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Friday 15 February 2019

Making hay while the sun shines

This is absolutely glorious and welcomed with open arms. What on earth am I on about this time, the weather of course. never mind spring, this is a taste of early summer. The overnight frost is a reminder that it is still only February, but I do not mind that a jot.
It has been a couple of days of washing everything possible, pegging out in sunshine and getting it all in, ironed and put away. Still in sunshine.
This morning is no different, the frost was sharp but the sun is warming everything up. I do have a last load of washing to peg out and then it will be done.
All the bed quilts have been through the circuit and all smell of fresh air and sun. If it continues there are a couple of pairs of curtains that will get the treatment as well.

The little courtyard at the back of the house has had a sort out, and I have ordered a replacement water tap for the rainwater butt. It should have been done ages ago but I forgot and it was only yesterday that the penny dropped.

I want to tootle round and scoop up any twigs and leaves that the high winds have deposited and rescue the odd plant pot that either the wind or Herbie has relocated.

There is not a great deal to do in the main garden but the top section, Oh My Word. It is our fault, we dumped stacks of things there. Some will stay others will go, being "out of sight and out of mind" and the horrid weather meant that we have not looked at it for weeks, even months.
This weekend will be The Grand Clean Up Operation.

I have to decide what to grow in a couple of the raised beds, I quite fancy some catch crops in the top one followed by some Purple sprouting broccoli. We love it and to buy it is very pricey and of course it is at least 2 days old by the time it hits the shop.
The remaining bed may have winter squash of some sort and possibly beans and sweetcorn, a winning combination for the rich, well fed soil. 

I bought some Coriander seeds last week, they have become very expensive, then again I do use the whole plant including the roots. I grow them in a mix of compost and vermiculite which washes off the roots easily.

Tomatoes will only be grown in the greenhouse, the wind tore all of last years outside plants into shreds.

That,s as far as I have thought so far, once I have spent some time out there I hope to have a clearer idea. I do know that there will be more strawberries, I planted out around 30 new runners last year.
Eton Mess, Strawberry shortcake, not to mention Jam. bring it on.

That,s done for me, not capable of coherent thought.

                             TTFN                                   Pam

18 comments:

  1. All bedding and towels done here and dried outside, no gardening yet, far to early, March is often a cold horrible month.

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    1. Only gardening planning, so far, here. I will be seed selecting and perhaps a few trays will be set in the greenhouse. I have a plastic one inside the greenhouse proper and it is perfect for getting a head start.

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  2. It is so lovely to be able to get the washing out on the line, isn't it? Have a wonderful day.
    xx

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    1. I love to see the washing hanging out, the smell of line dried linen is better that any fabric conditioner,

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  3. It has been wonderful weather here, I am planning what to grow as well, can't wait to start.

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    1. That is the trouble with these random warm days, they get the fingers twitching.

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  4. Oh how I wish for even a glimpse of spring!! Woke up to -42C and a haze in the air.

    Have fun planning your planting for the upcoming season.

    God bless.

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  5. I washed fleece throws and hung them out yesterday. The house smells of fresh air and sunshine now. Thoughts of seed sowing are popping into my head and I am eyeballing different bits in my flower border that might like a vegetable or two.

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    1. A row of carrots make a lovely back drop for flowers, and frilly lettuce makes a pretty edging.

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  6. Our thoughts too have made a start on garden planning. Sadly I missed the one and only hanging out washing day this week.

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    1. There will be more along the way. The sun is streaming down again here.

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  7. What a good idea growing the coriander in vermiculite so that you can use the roots as well as the other parts of the plant.

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    1. The roots of coriander have an intense flavour, I use them in a dish and then the leaves and stems as a garnish.

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  8. Oh I envy your beautiful weather! Temps. not as bad as Jackie, only -18C here. Just came in from an hour and a half of shoveling snow. It's over a foot deep in parts where it's drifted and the rest about 6" deep. It's supposed to snow until tomorrow so I'll be repeating the process all over again!

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    1. We do not see those levels of snow very often but we do get lots of rain.

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    2. DS#2 lives on the west coast where they get a lot of rain. He always says-well, at least I don't have to shovel it!!

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  9. The sunshine has been lovely hasn't it after such dull rainy weather .

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