tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72393949152188231412024-03-19T05:09:26.942+00:00Piskie's PatchSuzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-79553260861195974892013-06-20T16:19:00.000+01:002013-06-20T16:19:37.125+01:00Piskie has moved - againNot house and garden this time - not yet anyway!<br />
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I've taken my musings over to my wordpress site, that way I don't have too many passwords and logins and systems to remember. <br />
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It doesn't get any easy remembering all those things. Some people blame age, I think red wine has something to do with it too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEoBgA-HxxpR1xjZFgsKj-B1b6r3gWZSK7jsDlXOXhEhi5ROBAIbsjnqlVmk8Pljf3daxcj7Kn4KsvhZCqy9lYx9s2d431rbzT3gF6X1XrfFKOQQV20vZjoh_QS2dfzJyMF-9F00OPFh28/s1600/Good+days-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEoBgA-HxxpR1xjZFgsKj-B1b6r3gWZSK7jsDlXOXhEhi5ROBAIbsjnqlVmk8Pljf3daxcj7Kn4KsvhZCqy9lYx9s2d431rbzT3gF6X1XrfFKOQQV20vZjoh_QS2dfzJyMF-9F00OPFh28/s320/Good+days-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">They so are </span></b></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.suziewarren.com/blog/" rel="nofollow">The bread crumb trail</a><br />
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Do pop over and say hello<br />
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Actually, whilst I'm sat here talking to myself, I'm wondering why I'm moving over to WP - this 'Blogger' is really quite good.<br />
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Which do you prefer - Wordpress or Blogger?Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-33659931324892963482013-06-02T08:22:00.000+01:002013-06-02T08:22:29.935+01:00Beds, Pots and Patios<br />
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I have a friend who is often heard to say about her garden ‘if it was finished I’d keep on top of it’. Gardening is like housework or painting the Forth Bridge – although I believe they have actually stopped (finished?) painting that now.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Garden-001.jpg" href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Garden-001.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-36873" data-mce-src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Garden-001-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Garden-001-300x225.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="300" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px;">Removal men sob when they see my gardens</dd></dl>
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Being a transient-married-to-military gardener, I have worked my way through seven gardens and a balcony of pots in the last nineteen years.</div>
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The balcony of pots was a traumatic time for me – we had just been posted to Hampshire from Peterhead in Scotland … to a maisonette! Oh how I sulked. And to add extra sulk to my sulking we were put in the upstairs maisonette (no garden!) whilst those below us taunted me with the sound of their lawn mowers and of digging.</div>
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Across the busy A325, a road which cut through the married quarters patch, were the houses – with no one on top or below them and each with their own garden and small driveway. I would have to face those houses every time I stood at the kitchen sink to wash dishes – so cruel, why couldn’t I have a garden.</div>
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The trainee under-gardener decided he would have to apply to move us over to the houses-with-gardens side of the A325 for the good of his health and hearing. He is nothing if not wise!</div>
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Knowing this could take ‘for-ever’ even if at all – I set about putting pots on the balcony. Oh what fun we had lugging bags of compost up the two flights of stairs, a task which would continue for six-months.</div>
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<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px;">Tiny garden but bigger than a concrete balcony!</dd></dl>
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Notice arrived to say that we could move across to a house with a garden.</div>
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Oh so happy was I, even though that garden was the tiniest garden we have had in our nineteen years. But hey, it was so much larger than a pot on a balcony.</div>
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Our first garden, after we married (in 1993) and moved into quarters was at RAF St Athan, South Glamorgan. The garden was a delightful little 60s style square of lawn with thin strips of bedding edging it.</div>
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Being a plants-woman, I wanted to rip up the small lawn and fill it with tiny twisting paths and flowing planting.</div>
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The under-gardener went very pale and took a deep breath and said in a very calm controlled manner that has become his adopted style with all things gardening ‘you will only have to rip out everything and put it back to lawn when we are posted.’</div>
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What! Why? Surely someone, the next occupants, would welcome a ready-made garden. Not so. I now know, after all these years of transient gardening that I am a rare breed.</div>
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Posting to Scotland came within three years of me living with that sweet little lawn in RAF St Athan.</div>
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RAF Turnhouse, Edinburgh was the next stop, albeit a very brief 6-month tour as the unit was being closed down. No sooner had we unpacked the kettle and I had made plans for some gardening therapy when we were re-packed and on our way to RAF Buchan, Peterhead.</div>
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‘There are no trees on camp there, they tried planting some many years back but they kept blowing over’ he says. I had trouble imagining an RAF base without trees, but he was right – no trees!</div>
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Bleak is the word that could be used to describe the area, but I found it beautiful in a way that was so opposite from my beloved Cornwall that I left on marriage.</div>
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Our Peterhead quarter was stunning, two bathrooms and three toilets between two people!</div>
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The huge garden was lawn from edge-to-edge with not so much as a tiny border. The environment was very different to what I was used to so I needed to investigate what to grow – during which time my gardening consisted of nothing more taxing than grass cutting, albeit a three-hour session each time.</div>
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Having decided on how I was going to garden in that harsh environment – posting notification arrived … to Hampshire … to the ‘Balcony’ … so you can understand my sulking.</div>
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<i>From a three-hour lawn cutting garden to a balcony - how cruel!</i></div>
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Unusually, we stayed at RAF Oakhanger, Hampshire for almost seven years – then it was on to RAF Northolt where the first patio-build began.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Before1.jpg" href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Before1.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-36854" data-mce-src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Before1-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Before1-300x225.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="300" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px;">Benson garden on arrival</dd></dl>
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‘You want me to do what?’ he said in even more horror than when I asked him, back in 1993, if I could rip out the lawn. ‘Yes, I want a patio area built please, I will help.’</div>
