2022 - What I did today

Disaster averted, just come in for lunch and computer is behaving, phew! But one of the mapping programs isn't, I'm back outside after lunch

Continued cleaning gh glass inside. Tidied gh strawberries. Pruned off the frosted bits of bijou peas. Noted that broad beans sown on 21st were germinating. They've not really emerged but I had forgotten to cover one module and the seed was showing green, I put it to bed with a story of Jack and the beanstalk and it seemed happy enough. Brought some compost filled pots indoors to warm up prior to tx red Robin tomatoes. Weeded a bit of bittercress.

Today I put a coat of paint on the picket fence that's going in the front garden.

Next job will be to dig up the front lawn and put it up. I might start tomorrow so the next door neighbour can see me, in case he wants me to adjust the plan.

Did a bit of weeding on the front hedge and planted 2 red robin bushes I had in the tunnel, then planted some small hedge plants (18) , can’t remember the name, they were to fill in the gaps where some of the existing ones died. Spent a lot of time digging up buttercup and similar trailing weeds.
In the poly tunnel dug over where I had the roosters growing last s ason but the aphids had attacked the plants, I got a total of 6 useable potatoes and a bucket full of marble sized potatoes. I will compost and feed these beds and try some first earlies when my seed arrives.

Picked the last San Marzano tomatoes in GH No 1. Never picked toms in January before and they could have hung on until February but I wanted them out of the way. Some are orange, but they've stopped turning red. the stems have gone mouldy but not the toms. Will definitely grow these again this year.
One of last week's "7 jobs" completed.

Did the winter hedge cut.
Well, MrPP wielded the power tools while I raked up the debris. Shredding tomorrow.

Took our first walk over to the allotment since November. It's all mostly still covered and fairly untidy, but plans are germinating (if not seeds at the moment). We have a fruit cage to put up this year and I'm considering getting a small, cheap poly tunnel for part of the plot to grow the stuff that doesn't like growing in my fairly shady GH at home (possibly due to my poor watering etiquette...). Our daffodils are popping up green sprouts, the early rhubarb is well underway with new growth, and the broad beans are trying though being foiled by slugs. My husband mentioned sowing tomatoes soon (!!! he normally lightly complains about my tomato jungle in the house in early spring...) so overall it's starting to feel like time to grow something

Homebase have 4 x 50 L peat free for £10, not available near me but might be near you - https://www.homebase.co.uk/supagrow-peat...06252.html

Wow, that is a good deal. Unfortunately, my brother was running a bit late (coming from the next town over) and we hadn't realised there would be football match traffic, so we ended up just doing a quick dash down to B&Q after all. My brother's car is a bit smaller than I had imagined, so we only managed to get 5 x 100L bags in, but it's a good start!

Once I start spreading it, I'll get a good idea of how much I'm likely to need overall. In some ways, it's probably fine to get it in dribs and drabs as there's no point having bare earth sat getting weedy before it's time for any direct sowing/planting out.

Homebase have 4 x 50 L peat free for £10, not available near me but might be near you - https://www.homebase.co.uk/supagrow-peat...06252.html

Home Bargains didn't have any compost in when I last went a few weeks ago, but last year they were selling peat free for £2.50 (can't remember if it was 40 or 50 L).

Wow that's a good deal! I'm off to Hull to get some tomorrow. How many do you think I can take in a Toyota Corolla??

I've had a very lazy day, but I did manage to get sowing in the shed today. I've sown a veggie tray of rocket, spinach and mustard greens.
Peppers: Sweet Banana, Yolo Wonder, Pimiento Blanco, Thor, Frigitello, Rubens
Chilli: Cayenne, Padron
Tomatoes: Costoluto Fiorentino, Black Krim and Big Rainbow Tomato makes up my beefs
Green zebra, Orange Banana, Old German and Black Cherry
Climbing spinach (Hablitzia Tamnoides)
They're all on the heated mat, in under-the-bed plastic storage boxes