Getting a Grip

May already, where did April go?? I really must get a grip of blogging, my last post was 2 weeks ago and since then it has felt that time has flown by, and not much has been achieved.


Growing-wise things are getting bigger, although I think the weeds are over-taking what is meant to be there. My first sowing of beetroot seems to have disappeared bar one solitary plant (I think this was due to me watering after I had sown the seeds and washing most of them away - lesson now learned, water the soil before planting!).

The Shallots and Red Onions are doing well and all have sprouted. A couple of carrots seedlings have just appeared, and I am hoping that more will appear soon. The broad beans are doing well after been eaten by what I thought were slugs but turned out to be bean weavils, fortunately I have been told that it just looks unsightly and shouldn't affect the plants or productivity. The early duke of york potatoes are now about 6 inches high and the maris peer and maris piper have just emerged so at least we will have some potatoes if nothing else!

My supermarket garlic has also sprouted nicely although whether it does anything has yet to be seen! The two things however that are growing the best at the allotment (and prolifically) are the Bindweed and Mare's Tail - bar spraying everything (which I am rather loathe to do) I think I am just going to have to do a load of weeding this weekend.

In the greenhouse I have a number of cauliflowers, cabbages and brussels to be planted out but after the horror of last year's caterpillar episode I really need to get my act in gear and construct a frame for the netting before I dare plant them outside - another job to add to the list for next weekend I think.

The tomatoes are doing well although no sign of any flowers yet (maybe I am too impatient) although my mini cucumbers are going great guns and are rapidly growing out of their windowsill positions - roll on the warmer weather so that they can move into the greenhouse. I am still waiting for my lettuces to grow along with my newly planted runner beans, french beans, and sugar snaps. I also have some beans I planted earlier that I now need to replant at the allotment and the pumpkin and courgette plants really could do with moving to the greenhouse as well. Busy, busy, busy.


Home-wise, not much old-styling going on I'm afraid. I've managed to spent a lot more time with the munchkins and we have all had a lot of fun and benefited from doing different things, although they were more keen on eating the marshmallows than creating models when we tried that activity! The house has exploded over these last couple of weeks though so a job for this week really must be to clear the decks a bit, in between the 2 1/2 days of work. So all in all a lot to do...