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The patio area was built then – yes – posting notice arrived and off we skipped to RAF Benson, Oxfordshire.</div>
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<i><b>Oh no, no patio! </b></i></div>
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I could see him pale and his legs bend slightly, in his mind he was already carrying the sand and slabs (I helped!) through to the back garden. </div>
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The patio area was built, beds were dug and this time a greenhouse was concreted (RAF bases are notoriously windy!) into the ground.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/After1.jpg" href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/After1.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-36855" data-mce-src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/After1-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/After1-300x225.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none; cursor: default; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="300" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px;">Benson garden looking more loved</dd></dl>
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‘We’re posted to RAF Henlow in a couple of months’ he said. ‘What about my greenhouse?’ I said. ‘I shall have to dig it out and make good’ he said calm as you like.</div>
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My non-gardening friends watch him in amazement, knowing that he too is not a gardener.</div>
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Our current garden at RAF Henlow had no patio on arrival, it now has a patio – I do hope all the occupants that follow me are pleased with all the beds, borders and patios I have left in my trail.</div>
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<strong>Photos © <a data-mce-href="http://www.suziewarren.com" href="http://www.suziewarren.com/">Suzie Warren</a> 2012</strong></div>
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Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-69917501330263866352012-10-01T09:00:00.000+01:002012-10-01T11:03:17.579+01:00What are you doing in October?<br />
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Last Saturday was a beautiful sunny day; the skies were bright blue and criss-crossed with fluffy white vapour trails from all the aircraft activity.</div>
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Me? I was stuck in the office installing a new computer and experiencing all the pain and panic that goes along with that – it went (almost) without hitch! Sunday I shall be in the garden for the whole day I told myself, as if in reward.</div>
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<strong>Sunday – rain, wind, rain!</strong></h4>
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I’m having a bit of a re-vamp in the garden borders, so I set to stripping out old material from the borders but the rain and wind defeated me. The under-gardener looked worried, he knew what was coming! “I (for I read we) need to go to the garden centre for more compost and plants” I said in a soft tone to him. I promises him coffee and cake.</div>
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October is a lovely garden month, with autumnal colour making a first appearance on the leaves.</div>
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Remember a couple of weeks ago I mentioned planted spuds for Christmas? Blimey, they are up and at it already! I made two plantings of three spuds in each bag a couple of weeks apart, which should give me a succession. Should!</div>
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If you have planted some ‘new’ spuds for Christmas do remember that any frost will kill the haulms and that will be game over – so ensure you get them into a greenhouse or shelter somewhere when Jack turns up. I will be putting mine into an unheated greenhouse and laying horticultural fleece over them if frost is forecast.</div>
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<strong>Still time to get crops in</strong></h4>
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Now is a perfect time for getting garlic in the ground. Garlic benefits so much from frost, this is what helps with the separation of the cloves.</div>
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Sow seed of broad beans and peas towards the end of October for an early crop next spring.</div>
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Spring cabbages will be ready for planting out, ensure you net these otherwise the pigeons will be at the table before you get to eat any!</div>
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<b>Bulbs </b>– still time to get your spring bulbs in. One January I found a bag of daffodils lying in the back of the shed, which hadn’t made it into the ground the previous autumn – I planted them anyway, I like a challenge … the flowers were stunning. So don’t ever become a slave to the gardening calendar!</div>
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<b>Sweet peas</b> – there is still time to make a sowing for over-wintering, giving you a head start on flowers early next spring.</div>
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If you had sown parsnips early in the year try to leave them in the ground till after the frosts, they will be all the more sweet for this.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/09_Passiflora.jpg" href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/09_Passiflora.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-37814" data-mce-src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/09_Passiflora-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/09_Passiflora-300x225.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none; cursor: default; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="300" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px;">Passiflora 'Lady Margaret' - lovely colour</dd></dl>
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<strong>Colour in my garden</strong></h4>
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Passiflora ‘Lady Margaret’ is looking good. This variety has a beautiful rich colour and it is supposed to have a lovely perfume but mine must have been last in the queue for that!</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/09_Roses.jpg" href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/09_Roses.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-37816" data-mce-src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/09_Roses-300x210.jpg" height="210" src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/09_Roses-300x210.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="300" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px;">Inherited roses - beautiful</dd></dl>
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The delightful orange and yellow roses I inherited have put on a fabulous second showing. I bury banana skins into the soil around the base of these, clearly they like bananas.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/09_Rhus.jpg" href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/09_Rhus.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-37815" data-mce-src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/09_Rhus-300x185.jpg" height="185" src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/09_Rhus-300x185.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">Beautiful autumn colour and blue skies</span></td></tr>
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Somewhere along the way in the life of this military quarter there has been a gardener living here – because in addition to the glorious roses, this Rhus is well established and is fabulous.</div>
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Whoever you are gardener-of-military-quarter I thank you for these treasures.</div>
