Pottering in the Garden

I was up early this morning and went down to my greenhouse to open it up and see how the plants have fared overnight.  Things were just starting to warm up a bit but not hot enough to cook the plants.  I therefore left the door down but unzipped to let a bit of air in.

We went to B & Q first thing to get some compost and came back with 2 x 100 litre bags for £11.50.  B & Q's own brand.  I shall order more on line as we have realised we cannot manhandle things like we used to, and so I will order in a delivery of compost for later in the week.

We had a quick sashay around the plant section - nowhere else and hopefully will be going back sometime during the week as there are one or two things I would quite like.  It is also my birthday next Saturday and I am hopeful I will be able to buy a plant or two around then in any event.  I did have a snout at the Fruit trees though.  Saw about four that I could happily bring home with me.

I have come back with two plants.  Bit horrific on price, but these plants are well on in terms of growth with quite a few fruits on them that are already ripening.  Have bought a Chilli pepper and a Cherry tomato £10 each! What you pay for the escalated progression. Yikes I must be daft!  We found out after we had paid for them on the way out that they do have cheaper plants, but these ones are pretty magnificent. The plants are very good quality though.  I bought these for G as he likes both and as I have said they are so that much further along on growth.  Also bought in some Miracle Grow plant food. I will need to get some good Tomato feed as well though. Veg plants and other plants were a lot cheaper.  

Some lovely plants there.  Have my eye on some Marguerites but they are £14 each and a couple of Lavenders both English and French and also a couple of Hydrangeas.  I am also looking for Viola, Pansies, Petunias, trailing plants for hanging baskets  Prices on plants have really gone up this year.  I am certainly going to be buying in and stock-piling seed where I can for next year and growing a lot of stuff from scratch.  Might be asking for a heated propagator and seed sowing system for Christmas in order that I can get an early start next year.

I do need to source some Bamboo canes for my Runner Beans though.  Also need some other different sized canes for peas, other beans and squash and Pumpkins.

By the time we came back though and I went to check on the greenhouse again things were hotting up and so the doors have been left open all day to let the breeze in.

The eagle eyed amongst you yesterday may have seen a stack of white containers on the shelf in the greenhouse.  I am going to start my seeds off in these.  They are polystyrene boxes used for frozen food deliveries and I am recycling them using them as an insulated box for bringing my seeds on and give them some protection.  I like to re-cycle things where I can.

I am pleased with how the greenhouse/growing house is coming on.  If the weather is to be good this week as forecast I think I will be making a concerted effort with the clearing and the growing aspect of things.  If I can get up early enough without jiggering myself up, and do a couple of hours work a day, and then get back to house things as well, I might be able to break the back of the work that needs to be accomplished this week.  There is an awful lot of it.

Today I have managed to pot on the three Lemon Verbena, the three French Tarragon, the three Common Sage and the three Purple Sage and the three Chocolate Mint.  That is all the plants from delivery one all potted up.

Since coming home, I have not only potted up the rest of the items, but I have started to sort the three mini greenhouses that I have had for sometime out.  Sadly a couple of them are past their best and beyond recovery.  I cannot pull them to pieces, so will get G to do that and will then look into replacing them as I can.  With the covers on (they are perfect for bringing seeds on).  Will therefore have to do some research on this front to see where I can source replacements.

I have to go back to this particular area to continue clearing it, but that will happen later in the week.  I also set too and started weeding one side of the patio which had got into a bit of a pickle.  In effect have completed the first pass on this part of the weeding.  The second pass will continue tomorrow probably in the afternoon.

I have enjoyed being in the garden working away just as much as I did yesterday.  It feels as though I have achieved something and I have been out in the fresh air.  I am stiff now from all the moving about.  It will do me good overall though.  It is actually good to work later into the evening because it is helping me work through everything.

I have the Pantry to tackle first thing tomorrow to try and get all the extra items bought in there and organised a bit more so I stand an earthly chance of finding what I am looking for Tomorrow will be ideal with G out of the way so that I can concentrate and sort things out.  I have several boxes to go through and get stuff in there.  Once this is done will then be able to start sorting out and getting clear other areas of the house.

Although primarily I am sorting the garden for the majority of this week because the weather forecast is good, the Pantry needs attention first.  If I have control of the Pantry (which I do not at the moment) everything else falls into place.  It will certainly help to clear some clutter.  Hopefully I will get it all done tomorrow even if it takes all day and into the evening as well.

G is supposedly off fishing tomorrow so I have a day to myself again.  Hope Missy is better than she was the other day. Once the Pantry is sorted, I shall potter in the garden no doubt and if she kicks off will put her in the garden with me in the shade.  

Hope everyone has had a lovely evening.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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