Thursday 21 March 2013

Spring Equinox

So spring is here, not that you'd know it, cold as the proverbial witch's tit up here. Still, best to show willing and all that, so I've made a start on sowing some seeds in the greenhouse, now that the days are finally getting longer.

(Picture by Amanda Clark)

Saturday 16 March 2013

Records 2013

Broad beans "Aquadulce" - Sown last autumn, some direct, some in coldframe planted out 19.4. More sown for next year in open coldframe 13.10, 9cm pots x24.

Broccoli "Early Purple" - Sown in greenhouse 21.4, small modules x10. Potted on to 9cm pots x5 10.5. Moved to coldframe 13.5. Planted out from 1.6.

Brussels Sprout "Cascade F1" - Sown 21.4 in greenhouse, small modules x10. Poor germination, another 10 sown 5.5. 6 potted on to 9cm pots 10.5. Moved to coldframe 13.5. Planted out from 1.6.

Cabbage "Greyhound" - Sown in greenhouse 21.3, small modules x20. Potted on to 9cm pots x16 20.4. Moved to coldframe 29.4. Planted out 10.5 30cm apart. 20 more bought in 17.6. Planted out 6.7 30cm apart.

Cabbage "Hispi F1" - Sown in greenhouse 17.5, small modules x20. Very poor germination, moved to coldframe 31.5. More sown in 15cm pot in JI No2 compost in open coldframe 27.5. Poor growth, not planted out.

Carrot "Amsterdam Forcing" - Sown 27.5, short row.

Carrot "Autumn King 2" - Sown 14.6, 3/4 row. Gaps resown 30.6.

Carrot "Early Nantes" - Sown in greenhouse in trough 21.3. Moved to coldframe 21.4.

Cleome serrulata "Solo" (saved seed) - Sown in greenhouse 21.3, small modules x20. Potted on to 9cm pots x12 8.5. Moved to coldframe 13.5. Planted out 1.6.

Climbing French Bean "Cobra" - Sown 21.4 in greenhouse, medium modules x24. No germination, 20 more sown 10.5. Only 4 germinated, moved to coldframe 31.5. Planted out 7.6.

Climbing French Bean "Purple Cascade" - Sown 21.4 in greenhouse, medium modules x24. Only 8 germinated, moved to coldframe 1.5. Planted out 13.5.

Cosmos "Dwarf Sonata Mixed" - Sown in greenhouse 21.3, small modules x10. Potted on to 9cm pots x6 26.4. Moved to coldframe 9.5. Planted out (at Rosemary's) 16.5.

Cosmos sulphureus "Ladybird Mixed" - Sown in greenhouse 21.3, small modules x10. Potted on to 9cm pots x9 26.4. Moved to coldframe 13.5. Planted out from 25.5.

English marigolds (saved seed) - Sown in greenhouse 12.4, medium modules x20. Moved to coldframe 1.5. Planted out 25.5.

Eryngium planum "Blue Hobbit" - Sown in open coldframe 15.8, 1/2 seedtray.

Helechrysum monstrosum "Eternity" - Sown in greenhouse 12.4, 1/2 seedtray. Pricked out to medium modules x12 5.5. Moved to coldframe 13.5. Potted on to 11cm pots x12 17.5. Planted out from 1.6.

Kale (Cavolo) - Sown in greenhouse 21.3, small modules x10. Potted on to 9cm pots x5 20.4. Moved to coldframe 29.4. Planted out x3 10.5 50cm apart.

Leeks "Musselburgh" - Sown in greenhouse 21.4 in 15cm pot. Moved to coldframe 1.5. Planted out 12.6.

Lettuce "Mixed" - Sown in 15cm pot in greenhouse 12.4. Moved to coldframe 1.5.

Lettuce "Red Salad Bowl" - Sown in old compost in greenhouse 24.5, small modules x10. Good germination, moved to coldframe 31.5.

Mizuna - Sown in greenhouse 23.4, small modules x10. Potted on to 9cm pots x3 10.5. Moved to coldframe 13.5. Planted out from 1.6.