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<strong>Photos © </strong><a data-mce-href="http://www.suziewarren.com/" href="http://www.suziewarren.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Suzie Warren</strong></a><strong> 2012</strong></div>
Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-89002198380183993362012-09-18T07:36:00.000+01:002012-10-01T07:37:33.807+01:00Soul Of Infinite Life<br />
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…otherwise known as SOIL.</div>
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I recommend a pot of strong coffee before reading this piece. Maybe some cake would help too.</div>
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Soil. It isn’t pretty, it isn’t sexy, it isn’t exciting – or is it?</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/07_Soil1.jpg" href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/07_Soil1.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-37021 " data-mce-src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/07_Soil1-199x300.jpg" height="300" src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/07_Soil1-199x300.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none; cursor: default; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="199" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px;">The good stuff</dd></dl>
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There are sandy soils and clay soils, chalk, silts and peats and then there are the loams, which are a mix of clay, sand and silt. Gotta love the loams!</div>
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Without soil we would be in a pickle and yet it is often the very last thing to be given a thought when gardening. I wrote about green manure two weeks ago because apart from it helping insects it provides valuable nutrients for the soil in preparation for the growing of veg and flowers.</div>
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So, in the absence of a friendly horsey person and a shovel and sack – get the green manure in, in fact do both. On different areas of course – there is such a thing as over-feeding!</div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">Get your soil to the best you can and you are almost certainly guaranteed good crops whether your interest is in growing fruit and veg or ornamental. They all need the same good basis to get their roots into.</span></div>
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<i style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">I see September as the start of the growing year; I see soil as the start of the growing.</i></div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/07_Soil2.jpg" href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/07_Soil2.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-37022" data-mce-src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/07_Soil2-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/07_Soil2-300x225.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none; cursor: default; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="300" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px;">'Dead' soil</dd></dl>
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The two opposites of the soil spectrum are clay and sandy – clay being heavy, dense and easily binds together – the other, sandy, being light, gritty and doesn’t bind.</div>
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Clay is heavy in nutrients but due to its dense, binding nature these nutrients are not readily available to plants – whereas sandy soil struggles to hold on to nutrients as the water quickly drains through, flushing them away.</div>
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How’s the coffee and cake going?</div>
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Oddly, for both soil opposites, clay and sandy, the same process is needed. Organic matter – yes, back to the muck and manure again. Organic matter will open up the clay particles making the nutrients available to plants and it will bind the sandy particles together to hold onto the water and therefore more nutrients.</div>
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<i>So saying soil is boring would be like saying air, sun and water are boring.</i></div>
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A while back a pal of mine came to a garden centre with me to help me carry three very large bags of compost to the car – when we got to the till to pay he said ‘you’re paying how much for dirt!’ He isn’t a gardener.</div>
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Some of you know I have been involved in setting up an allotment project here on camp – it has been a long process getting the military might to hand over a small plot of land for those of us mad enough to want to grow our own.</div>
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After two years of pushing, we were given a small piece of what was once a football pitch/sports area and has been used as a dog-walking area for many years.</div>
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We set about stripping turf off our plots only to find the soil is all but dead. My first main season of growing has almost come to an end with the inevitable disappointing results of attempting to grow good quality crops in poor soil.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Much muck and green manure is going to be needed!</span></div>
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Are you thinking I’m obsessed with muck and manure by now?</div>
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<strong>Recognising your soil</strong></div>
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<strong>Sandy</strong> – gritty, dries out very quickly, nutrients wash out quickly<br /><strong>Clay</strong> – heavy, lumpy and sticky when wet, rock-hard when dry, nutrients are locked in<br /><strong>Chalk</strong> – drains easily, mostly it will be stony<br /><strong>Silts</strong> – heavier than sandy, well-drained yet retains moisture<br /><strong>Peat</strong> – dark, warms up quickly, holds water and may need drainage<br /><strong>Loams</strong> – there is nothing bad to say about this chap, it is what all gardens would like to have</div>
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If you ever doubt the need to ensure you have your soil in the best possible condition it can be – take a look at these pictures of dwarf beans.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/07_Beans-in-tub.jpg" href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/07_Beans-in-tub.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-37020" data-mce-src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/07_Beans-in-tub-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/07_Beans-in-tub-300x225.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none; cursor: default; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="300" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px;">Beans grown in quality compost</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/07_Beans-in-ground.jpg" href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/07_Beans-in-ground.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-37019" data-mce-src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/07_Beans-in-ground-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/07_Beans-in-ground-300x225.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none; cursor: default; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="300" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px;">The same beans, sown three weeks earlier than those in good compost!</dd></dl>
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One sowing was made at the allotment in the ‘dead’ soil, the other was sown at the home garden in top quality multi-purpose compost. The allotment sown-beans were sown three weeks ahead of the home-grown beans!</div>
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My pal, Andy Smith, describes soil <em>as <em>‘</em><em>… the blood vessel of plant life that exists on every patch of the Mother Earth. Soil contains millions of beasts in a teaspoon of spoil; some good guys, some not. The subject of soil is endless.....’ </em></em>But then Andy, like me, is a gardener – we like soil – lots.</div>
