Thursday 9 April 2015

Shhh - don't tell anyone but the sun is shining

Posted by Rosie

... and it's actually feeling very warm by mid afternoon. Simon and Tom played their evening chess game sat out in the garden and I was down to my shirt-sleeves when I was mowing the grass this afternoon.  That said though, it is still cold at night and we have had a few more frosts this week.  All this makes for extra work in the polytunnel believe it or not.

First thing in the morning, when I feed the animals, it is still too cold to open the polytunnel doors but I do remove the cover off the cold frame in there to let in as much light as possible.  A hour or so  later, once it warms up, I open first one door ... and then a few hours later, if the sun continues to shine, I open the other to prevent it getting too hot inside.  Come the evening I reverse this, first closing one door to retain some heat, then the other door and finally I put back the cover on the cold frame.  Actually that isn't strictly true and I usually do the second door and cold frame at the same time.  It may all be a bit time consuming but it is worth it to keep things as warm as possible either end of the day without getting too hot in the middle.  As a result my seedlings are all doing well and with luck I'll be able to plant some out soon.  That is assuming the frosts disappear.

There is however, still plenty more to be done outside and I am at last getting on with things.  Soil that was manured and covered over winter is being uncovered, raked over and planted and I have finally transplanted the cabbages and cauliflowers I bought a couple of weeks ago at market.


Before planting
 
Land cleared and cabbages planted

Did you see how much the rhubarb has grown too?  I reckon there will be enough for a crumble soon.

I am itching to get more done both outside and in the polytunnel but I know I really should hold fire just a bit longer.  Nothing tender would survive outside with a frost and anyway I am away in a week and Simon would not thank me for extra work.  Nope, I shall simply have to be patient and listen to the sensible side of my head that keeps telling me that I will not fail at feeding the family this year if I have to wait a few more days before I really get going with things.  Pity my impatient head sometimes shouts louder so I shall have to resist the temptation to buy tender plants at market tomorrow.  If anyone sees me anywhere near a stall selling seedlings, yell at me to stop buying anything!

How are things getting on in your garden?  Are you still getting frosts?  Annie's How Does Your Garden Grow linky will have some more gardening updates if you want to have a read.  Why don't you head over and have a look too.  I'll do my best to comment but I am currently on Simon's laptop and our PC may well have just died.  Access to the Internet may therefore be a bit sporadic for a while if the PC really has died.  Sorry.


Simple Wanderlust

16 comments :

  1. I'm always super impressed with how much work you get done, and that rhubarb, crumble indeed!
    Glad the seedlings are doing well, mine have been a bust this year

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  2. Nice to hear you have some warmer weather. We are having a very warm spell this week and like you I want to charge ahead but really should wait a little longer. I have lots of seedlings indoors that I'm looking forward to putting outside so we have some more space :)

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    1. Seedlings are getting hardened off ... things are definitely moving forwards!

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  3. Sounds like you have been busy. It is lovely to have the sun shining again isn't it! I know what you mean about rhubarb, ours isn't huge yet but it is certainly growing at a speed x #hdygg

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    1. Picked the first few stems last night - so tender. I may even eat them for breakfast.

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  4. cold in the morning, warm during the day, cold at night.... sounds like perfect weather to me!

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    1. Except the cold still means frosts which puts my tender plants at risk.

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  5. The arrival of sunshine has been a fantastic bonus hasn't it. I hope you can resist temptation to transplant your plugs outside just yet but I can imagine you are itching to do it! #hdygg

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  6. It's been hot hot hot here this week too, but chilly mornings. I have visions of you sitting on your hands, trying not to buy plants! That rhubarbs coming on nicely - growing well here too, I'll be nobbling some of grandads before the week is out to stew up and serve with custard. Sorry to hear about the PC woes, hope they sort themselves out soon.
    Thanks for joining in lovely x

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  7. isn't the weather glorious? the warm sun makes me so happy. i just wish i was as far along as you with spring planting. i haven't even started. ack!

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  8. I'm always super impressed wit the scale of your veg growing - I am aspiring to this level over time!! We have had some chickens meticulously clearing a patch in a field that I have plans to turn into a veg plot and hopefully have a polytunnel there, but first of all I am concentrating on the greenhouse and raised beds in my garden. It's easier to tend to with my two small boys (and ever growing baby bump!). I may have to pick your brains about poly tunnels in the future!! I do know what you mean about trying to be patient too - I just can't wait to get everything going, but it is still very chilly overnight!!

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  9. I feared that I may have killed the rhubarb last year by cutting it too late but it is growing well. I want to cut the old heads off the hydrangea but I usually leave it until the last frost has been whenever that will be!

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  10. Love little growing routines, of opening cold frames and checking on plant growth. It's been lovely and pleasant here in Cheshire. My broad beans have come up and they're quite hardy so I'm going to plant them out this weekend.

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  11. wow that seems like a lot of hard work with the cold frames, doors and covers

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  12. It's amazing how much more you get done when the sun's shinging isn't it - but isn't it lovely to see it and feel it? Hope your laptop can be revived x #hdygg

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