Rain rain go away come again another day! April 29, 2012

I know we really need the rain but enough is enough, my poor old chickens are looking like drowned rats, my grass in the back garden is starting to look like a meadow and desperately needs a trim and I’m just a bit bored of the whole thing to be honest!

I’ve been busy at work just lately but because I’ve been so busy I hadn’t realised just how much my tomato plants have grown, blimey they have shot up to be good strong, sturdy plants.  I can’t help brushing my hands over them though the smell is incredible, reminds me of being in my granddads green house when I was younger helping him out with various jobs around the garden. 

I have plenty of other things sown now but just need to hold off until slighter nicer weather to get out in the garden and plant out and sort the new vegetable plot areas out – we got about half way there before the weather turned awful.

This weather has however really helped the blackcurrant bush which seems to have gone berserk in the garden – not sure how much fruit we’ll get because this is its first proper season in the garden – but initial signs are looking like it’s rooting well!

By the way, is anyone else a bit annoyed that Gardeners World is not on next Friday because of the snooker?  Don’t the BBC realise we need our weekly fix of Monty Don and Carol Klein for gods sake!

All the best!

Claire
xxx

Twitter:
@Honestlyitseasy
@steelsyrockitup

Seedlings craming the sills! April 11, 2012

Afternoon all!

Our front room window sills are starting to look a bit like a jungle, they are full of various tomato plants ranging from Gardner’s Delight to Roman, to Cherry tomatoes, to Black Cherry.  And chilli plants of numerous varieties the ones I’m looking forward to the most has to be the Black Pearl Chillis.  Last years chilli plants didn’t really do that well because both Spen and I were so busy early in the season the plants were a bit stringy and then got singed in the home made green house!  I’ll be keeping a closer eye on them this year.

We went to do the weekly shop this morning and came across a new taste sensation so thought I should share it with you all!

http://crackerdrinks.com/

They also give a donation to Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity for every drink sold which I think is great!  They do a variety of flavours Mango and Passion Fruit, Blueberry and Blackberry and Still Lemonade are the options we had at our local Tesco’s and as they were on offer we got two, the Still Lemonade and Blueberry and Blackberry. I’ve just poured myself a glass of the blueberry one and have to say its delicious!!  Well worth having a look for in your local stores, and it’s also Vegan for all of those who have that as a requirement in their diet.

 

After doing the big shop this morning we planted a few rows and buckets of potatoes, so we’ve got King Edwards, Desiree, Wilja, and Charlotte potatoes planted up.  Tomorrow we are planting up some onions as long as the weather holds up, its been a bit hit and miss getting out between rain showers this week which I’m annoyed about as I’ve got time off work this week!

More updates soon!

All the best!

Claire
xxx

Twitter:
@Honestlyitseasy
@steelsyrockitup

Garden Update! April 1, 2012

Good Morning!

After a very frosty start this morning the skies are turning a delightful blue and the sun is starting to shine!  Woo Hoo – hopefully a day in the garden for me today!!!

The garden is starting to take shape a little more now.  Now that we have moved the chickens the next stop is the vegetable patch!  Spen has been out there digging over the ground (what a trooper!).  The bottom patch is looking lush – we’ve got loads of worms wiggling around in it.  Beautiful!

We’ve got a new compost area at the bottom of the garden made out of some pallets.  This is the first time we’ve thought about doing composting so any tips would be much appreciated.

We’ve also recycled some old wooden cd towers from the front room into the garden.  We have a fruit area now!  Usually we don’t worry too much about growing fruit because Spen is allergic to most fruits, but I thought – I love fruit so I’m going to grow some! 

So here is how it turned out.  All planted up with Raspberry canes, blackcurrants, goosberry’s and stawberries, not a bad start

We used the cd towers for the sides and top and part of an old bed for the front board.  Recycling at its best!

We have also got a few holiday hens with us at the moment, our friends are due to move house soon so we are looking after these 4 beauties for a while.  We are getting more eggs that I know what to do with at the moment – looks ie my dad and brother will be eating lots of pickled eggs!!!

Hopefully I’ll get to see Melanie at some point over the next week as well, things have been so busy!   We are due to have some time off over Easter as well, much needed-m hopefully we’ll be able to finish the garden off as well over that period.

All the best!

Claire
xxx

Twitter:
@Honestlyitseasy
@steelsyrockitup