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Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-12519004740530913242012-09-03T07:28:00.000+01:002012-10-01T07:30:11.722+01:00<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Green Manure</span></b></div>
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A pal asked me if green manure came from horses after they had munched down on a feast of all things green.</div>
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Nope, no horses’ smelly stuff required for this.</div>
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Green manure is the lazy (wo)man’s way of ensuring you have top quality soil for the next growing season.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>The next growing season? Already?</i></span></div>
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Whilst it’s true that the main veg growing season for 2012 is coming to a close, as the days grow shorter and the nights longer, it doesn’t mean that we can rest on our shovels. Do we ever!</div>
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<i>Now is the best time to get green winter manure sown</i></blockquote>
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I am sowing as we speak and will leave all the lush green material in situ for as long as possible to gain maximum benefits to my soil.</div>
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Why bother to grow green manure – why not just cover the ground over with weed-suppressant membrane and be done with it?</div>
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One year I tried the weed-suppressant membrane approach of keeping the soil covered over winter, it does the job, there’s no doubting that, but there is something soulless about seeing all the black material covering the ground. What it doesn’t do is put anything back into the soil.</div>
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If you are a ‘tidy’ gardener you may struggle with the weed-like look of the green manure – if this is you, think of it as a challenge, a break out of your comfort zone.</div>
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Why do we sow green manures? It’s a lot less messy than spreading horse poo over your plot that’s for sure and, of course; it will provide a different environment to poo.</div>
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All this talk of poo as given me child-hood memories and images of my Dad jumping out of the car whilst we were driving out for a picnic somewhere, he would fling open the boot and out would come a sack and a shovel – in went the horse poo!</div>
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This would happen on every trip – we always kept our fingers crossed that Dad would spot the ‘gold stuff' when we were just a couple of yards from home, of which he never did, it was always on the out-bound journey! Is it any wonder I prefer green manure!</div>
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So – what to sow?</h3>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/small_3325028706.jpg" href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/small_3325028706.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-36539" data-mce-src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/small_3325028706.jpg" height="160" src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/small_3325028706.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none; cursor: default; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="Phacelia" width="240" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px;">Phacelia - Surely a flower worthy of any vase!</dd></dl>
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Out of this little list I really like the Crimson Clover and the Phacelia, both produce pretty flowers, which will keep the bees happy through the autumn sunshine that we will surely have.</div>
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I will continue to sow these through September and into November, filling in any bare patches that show up.</div>
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<strong>Crimson Clover</strong> – growing period (gp) is 3-18 months<br />Whilst this is not always winter-hardy it will do a wonderful job before it gets culled by heavy frosts. Enjoy the flowers but do ensure to cut down before they set seed, leaving it all on the soil surface until you are ready to start again.</div>
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<strong>Field Beans</strong> – gp overwintering<br />These are usually tough enough to get through most winters and can be left in the ground until spring when you would cut it down and dig into the soil before flowers set seeds. Having dug the green lushness in wait for 3 to 4 weeks before sowing/planting. Cabbages will perform well in the recently-vacated field beans bed</div>
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<strong>Phacelia</strong> – gp 1-3 months, may overwinter in mild areas<br />This is probably my favourite, these scented lilac flowers are worthy of any flower bed. The bees also have this top of their list.</div>
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<strong>Forage Rye</strong> – gp 3-6 months ... boring green (but useful) stuff</div>
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<strong>Mustard</strong> – gp 1-2 months ... mmm, hot dogs!</div>
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<strong>Sweet Clover</strong> – gp up to two years (excellent value!)<br />This is another green manure that both the bees and I enjoy, producing sweet smelling yellow flowers. As with all other flowering green manures ensure you cut the flowers down before they set seed – leaving all in situ until you are ready to dig the composting material into the veg bed.</div>
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<strong>Winter Tares</strong> – gp overwintering ... another rather dull green thing – sorry WT, but you are!</div>
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During the dead winter months, green manures will improve soil fertility, protect the soil structure from heavy rains. It will provide a safe winter home for beetles and other predators that help to control pests.</div>
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Deep rooting green manures will aerate the soil, which the worms and your soil will thank you for.</div>
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<i>So who said it was all over!</i></blockquote>
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It’s never over in the world of gardening, unless you have a concrete standing and empty pots…imagine that!<br />*shudders</div>
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Piskie, a.k.a. Virtual Assistant / Business Supporter Suzie Warren, can be <strong><a data-mce-href="http://suziewarren.com/" href="http://suziewarren.com/">found here</a></strong></div>
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photo credit: <a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/texaseagle/7102678419/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/texaseagle/7102678419/">TexasEagle</a> via <a data-mce-href="http://photopin.com" href="http://photopin.com/">photo pin</a> <a data-mce-href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">cc</a></div>
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photo credit: <a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8106459@N07/3325028706/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8106459@N07/3325028706/">David~O</a> via <a data-mce-href="http://photopin.com" href="http://photopin.com/">photo pin</a> <a data-mce-href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a></div>
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photo credit: <a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/anitagould/9616655/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/anitagould/9616655/">Anita363</a> via <a data-mce-href="http://photopin.com" href="http://photopin.com/">photo pin</a> <a data-mce-href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">cc</a></div>
Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-9132514330426909922012-08-20T07:21:00.000+01:002012-10-01T07:22:14.599+01:00<br />
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Hands up if you are thinking of Christmas – nope, me neither. But I am thinking of home-grown new spuds for my Christmas dinner. There is still time …just, but you’ll need to get your skates on.</div>
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In the world of veg growing you have to be several steps ahead, rather like the fashion Industry has to think one or even two seasons ahead to get the next new colour out there.</div>
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Think of this project as ‘Stop Press’…. or ‘Hold the Front Page’.</div>
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Growing new spuds to harvest on Christmas morning is a real joy and you don’t even need a patch, large or small, to do so.</div>
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All you need is a spud-growing bag; you can buy these all pretty and packaged up from most garden centre outlets or online nowadays, a small footprint to stand it on and somewhere to nestle it into when (if!) the frosts come – be it a greenhouse or indoor space.</div>
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If we get a very mild winter (not unheard of) in the run up to Christmas you could even get away with running outside with some fleece, ideally horticultural, (rather than your Rugby Club fleecy top) to drape over the haulms. Keeping the spud bag in the shelter of the house away from harsh winds will help too.</div>
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The best spuds to use are what they call ‘early’ and ‘second early’. I usually save a few tubers from my spring plantings – although I didn’t save any this year so I will have to order from a good supplier online.</div>
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I am (now) pleased I didn’t keep any from my spring stock as my spuds got hit with blight and I’m pretty sure the seed potatoes were bad/infected because no one else got it on the allotment plot – although this isn’t a guarantee, it is a good bet they were infected.</div>
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Potato Blight <em>(Phytophthora infestans)<strong> </strong></em>is evil and can spread faster than kicking out at school-time. It will spread rapidly in wet and warm conditions, both of which we had this year. Had I been quicker off the mark (i.e. not away) I could have pulled the infected leaves to save the rest – such are the joys and challenges of growing your own. When it’s good, it’s very good….when it’s bad…I make a cup of tea.</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/BOTB-potatoes.jpg" href="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/BOTB-potatoes.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignright wp-image-35994" data-mce-src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/BOTB-potatoes.jpg" height="314" src="http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/BOTB-potatoes.jpg" style="border: 0px; cursor: default; float: right;" title="BOTB potatoes" width="235" /></a>Aim to have your Christmas seed potatoes bought and tucked up in their little bags before the end of (I did say it was a tight deadline!) August!</div>
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In addition to the posh bags you can buy from the garden centres, you can also use a large multipurpose compost sack, turned inside out so that the black is on the outside – ensure that you make some holes in the bottom before filling with the compost.</div>
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<strong>Easy steps:</strong></div>
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<li>Roll down the sides of your chosen container, bag, sack</li>
<li>Put a thin layer of gravel in the bottom</li>
<li>Add compost to about 4 inches/10 cms deep</li>
<li>Lay the tubers (three to a sack) on the compost, ensure that the ‘eyes’ are facing upwards</li>
<li>Cover tubers with another thick layer of compost, anything from 4 to 8 inches/10 to 20 cms to ensure the baby spuds are well covered</li>
<li>Water well, make a cup of tea</li>
<li>When the first green shoots (haulms) appear, roll up the sides of your bag/sack/container a little and add more compost</li>
<li>Repeat 5 and 6 until the bag is full</li>
<li>Wait for Santa</li>
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As this is a tight deadline it will be a challenge to source the tubers – but at time of writing, <a data-mce-href="http://www.simplyseed.co.uk/christmas-potato-seed/christmas-potato-seed-nicola.html" href="http://www.simplyseed.co.uk/christmas-potato-seed/christmas-potato-seed-nicola.html">Simply Seeds</a> still have some in stock. They sell them in packs of 10 tubers which is enough for 3 potato bags/planters.</div>
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I have gone for the variety Dunluce as these are new to me. I shall report back to you around Boxing Day-ish on their worthiness of my time, space, money, care and love.</div>
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So that’s Christmas dinner on the way, I shall put the Brussels sprouts on to simmer slowly next month.</div>
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<strong>Still in time for sowing now:</strong></div>
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<li>Spring cabbage – harvest April/May</li>
<li>Chicory – harvest October</li>
<li>Endive – harvest January/February</li>
<li>Radish – harvest October/January</li>
<li>Spinach – harvest October</li>
<li>Turnip – harvest November/December</li>
<li>Lettuce – harvest October/April (that’s a big growing window, so choose lots of different varieties)</li>
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<strong>Piskie, a.k.a. Virtual Assistant / Business Supporter Suzie Warren, can be <a data-mce-href="http://suziewarren.com" href="http://suziewarren.com/">found here</a>.</strong></div>
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photo credit: <a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pauljill/4828236327/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pauljill/4828236327/">Paul and Jill</a> via <a data-mce-href="http://photopin.com" href="http://photopin.com/">photo pin</a> <a data-mce-href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a></div>
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photo credit: <a data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jo-h/3628232333/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jo-h/3628232333/">jo-h</a> via <a data-mce-href="http://photopin.com" href="http://photopin.com/">photo pin</a> <a data-mce-href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a></div>
Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-20696279631367474732012-05-03T15:27:00.001+01:002012-05-03T15:27:36.760+01:00Can peas do front crawl?I ask because mine are currently floating albeit not on their backs - yet!<br />
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This was the sight that greeting me at the lottie today, having first negotiated my way through the gate, which was sitting nicely in the middle of a moat. <br />
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I did consider jumping in to save the peas but as there was no one else around to hear my drowning screams I thought 'you're on your own lads, I've always got Bird's Eye to call on' <br />
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Jerusalem Artichokes doing a good rendition of Hawaii 5 O <br />
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The broad bean bed (middle) is not looking overly inviting for the beans that are due to go in tomorrow!</div>
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The upside is that spuds like water – silver cloud and all that!</div>Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-87476069707201398822012-04-21T22:49:00.001+01:002012-04-21T23:15:26.821+01:00Not Simon’s cat*If you are considering buying a cat you may wish to look away.<br />
