It feels like something has been missing as I set about getting my garden spring ready. Each time I do something the words formulate in my head and I instantly reach for my camera. And then I’m like – “oh yeah – I’m on a break.” Well not any more. You didn’t think I’d be able to stay away for long did you?
As we are only in the start of spring, in some areas loads have happened and in others we are at a complete stand still. The greenhouse is still where we left it as I am waiting for some extra bits of glass, so in the meantime, to combat the serious lean my seedlings were angling towards I have started taking them out to the greenhouse for the day as there is a degree of protection from the wind, and the 360 degree access to the sun is helping them to grow big and strong. So big and strong that I have had to transplant my tomatoes and some of the brassicas. The brassicas don’t look all that good as they were allowed to lean too far, but I have sown more just in case.
The problem with this is they are now too big for my craft room when I bring them in at night so I have taken over Hubby the Un-Gardeners office as he has really big windows. I’m not sure how pleased he is about this, but nothing can stand in the way of a gardener and her seedlings!
The other problem is it is early spring and the weather is so all over the place. Yesterday it was warm and sunny, then overnight it rained buckets and today it is really windy and cold. I should have seen the rain coming – well I did see it coming, but often the boffins at the weather office get it wrong, and it didn’t occur to me to move my gumboots and so they filled with water. Still not thinking clearly I went to move my seedlings to their day place and remembering how warm it was yesterday and not wanting to put my feet in wet gumboots I decided to go outside in bare feet. It wasn’t long before I realised this was a bad idea. Having cold wet mud squelch up between your toes is not a pleasant experience.
So today I shall stay warm and dry inside and hope the wind will dry out the surface water lying about in my garden. I may even write another list.
Come again soon – there is loads of weeding to do!
Sarah the Gardener : o )
The peas look amazing! May I know what brassica are you sowing right now?
Hi Justin. The pea is Yates Novella and is great for cold weather. I’m quite impressed with it.
I have sown broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, cavolo nero, kohlrabi, red cabbage, romanesco and purple sprouting broccoli. So pretty much a full house of what is available in the brassica family – I’ll do the brussel sprouts in Jan to give them a good start on the winter. I’m not too sure how well they will all do but I won’t know unless I try – I learn by doing! And I don’t really know where I’ll put them all, but I’m sure I’ll find space even if it has to be dug!
Cheers Sarah : o )
That pea vine is like none I’ve ever seen, straight with no branches but with an enormously dense tangle of tendrils. Thanks for the pic!
Awesome Sarah thanks fpr sharing
Hi Linda, thanks for your lovely comment.
Cheers Sarah : o )
I’m really going to have to look at sourcing some of the ‘plastic netting’ for next season. It looks brilliant – both rigid and flexible while supportive.
Hi Elaine. I love my plastic netting. It has so many uses that the manufacturers would never have thought of. It keeps cats off the beds while waiting for seedlings to come up, it is great as a measuring tool as each square is 5cm, it holds things up or keeps them contained. This year I am going to put it intermittently through my corn bed to stop them blowing over in the wind (which will come). oh it has loads of uses. I highly recommend it!
Cheers Sarah : o )
Your seedlings a look amazing!!!!
Thanks. It is always nerve wracking as you don’t want them to die on you, so I tend to fuss a little bit over them.
Cheers Sarah : o )
Welcome back…we missed you :). Excellent photos and full gumboots can be tipped onto the garden, in a few short months we will be gagging for that rain 😉
Hi Fran. It’s good to be back intentionally. I say that as in the past some of my gaps between normally blogs have been bigger! Back in the days when I was just blogging willy nilly! I shall see how every other day fits in with the madness that is spring. It always amazes me how different things are in a few short months in the garden!
Cheers Sarah : o )
Blogging is addictive and sharing what you are doing is an amazing way to communicate with and reach people. Its lovely to share what you are doing with people who appreciate your efforts 🙂
Great post! Spring is so AWESOME! What’s the name of your peas?
Hi there. I love spring – it is like a fresh start, but better each year as lessons have been learnt. The peas are a variety called Novella and are suited to cooler weather.
Cheers Sarah : o )
Thanks!
It’s funny to think that you are readying your garden while we’re getting ready to prep for the winter. 🙂 Those flower pictures are simply beautiful!
Hi there. It doesn’t seem that long ago that it was the other way round and you were readying your garden and I was doing the winter prep!
Cheers Sarah : o )
Love the flower thing.
Thanks