Thursday, February 17

A tale of progress or even lack of it ...

In the Indoor Growing Light Garden things are progressing well. The decision has been made to leave well alone as far as the lettuce leaves are concerned and take a 'see what happens and deal with it' approach. The hood has been slid down so that the light is closer to the seedlings which will hopefully be of even more benefit. This can be slid up as the seeds grow. It’s a case of so far so good as all the seeds that have been sown, lettuce, basil, coriander and spring cabbage have germinated well and are growing well. The seedlings are very green and haven’t yet become leggy.
The cobnut, kiwi and Japanese wineberry that we bought from Victoriana Nursery Gardens are now budding. As the ground is still very muddy they will stay in the garden greenhouse for a while longer. The cobnut is fine as we had already planted it in a large pot but the wineberry and kiwi were still in the small pots that they arrived in and so we have potted them on. (By the way Victoriana Nursery Gardens are offering 10% discount to anyone ordering using a link from any of our websites or blogs).
The perennials from Beth Chatto Nursery Gardens are also growing really well so well that I succumbed and ordered another couple of plants to make up for the ones that were unavailable. (Promise I don't get any commission for singing their praises)! My two new acquisitions are Brunnera – Jack Frost and Omphalodes cappadocica - 'Cherry Ingram' (goodness knows how you pronounce that!). Usually the nursery don't accept orders for less than £20 but as I pleaded that I was an idiot who hadn't noticed the bit about accepting substitutes they let me have just a couple of plants - it always pays to ask! These are to add to the area under the crab apple tree.
Also in the garden greenhouse the garlic is growing well. We have also potted up some elephant garlic cloves and some shallot and onion sets. The shallots are already starting to shoot.
In the garden the bulbs have really gathered speed although to get the full benefit of the snowdrops and crocuses we need a bit more sunshine as at the moment the buds are determined to stay tightly closed. The hellebores too that I planted last year are producing buds and would also welcome more sunshine to coax them on. 
Elsewhere in the garden the troughs of pansies are picking up after their battering – tough little things aren’t they? They would also love a little sun though to dry out their petals and make them lift their smiley faces. A daphne that arrived from out of the blue – literally, I think a seed must have dropped from the sky courtesy of a low flying bird - is full of flower. Just goes to show that sometimes it pays not to be too eager to whip out something that looks as though it may be some sort of weed! Pity the bird didn’t drop it somewhere where it would have space to develop but I daren’t move it in case it dies.

Not everything has come through the winter unscathed as it looks as though our gunnera and phormium have had it. Looks like another area of the garden will need some replanting!
 

And on top of all that love is in the air! Folklore has it that the birds choose their mates on Valentines day. Well our birds are a bit forward and have been seen around in pairs for a while now. Blue tits and great tits are already exploring the bird boxes so it was time to make sure nest cam was in position. (See Martyn’s blog for a photo). Nest cam is another new toy but chances are that being new nothing will take up residence this year especially as our contrary blue and great tits seem to prefer the sparrow terrace!!!

As for any progress getting things done outside well ... that's the lack of it bit!


31 comments:

  1. Your seedlings are looking very happy & healthy! Leaving well enough alone is sometimes the best way to go.

    It definitely looks like spring is on it's way for you!

    Can't wait to see the new perennial bed!

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  2. Can't wait to see the rest of the plants I've ordered, Robin. I hope they're not a let down after the ones I have already. I'm guessing they are likely to be smaller as they are collections.

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  3. I enjoy looking at your lettuce... very much a temperate plant. They are growing in pots in our garden too, at a sheltered corner.

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  4. The indoor light garden is progressing really well, you'll be eating home grown salad in no time. The nest cam sounds exciting, I'll pop over to Martyn's blog to have a look.

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  5. You are doing well to grow lettuce in your climate, Bangchik even in our summers it soon goes to seed.

    The lettuce is growing quickly now, Jo. Just hope we get some residents in our spy cam house!