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It started at 0215hrs, oh how I hoped for it to only last for a couple of minutes, it often does now but it didn’t in the early days – it would go on for a long time back then.<br />
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I felt my finger being licked, I groan ‘oh please stop and go to sleep’ but no it carried on, after what was considered too long with no response from me my darling cat, Cass, started to chew my fingers, I tried to hide them under the duvet, she started to nudge the duvet off me – I pulled it tight around my neck.<br />
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She upped the anti, as I was lying on my back she moved to killer position of sitting on my chest so as to breath tuna fumes over me – I like tuna – she put her paw out to touch my nose, ‘awwww’ I hear you saying ‘how sweet’, it could be seen that way up until the point that she slides the claws into my nose, but only ever so gently you understand.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yh5CMR71DV37F-6pZHMHgIS9vGs3WvNuuLgZV-uJvqm-xXA1VyCKYVzK4_zg0jt8ke7XhbsqDXl9uYZFhfArFxoQhi0ZqHzMbdsXKq0Jt-qyRHrQC6vF8vDRe6BrSbUrRIHZuld4Pn3r/s1600/Cass+blog+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yh5CMR71DV37F-6pZHMHgIS9vGs3WvNuuLgZV-uJvqm-xXA1VyCKYVzK4_zg0jt8ke7XhbsqDXl9uYZFhfArFxoQhi0ZqHzMbdsXKq0Jt-qyRHrQC6vF8vDRe6BrSbUrRIHZuld4Pn3r/s320/Cass+blog+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I swear at her, she doesn’t like that. She goes to lie on the bottom of the bed ‘oh bliss’ thinks I ‘it is over’. It is <em>never</em> over until the fat cat says so!!<br />
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She moves to the floor and starts opening drawers (yes she does have thumbs!) and I hear my socks getting pulled out, she knows I hate cat hairs on my socks – and when she starts to open the bras and pants drawer I have to admit defeat, it is so horrid having cat hairs in your bra and pants.<br />
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I get up – noticing the time is now 0345hrs – she is nothing if not persistent.<br />
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I pinball my way down the landing, stairs and kitchen to her feeding station, one has to assume all this needing my attention would be because she is starving to death and is trying to save herself – but no oh no no no – there is still food in her bowl. In fact, she gets to it before I do and starts munching. I smile sweetly at her and start pinballing back up the stairs to bed – oh bliss, please let sleep come back to me quickly.<br />
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Before I make it to the bedroom I hear the cat flap – yaaaay she has gone out! Nope, oh no no no, she clacks it, she bangs it, she clacks some more, I return to ‘attention-giving position’ by her side and check that the cat flap is in working order. The cat flap is, indeed, in working order.<br />
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I smile sweetly at her again and just for a brief moment I consider opening the door and attempting a Jonny Wilkinsonesq drop goal – I, of course, don’t but I do find myself wondering what my pal, Mitch, (he really doesn’t like cats, I knooow, can you imagine not liking cat!) would do in my situation.<br />
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Off to bed I go and she really does go out this time. Sleep will come now for sure – what’s that sweet sound I hear, oh my it's the birds singing!<br />
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Move to later into the day, after several cups of coffee to awaken me and guide me through the day – I go into the sitting room and there she is – Cass – sleeping soundly. Oh how sweet she looks, don’t you agree.<br />
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So, what should I do – smile sweetly (again!) and leave the bedroom quietly or…….<br />
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*if you haven't seen Simon's cat YouTube itSuzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-61929517234330374442012-04-19T14:44:00.001+01:002012-04-19T14:44:58.377+01:00There be green there beWhilst I was de-turfing the plot all I wanted to see was soil thereby ending the pain of turf-stripping – now I am thrilled to see green appearing amongst the freshly exposed soil.<br />
Soon be summer :D<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-52SINx4uxfg/T5AN_QJmfkI/AAAAAAAAAUw/sed3BJ1umS0/s1600-h/Parsnip%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Parsnip" border="0" height="224" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Nn_7X3NtSkA/T5AOA7V6_6I/AAAAAAAAAU4/u6S5U5kUVz8/Parsnip_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Parsnip" width="320" /></a><br />
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Just take a look at this tiny little baby</div>
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no it’s not a weed, it’s a parsnip</div>
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So wonderful to see crops actually growing now<br />
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More weeds – oh no they’re not! </div>
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They be carrots they be </div>
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Those stones weren't there last time!</div>
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And now for a totally nuts cat – Cass on ice!</div>
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<b>She jumps, she lands</b></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yd63Ceh5O78/T5AOMviKDhI/AAAAAAAAAVg/2EyKrItDD0c/s1600-h/Cass1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Cass1" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XvKj_WaLN-I/T5AON9mP1GI/AAAAAAAAAVo/8Pljb9eZpx0/Cass1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Cass1" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>She turns</b></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v5xjYz25pog/T5AOQotOORI/AAAAAAAAAVw/KIfSKJzQzJg/s1600-h/Cass2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Cass2" border="0" height="400" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QVfA5RVKJug/T5AORxX37UI/AAAAAAAAAV4/mBPUggfUIp4/Cass2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Cass2" width="395" /></a></div>
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<b>She sits - on ice!</b></div>
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<b>Barking I tell you</b></div>Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-86212120136581101852012-04-15T18:34:00.000+01:002012-04-15T18:34:35.653+01:00Plot 13 - full houseSo, with opening day just four weeks ago - the first sod having been cut in anger, although we weren't overly angry, more ecstatic, we are now in a situation of having a full house plus two on the waiting list! Who said Service personal were not gardeners eh!<br />
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I remember on one of our coffee meetings, the Boss and I saying 'imagine if we have no takers and that it was just you and I digging plots' - it was our worst fear, but it was always ever groundless- thankfully!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">View from my Shed</span></b></td></tr>
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There is much in the way of canes and netting and soil-warming stuff, it is a plot in waiting!</div>
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Back at home, a blaze of red to cheer us from the tulips and the Phoinia 'Red Robin' ...lovely</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Under-Gardener having a brief rest</b></span></td></tr>
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,</div>Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-3833887918769896662012-04-09T17:52:00.003+01:002012-04-09T17:52:43.359+01:00The waiting game!So here I sit, all veg beds having been cleared of turf - waiting for the ground to warm up, waiting for the rain to stop (I can't believe I'm saying that!), waiting for seeds to sprout, waiting waiting waiting.....<br />
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Whilst I wait here's a recap to remind myself that the busy times are so very very close.