Nicotiana mutabilis "Marshmellow" (saved seed) - Sown in heated prop 12.4, 1/2 seedtray. Moved to greenhouse 19.4. Pricked out to medium modules x24 2.5. Potted on to 11cm pots x15 17.5. Moved to coldframe 31.5. Planted out 15.6.

Onion "White Lisbon" - Sown 7.8, short rows x2.

Peas "Early Onward" - Sown in greenhouse 16.3, 9cm pots x48, 3 seeds per pot. Moved to coldframe 12.4. Very poor germination; planted out 20.4, 1/4 row and rest of row sown direct.

Pea "Onward" - Sown 18.5, 2x 1/2 rows.

Pea bean - Sown in greenhouse 21.4, large modules x3. No germination, more sown 10.5, medium modules x4. Moved to coldframe 23.5. Only one germinated, planted out 1.6.

Penstemon "Summer Bluebell" - Plugs bought in and potted on to medium modules in greenhouse 16.5. Moved to coldframe 31.5. Potted on to 10.5cm pots 7.6. Planted out 27.8.

Potato "Pentland Javelin" (earlies) - Bought in for chitting 14.3. Planted out 6.4, 1 row, 30cm apart, 15cm deep.

Runner Bean "Enorma" - Sown in greenhouse 21.4, large modules x36. Only 12 germinated, moved to coldframe 8.5. Planted out (at Ina's) from 13.5.

Sainfoin (sown in coldframe last autumn) - Planted out 21.4, 30cm apart x9.

Salad Leaves (saved seed) - Sown in greenhouse 12.4 in 15cm pot. Moved to coldframe 1.5.

Scabious "Tall double mixed" - Sown in greenhouse 21.3, small modules x20. Poor germination, more sown 13.4 as before. Potted on to 9cm pots from 2.5. Moved to coldframe 13.5. Planted out from 1.6.

Snapdragons (saved seed) - Sown in greenhouse 12.4, 1/2 seedtray. Pricked out to medium modules x20 5.5. Moved to coldframe 31.5. Planted out 15.6.

Summer Savory - Sown 21.4, 1/4 row broadcast.

Sweet Pea "Giant Waved" (sown in pots in coldframe last October) - Planted out 19.4 x6. More sown in open coldframe for next year from saved seed, 9cm pots x6, 3 seeds per pot.

Sweet William "Auricula Eyed Mixed" - Sown 6.6, short row. Planted out 14.9, 9 plants 40cm apart.

Tomato "Gardeners Delight" - Sown in heated propagator 3.4, small modules x10. Moved to greenhouse 12.4. Potted on to 9cm pots x6 26.4. Planted out in growbags in greenhouse x4 17.5.

Wild Rocket - Sown in greenhouse 21.3, 1/2 seedtray. Pricked out 21.4, medium modules x12. Moved to coldframe 2.5. Potted on to 12cm pots x6 5.5. Planted out from 25.5.

WILD FLOWERS/MEADOW MIXES/GREEN MANURE:

Alfalfa - Sown 28.4.

Phacelia tanacetifolia "Lisette" - Sown 28.4.

Pictorial Meadows "Pastel Annual Mix" - Sown 12.4.

PERENNIALS BOUGHT IN (all good for bees/butterflies):

Actaea simplex Altropurpureum Group (Bugbane) - planted in back garden.

Agastache aurantiaca "Apricot Sprite"

Ageratina altissima "Chocolate" - planted in back garden.

Anthemis tinctoria "Sauce Hollandaise" (Dyer's chamomile).

Aster novae-angliae "Barr's Pink"

Cirsium rivulare "Atropurpureum"

Eupatorium purpureum subsp "Atropurpureum"

Helenium "Sahin's Early Flowerer"

Verbena rigida


Friday 8 March 2013

Pruning olive trees

Not much work for gardeners here in the winter so I spent February pruning olive trees in Spain.


With some trees it's just a matter of opening up the centre of the tree:


With the larger ones more drastic action is required:


You can see the rest of my photos from Spain here.