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  6. I'll be eagerly watching how you get on with that indoor light garden thingy. It sounds good so far. It might end up being on my Christmas list for next year (if I could find somewhere to put it...)

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  7. It's all coming on well Sue, good luck with the lettuces!

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  8. Your plants and seedlings look so healthy - very impressive!

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  9. Don't give up on the gunnera, the ones I saw last weekend at Harlow Carr looked like utter mush but they're probably OK.

    Your Beth Chatto perennials look excellent - she says, longingly ...

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  10. So far we are pleased with it Mark - the lettuce plants are coming on a treat and no sign of lack of light!

    Thanks Damo, so far things are looking good.

    Thanks Why I Garden - we just desperately need some better weather as it is so miserable - last year the snowdrops shone in the sunshine!

    We have been realy pleased with the perennials BW - once the other stuff comes we will plant them all out. Fingers crossed on the gunnera then - it was quite small (for a gunnera) last year.

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  11. Your seedlings look great. I have also turned on my grow lights, so far there are some artichokes and some summer savory. Next are peppers. This year I have decided to start all seeds later than last year.

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  12. Everything look ready to greet spring Sue. I can't wait to see where you will transplant them.

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  13. These seedlings are early for us Ana we usually wait til March but the grow lights have meant we can start a little earlier.

    I just wish spring would decide to start arriving Diana with a little more sunshine. Bright and crisp, I like - dull and miserable, I don't like.

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  14. Wow you have been busy already! I'd love to have a grow-lights set-up like that. Hope it works really well for you.

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  15. My! You have a lot going on so early. It's great to see it all coming along so nicely.

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  16. It's lovely to see the greenery coming back and the gardens once again coming to life. Your seedlings are looking well and I'm glad that you are getting some good crops from them.

    Things are still a little slow on the plots for all of us but it won't be long now before we're in full swing.

    I think my birds are pairing up too which is a shame as I still haven't got around to getting a new bird house...maybe I'll still be lucky!!

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  17. Without the lights we wouldn't have even have tried to bring on any seedlings Naomi.

    Most of the stuff is only growing as it arrived at us in good condition Mo - we're just keeping it ticking over but we are pleased with the arly seedlings.

    We still haven't done anything on our plots Tanya - unlike you beavering away. If you get your bird box up very quickly you have every chance of something taking it! Set yourself a target to get it up this weekend!

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  18. your seedlings look great! I think I might need to resow mines. they went a bit stale during winter.

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  19. Never mind Fer lots of time to start again!

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  20. when it comes to the back garden I must say - though it is mainly clay and bricks Andrew is going fabulously.
    The allotment, I daren't say...no photos of that...you have, yet again, out me to shame, so much green everywhere!!!!
    Lovely!

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  21. Remember our garden has been going for a long time, Carrie, so lots of things are established - yours is just a baby - as for the allotment we have almost forgotten where it is

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  22. I have tried to make a photo album from your notes. Thanks.

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  23. Looks like you have more than tried Diana - I'll email you how you can make it wider to a chosen width and height so if you want you can have a larger album without using their settings.

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  24. Can't wait to see your wineberries in fruit!! Have never seen them here in Melbourne Australia.
    My girls looooove lettuce that's gone to seed!

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  25. I can't wait to see them either Mrs Bok as I've never seemn them for real! I'm not sure that it will fruit this year but even just one berry would be good!

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  26. I cannot wait to start planting! of course my planting is done in two or three large flower pots , but I still can't wait!

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  27. Lucky you to get a daphne out of the blue!

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  28. I bet you cram those flower tubs though AIFR

    Very lucky Linda that I didn't pull it out as a weed - it sat there growing for a year or so without any sign of a flower and I thought the leaves looked like no weed I knew so left it. They to my delight it flowered!

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  29. Lovely looking seedlings and perennials. I've just ordered some plants from Beth Chatto's nursery too.

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  30. I hope that your Beth Chatto plants are as good as mine janet - let us kknow!

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  31. A great blog for tree huggers! Loved passing by it! Keep up the great work!

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