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Pea shoots just showing through</div>
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In just a few short weeks we are picking and munching on them - a very pleasant intro for things to come<br />
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and in four weekends from this.....</div>
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....to this</div>
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......scary pose or what!!</div>
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<br />Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-72602241699742838052012-04-07T15:08:00.000+01:002012-04-08T15:09:18.426+01:00Ready for actionMy 15m x 5m piece of heaven is de-turfed and ready to see some action – hurrah! <br />
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The end of the plot is where you can see the cabbage netting behind me and yep, there be cabbages under that thar tunnel.<br />
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Planted out so far are Jerusalem Artichokes, one bed of Swift first earlies, a lovely big chunk of rhubarb given to me by one of the caravan holders who has been watching on with interest as to what we are up to. He is ex-RAF, lotties were not an option in his day he says. Thankfully ‘they’ are now seeing sense!<br />
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Hard-core working (that you can see) has taken place in the form of runner bean canes, sweet pea wigwam and pea supports (not yet shown) – much thanks to the wonderful under-gardener for his support with this - being 6' he comes in handy.<br />
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Seeds sown in situ so far are parsnips, carrots, and salsify – just a couple of small rows of each as I want to string out the growing season as long as possible, I will sow another couple of small rows when the first ones are germinated.<br />
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The greenhouse is groaning under the weight of tomatoes (just gone out – yikes please no frost!), peas, courgettes, runner beans, sweet peas, broad beans. <br />
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What a weekend it’s been, first our anniversary, then my birthday, then we finish the hard-core work at the lottie – what more could a girl ask for!<br />
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And birthday bubbles – lovely. </div>Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-57160101266347696362012-04-06T18:30:00.000+01:002012-04-07T07:35:04.737+01:00Gardening spans generationsLuke and Conor, our two youngest allotmenteers taking a break from their hard work for a PR shoot. I’m looking forward to seeing these beds in a few months time.<br />
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Not only are they working on their plot, they are also helping a neighbour plot-holder remove all her turf as she is injured - so much energy!<br />
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......and the generation thing - the youngest who are both much taller than the oldest member. Have you noticed how they make children so much taller these days!Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-84273931815733339102012-03-31T16:30:00.000+01:002012-03-31T21:05:14.620+01:00Turf war and hospitalAndy, OIC Lottie Plottie’s, plot has presented him with this monstrous slab of concrete, digging out is not an option!<br />
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Ian’s online research has shown that this is the part foundations of a hospital which was on the OS maps for 1938!! WOW – who knew! Apparently this hospital was still in existence in 1983, so it will be interesting to research further and see why it was demolished.<br />
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This does, of course, explain why our soil is so fantastic – all that bone meal from the mortuary.<br />
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<strong>Small but perfectly formed ‘wet’ garlic showing through - is there anything better than seeing new shoots - I think not</strong></div>
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One would expect to find Blackadder hiding behind this lot!<br />
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<strong>One girl, one heck of a lot of turf!</strong>Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-88341676078989080882012-03-31T04:30:00.000+01:002012-03-31T20:38:44.694+01:00Jack and his beanstalkWhen one wants bean poles of eight foot height one needs a very large hubby – thank you tall hubby, I just knew your height would be useful<br />
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Much activity is to been seen in the background – it’s a truly wonderful sight. Even after working the plot for three weeks I’m still in awe that we have actually pulled this off after two years of hard work from my Boss – OIC Andy Done – take a bow Andy – if it were up to me you would get a Knighthood!Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-87975476969578192002012-03-26T00:30:00.000+01:002012-03-27T20:58:33.559+01:00Meanwhile back at the homesteadSome really inspiring colour, one very nutty cat and two birds asking for their Agent!<br />
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Euphorbia, always a good, strong space filler</div>
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These lovely primroses always make me think of Cornwall and then I get homesick</div>
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What! WHAAAT!<br />
Yes, yes, I know I’m on your veg-protecting net but just how cute do I look eh! <br />
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Oookaaay, I’m just soo bored now<br />
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Don’t turn around, she’s got that picture-taking thing in her hand and I haven’t had a chance to speak to our Agent yet!</div>Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-6163624371660696462012-03-25T04:00:00.000+01:002012-03-26T12:59:49.543+01:00The heart of the plot….a shed – everyone should have a shed at some point in their lives. I now have a shed, I am a shed-owner, I need to name it – suggestions most welcome please.<br />
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The shed, purchased from Argos at the huge price (!) of £109, arrived at 0715hrs this morning. Due to location of the plots the delivery driver has to be met at the Guard Room and escorted onto the site – I very kindly offered to stay home and make breakfast while Ian did the escort duty.<br />
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<strong>Stock taking underway</strong><br />
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One could be forgiven for thinking this shed-building chap preferred shed-building to gardening!</div>
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<strong>A beer is called for methinks</strong><br />
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Now to the serious business of gardening – turf-cutting is still underway and the planting is so far only consisted of Jerusalem Artichokes and new spuds, I’m hoping the JAs will provide a much needed wind-break. Having cut the turf away, I used a bulb planter to make life easy for myself, I also used the planter to drop the spuds into their bed – so much easier than digging out trenches.<br />
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I can’t remember when I last enjoyed a Saturday so much – oh hang on, I can – it was 22 November 2003 when JW kicked the winning drop goal against Australia to win the World CupSuzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-58546010405138354942012-03-18T21:06:00.000+00:002012-03-18T21:41:46.659+00:00A sod is removedLots of pretty red lines to work with – surely I can’t go wrong! <br />
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After our long two year lead-in to this project, the first sod is cut in ‘anger’, actually Ian (it is Sunday, so Snowdrop gets his Sunday name!) cut the first one – oddly for one who isn’t a ‘keen’ gardener that he wanted to cut the first bit. Is this a boy thing methinks!<br />
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Warrener Felix is on hand to check all goes well!</div>
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The first patch is that of Jerusalem Artichokes, not least because they will provide a much needed wind-break – air bases are nothing if not in winding locations!<br />
