Does anyone keep a gardening diary on MSE?

LavenderBees

Rummer wrote: »

How is the slug situation?

Well, they're all under a blanket of about 6" of snow, so I've really no idea :rotfl:. More snow falling all day today and more expected overnight and into tomorrow/next week.

I'm hoping the little bu66ers will have been killed off by the minus 9 temps this week. But hoping my over wintering veges will just be dormant and start growing again when this cold snap is over.

Time will tell....can't really do anything on lottie when the weather is like this....:(

Roll on spring...having said that, I've taken today off work to avoid the stress of not knowing if I'd get home ok and am snug as a bug in a rug in front of the fire. Positively tropical in here

allotmentor

Slugs devastated my plot last year, particularly seedlings and potatoes, so I was very pleased to discover that Which? has tested organically approved slug pellets (contain ferric phosphate - not harmful to plants, birds, pets or people) and found that they are as effective as the old metadehyde-based blue ones. They're sold as Growing Success Advanced Slug Killer, Bayer Slug Bait, Vitax Slug Death Slug Killer, etc.

As most of my plot is currently under water, I don't suppose things are going to be any better this year!

Good luck with yours

LavenderBees

allotmentor wrote: »

Slugs devastated my plot last year, particularly seedlings and potatoes, so I was very pleased to discover that Which? has tested organically approved slug pellets (contain ferric phosphate - not harmful to plants, birds, pets or people) and found that they are as effective as the old metadehyde-based blue ones. They're sold as Growing Success Advanced Slug Killer, Bayer Slug Bait, Vitax Slug Death Slug Killer, etc.

As most of my plot is currently under water, I don't suppose things are going to be any better this year!

Good luck with yours

Oh, thanks so much for that info. I definitely need to try to get something more organic sorted. I hate using poisons, so thanks for that info. That and the nemotodes are certainly worth trying. Look out slugs!

Is the flooding river based? In which case, when it recedes, do you have lovely fertile soil? (Sorry, trying to look for a positive for you)

I'm afraid RL is a bit sh!tty at the moment, taking up all my time and energy, so very little has been accomplished in lottie-land.

However, I did get to lottie last weekend for a few minutes, and, whilst a couple of cabbages looked a wee bit squished, the tunnel cloches had held their own against the piles of snow. I just needed to bend the supports back into shape.

It's forecast for rain this weekend, and I need to work, too, so I won't be starting the digging over (2nd time around) to aerate the soil and dig in the cardboard and green manure just yet. Maybe next weekend.

The good news though, is that my seed potatoes have arrived from Mr F, so I'll get the earlies laid out in seeds trays in my porch, and hope they chit. It seems I don't need to do that with the maincrops.

I was so tempted to start with some seedlings, but have read John Harrison's allotment newsletter, where he advises against it as lack of light at this time of year means spindly seedlings which don't bear much fruit etc, so it seems I need more patience :rotfl:.

I can't wait for lighter nights to I can spend some time pottering on lottie. I really need the diversion and light relief that gardening (even with all its problems) can bring.

Come on Spring! I'm tired of waiting for you now!!

:rotfl:

Suffolk_lass

We were able to get out for a few hours last Sunday and managed to complete the pruning of a very old russet apple tree that overhangs the bed full of strawberries, gooseberries and blackcurrants (that are due to be moved the week after next). We took out all dead, dying and crossing in contact with something else - it does look a bit bare but it's so old it is a bit kill or cure. I'm hoping the shock will result in bigger, better fruit in response to some perceived life-threatening pruning. We'll see. DH has planted all the beech and all but 8 of the fifty in the nature's larder pack to replenish the ancient (at least 300 year old) hedge that borders the fields at the back. I need to order the remaining landscaping to complete that part of the project (over the half-term holiday) and then we can think plants, canes and seeds a bit more.

How's your Dad doing LB? My MiL is not great and Auntie has had a couple of funny turns this year and agreed to give up her car (she is 95!). It's a worry.

Take care
SL

LavenderBees

Hi, SL

That all sounds like you're going great guns! Well done! Hope the kill or cure on the old tree works. Please feel free to post photos of you'd like to. I'd love to see what you're talking about as we go through this year.

Sorry you have worries about oldies, too (95?!:T). It's really difficult isn't it? Life just seems to be about letting loved ones go. It breaks my heart.

By coincidence, my dad and my old-boy pusscat are about the same age, mid 70s, and both are becoming more fragile and poorly, and I feel so bad because they are both on the skippery slope downhill.

Dad has developed worse heart problems and been rushed into hospital 3 times this year, but the better news is that he's almost gone 10 days since his last unscheduled visit , so a revamp of his medication by the wonderful NHS heart consultants may have done the trick. Let's hope so,

Pusscat has glaucoma and a detached lens and has been in much pain, though the eye specialist has managed to make him more comfortable. A visit back to them tomorrow will help us plan a way forward. Pusscat also has hyperthyroid, and cannot take the medication, so the only real option seems to be a very risky op to remove his 2nd gland. I feel I'm between a rock and a hard place on this one. I have a visit to the normal vet tomorrow afternoon, to take what the eye specialist has said, and try to plan the 2 sets of treatment (or not...:().

So, both my lovely old boys are causing me heartache, and the vets fees have killed off any plans for chickens this year, but that's the way it goes sometimes. And it's not such a bad thing to learn to walk on the lottie before I can run.

But honestly, it's been a poo start to the year, and I am soooooo desperate to lose my worries in some digging and the wonder of watching things grow. A bit of fresh air and sunshine would be very welcome, just now.

LB xx

Rummer

Lavender so sorry to hear about your dad and cat. I agree whole heartedly that working with soil and seeds is a good way to relax.

I have been doing wee bits and pieces in the garden so that when the wonderful weather (I'm ever hopeful) arrives I can enjoy my garden by planting and tending instead of spending all my time trying to clear weeds :eek:

My seed potatoes and shallots arrived from T&M this week and all my seeds are in so I just need to get on and get the work done What I am researching at the moment is expanding my herb garden by introducing interesting and unusual herbs.

LavenderBees

Rummer wrote: »

introducing interesting and unusual herbs.

Nothing illegal going on, I hope. I can't be having illegal substances on my thread :rotfl:

Seriously, though, what are you hoping to grow?

Rummer

I was thinking chamomile and sorrel :rotfl::rotfl: as well as being open to other ideas.

LavenderBees

Rummer wrote: »

I was thinking chamomile and sorrel :rotfl::rotfl: as well as being open to other ideas.

Yeah, yeah :rotfl:

"Honest, Officer, I thought it was a tall growing sorrel!"

Yep, works for me :rotfl:

I grew sorrel 2 years ago, in a pot and it was wonderful. Lemon, fresh, delicious to perk up salads. Last year, it drowned I must get some more.

LavenderBees

:j Woke this morning, and the birds were singing, and the sun was trying (not quite succeeding) to shine...ah, yes it felt positively spring-like

So, have been to lottie and dug in the green manure on the two beds. Covered them in fleece in the hope of helping to warm the soil a little.

I also turned the compost heap a little...that's quite hard work...used the last of the compost accelerator on it as that had got a bit damp over the winter, so I thought it better to use it then bin it.

I feel better for the activity outdoors as I expected. Should be able to bottle that feeling, and keep it for when desperate!

Tomorrow, I'm off to Howick Hall on the Northumberland coast for the Snowdrop festival, and it's forecast for BIG SUN, so can't wait!

And I've heard it's a 15% off weekend at H/base (and I have a £5 H/Base voucher) so will call in on the way home to get some compost and bits and pieces.

An almost perfect gardening weekend, methinks :T