Welcome back to Reads Retreat. Yesterday the weather forecast promised much but failed to deliver, the sky remained overcast and there was still a chill in the air. And as you all know, I'm still not feeling 100%. But, that doesn't stop the enthusiasm from welling up inside - there so much springing into life in the garden, and I so wanted to do "something" !. A quick trawl through my seed box, and i came across an open packet of Pea seed (v. Kelvedon Wonder) from last year, with about 30 seeds left inside. The bed pictured was home last year to our dwarf yellow french beans, which we were going to plant in the same place again this year, and maybe we still can if i can get the timing right, but we have gambled by planting these pea's now to try for an early crop - hopefully around May time? The bed has been covered in fleece; mainly to stop the cats from shitting in the bed, but also to help keep some heat in there to aid germination. Fingers crossed as always!
Our Asparagus bed has had a generous extra top layer added, mainly consisting of spent compost from last years grow bags / tomato pots, and the bed covered with a mesh frame. We're keeping everything croosed here ! As the plants settled in to their second winter, 8 out of the original 10 crowns we planted were still going well. Now it's just a case of wait and see if we get a crop this year. We should do, with crowns now being over 2 years old. I know its still early days in terms of an asparagus bed, as this should crop for 20 years or so if well looked after!We'll keep you posted!¬ If you have any tips to help us along, please leave your comments.
The other beds in the garden are nearly all weeded now, and we're covering them as we go with weed prevention membrane. I'm a big fan of this material, it lets the moisture through, but stops light getting in and hence stops weed growth. Also, keeps the bloomin' cats at bay!That's all for now. Hope you are all enjoying your gardens & plots - there's so much to do.
Finally, a Very Happy Mother's day to all concerned xxx
Take care all,
TTFN.
5 comments:
I've also started some peas off, but I have sown mine under cover in toilet roll inners. There's still alot of frost around, so I'll plant them out once the weather warms a little bit more.
You are getting in early with planting out! I have peas at home as it is still too cold over here to plant outside.Mice are a big problem when planting peas seeds ,digging them up before they get a chance to germinate. I have them at home waiting for a couple of weeks to put out in the allotment.
Asparagus is usually the third year for harvesting but you will know by the size of the spears. I have covered ours with a layer of well rotted manure for spring they got a layer also before winter set in.
I hope the health problems will ease once you can get out and about in nice sunshine!
Well I wish you luck with your peas...I have just planted some asparagus but only 2 plants...Do you think I will need more??? Kind of worried as they just looked like dried twigs when I got them out the packet but don't know whether this is good or bad as I've not planted it before!!
Hi all, thanks for your comments:
Jo- It's a bit of a risk, but I like that. If they dont grow, we'll still have time to fill the beds with Dwarf Yellow french beans. BTW we have seed in abundance - do you want any?
Peggy- The guy that supplied my Asparagus crowns told me to start harvest in second year, but this summer will be their third year so we are hopeful! Alayer of manure sounds like a good idea, but i might have to use shop bought as its a bit late in the year now!
Tanya - I think you'll need more ! But I dont know that, I've never grown it before!!
TTFN All.
Thank you very much for the offer. I've also got much more seed than I could ever possibly use, you know what us seedaholics are like, including some dwarf yellow French beans which I haven't grown before. I'm looking forward to trying them.
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