The large round pots I planned to have in the middle of the path near the greenhouse well have been used for the potted orchard, so I have taken the rectangular storage boxes from the duck house roof and placed them in there instead. These are being filled first with used duck bedding and then with whatever rotting material I can find in pt2. I realise that they won't be ready for growing plants before the autumn, but I don't mind. It will still be extra growing room eventually.
The cardboard that has been stored in these is going to be used to kill the grass in what is at present the grass area. I will be taking away the alpines and planting them into the baskets on the front of the IBC in pt1. The broken paving will be left to continue the divide between what will become a wildflower meadow and the herb garden. The wildflower seed has come from a friend at my church. I will also add other perennial bulbs to supplement them - snowdrops, cowslips, narcissus.
Outside, I have started planting out. The broad beans were put into loo roll middles in Late January instead of in October because they were eaten by slugs last time. No supports for them yet, they're under a layer of good quality fleece until the wind has died down. I also have radishes growing in egg box compartments which will be planted out as soon as they're big enough to manage.
The Muppets seem to be reasonably happy, even without Monty. The eggs continue to be laid. One, Olive, is even squatting to be petted between the wings, when she wants. She seems to have knocked Mosie, one of the older hens, off the position of 'top girl'. Mosie's looking very drab now, not at all the feisty madam she was when I first took her on. I'll keep an eye on her and hope that she's only sulking. Monty used to keep the other girls away while she fed so they wouldn't push her out of the way.
The great sowing season has started with leafy veg, and they are starting to sprout in paper pots in trays in the house. I make these from newspaper my parents save for me and give when Mum comes into town for me to help her shop. I prefer this to plastic trays because I din't have to store them and the paper breaks down in the ground and feeds the soil life at the same time. And, for those plants that would hate having root disturbance, it means being able to start plants off away from slugs and plant them without doing them harm.
I use a propagator, but only for those seeds that need it - tomatoes, peppers, chillies, aubergines...that sort of thing. Peppers, chillies, peppers and aubergines are in there now, in a mushroom tray, to be pricked out into paper pots when up and big enough. The mushroom tray is to save space and precious growing medium.
I always feel a good deal of excitement when the time comes to start sowing, especially when those first specks of growth show. There is always hope when things are growing in the garden. Hopefully it won't be long before we can bask in the sunshine and forget all our troubles...at least for a while!
That's all for now. I'll be back next week. Until then, take care!
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