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The trusty bulb-planted is, in my view, the very best way to plant things such as Jerusalem Artichokes and spuds….more on spuds to come….<br />
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Starting on the spud patch…I planted a sack of First Early (slightly lateish) Swift spuds<br />
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I balanced on the gate (don’t tell the Boss!) to take this shot of the patch…there is still much to do but, oh my, HAPPY DAYS!!<br />
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I am the first to get up on the patch and start digging – many more are on the way. Then we have the lovely stuff of sorting the BBQ, wild-flower planting, insect hotels etc to sort.<br />
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If you are reading this would you please leave me a comment as I som etimesfeel as though I’m talking to myselfSuzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-6147551505289252232012-03-16T20:22:00.000+00:002012-03-18T21:33:31.256+00:00The staff of life – compost binsWork starts on the all-important compost bins.<br />
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When you consider there are 16 plots at 15m x 5m, that is one heck of a lot of turf to be composted and that is before we even break into the actual hard-core growing of veg!<br />
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I’m thinking of all that wonderful loam – assuming we are still here to utilise it – a gardener is nothing if not very optimistic!<br />
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Guard dog Honey is on standby<br />
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You hold it Dad, I’ll hit it – hold it steady now!!<br />
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And the first of many bays finished<br />
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Kitchen Gardens, Henlow are well underway now.<br />
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We are assured that by Friday the plots will all be marked out. Then it is over to each of the plot holders to cut their turf, husband has been booked, Jerusalem Artichokes are waiting in the bag to get cracking and make like a wind-break.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">There is much to discuss …..</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">I do hope the workmen remove their vans </span><span style="text-align: center;">before finishing the fence!</span>Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-90196877596211991072012-03-12T19:54:00.002+00:002012-03-12T19:54:43.434+00:00And we're orf.....After two years the 'kitchen garden' project on camp is finally underway. The first posts went in this morning - soo happy :)<br />
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">My 'Boss ' holding up the post </span>
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'May I have this dance Sir?'<br />
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I appear to have become a post-hugger!<br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: inherit;">So it's all systems go now and we should be in and cutting turf by the end of the week - hopefully!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: inherit;">The site will hold 16 plots at 15m x 5m each, of which 12 have already been taken - excellent. I can't wait for the opening day barbie </span></div>Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-41760275637997501522012-03-11T17:42:00.002+00:002012-03-11T17:48:22.590+00:00Rugby stopped play!!Whilst I'm a totally passionate garden, some things just <i>have </i>to come before it - today's thing was the England France 6 Nations match - we (England!) won but not by a long chalk!!<br />
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So I had this morning up until 1430hrs to work the land - it was <i>almost </i>enough - I say almost because there is never enough time to spend on garden and allotments is there!<br />
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The pea shoots sown two weeks ago are showing good signs of life, they will very soon be dressing my salads – yum<br />
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I realise the small salad growing station in the garden currently looks like a graveyard with all the white 'headstones' but over the years if I've learnt anything it is to label! Salad leaves and radish are putting on good growth, this will soon put an end to buying supermarket salad for the foreseeable.<br />
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Other sowings today were:<br />
Carrot Parmex - Peas Ceresa - Beetroot Detroit Crimson Globe - Radish French Breakfast - Spring Onion Apache - Chives<br />
That's a fair amount of sowing and growing in a small 1m x 2m bed don't you think :)<br />
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I’m giving Sweet Pea Snoopie a go this year, these are small 12” non-climbing peas, which according the blurb says they are good for ground cover, I’m unsure yet whether to use them as ground cover or use them in a hanging basket. I shall report back on their performance later in the year.<br />
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<br />Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-43980971332216455612012-03-10T15:59:00.001+00:002012-03-10T16:13:50.576+00:00A hint of colour to ease me into SpringDespite a dull Saturday afternoon, mostly spent watching rugby (not dull!), I managed to find some inspiring colour in the garden today - not bad for the second week of March!<br />
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<br />Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239394915218823141.post-80076576571205583202012-03-06T21:57:00.001+00:002012-03-06T22:00:31.555+00:00In the same week!It’s hard to believe that these two pictures were taken either end of the same week! Spiders are amazing aren’t they – I wonder if they are aware how beautiful their webs become when frost covers them? And then for the week to turn into the glorious blue sky we had showing life to come in the Magnolia stellata<br />
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Veg seeds are pushing up fast, my tomato seeds, Moneymaker, have turned into long-leggy supermodels waiting patiently on the windowsill, thankfully the Chilli’s Anaheim are not through just yet as space is hard to find.<br />
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Outside the salad leaves, radish and lettuce (Valdor) have all germinated well – so no more frost thank you! In the greenhouse the peas I sowed for shoots are all through, they will be on their way to my salad bowl soon.<br />
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I struggle to have favourite plants, in fact I can’t think of any I don’t like – but there is something really special about the early entertainers such as these really bright and cheerful crocus. Talking of early show-stoppers – are Snowdrops the last flower of Winter or the first flower of Spring?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spot the bee!</b></td></tr>
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<br />Following two years of trying to get an allotment project off the ground (no pun!) here on camp - we have the green light and it is all systems go, the fencing is going up sometime this week ..... allegedly....I shall nip along tomorrow to check on progress.<div>
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I have much waiting in the wings - Jerusalem Artichokes, garlic, shallots, rhubarb - for bed space and nowhere to put them yet. We can't start marking out the plots until the fence has finished.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetMyiI1OsqTFI2iX0zo4QRD991niwK5UawQRT03uuBmqxV8kMLt9bRuPMWFwsSqyJVOWKPRQYQagZ_DkqIIZIId-WMi_C4bcdb9cmRVEVliGAf-lv4KdwQ_06Qqi2yte8ZE5q2VbNToxE/s1600/Henlow+lottie_001.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetMyiI1OsqTFI2iX0zo4QRD991niwK5UawQRT03uuBmqxV8kMLt9bRuPMWFwsSqyJVOWKPRQYQagZ_DkqIIZIId-WMi_C4bcdb9cmRVEVliGAf-lv4KdwQ_06Qqi2yte8ZE5q2VbNToxE/s640/Henlow+lottie_001.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The grand plan</b></td></tr>
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</div>Suzie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06150937147674335364noreply@blogger.com0