers.  They have completely regrown new shoots since I planted them out.

The spuds are emerging.

We have some lovely bluebells in the lawn which is a great excuse not to have to mow it.

2nd May, 2012

It was an atrocious weekend, it seemed to rain all day and night and doing anything in the garden was a no-no.  On Friday the bottom field flooded but didn't quite reach the garden like it has in the past.  Despite the continuous rain the river level went down and the threat of further flooding subsided.

I managed to rush outside and snap a few photos of the greenhouse.

The peas are growing well in the gutter and I will need to plant them out; when the weather permits!

Next weekend is a bank holiday so it's probably going to rain again.  I reckon I won't have much to report though as the weather has turned cold and the plants have stopped growing.  It's been 3 weeks since I last had some asparagus and even now there is none to pick.

I can always start to sieve the pile of shreddings and lay it on the beds.