Christmas in the garden

Merry Christmas!

We had a fantastic Christmas day and because today (26th) is still soooo mild, I thought I would pop into the garden to see what's going on....

The potatoes have been popping up so often over the last week...

...that I've had to put more bricks around them so I can keep piling the soil on top of them...

I've also got some more chitting in the kitchen and I plan to plant them in a couple of weeks time. If the weather continues to be mild, then I might try making better "raised" beds around them rather than the bricks, but I will have to see....

Its been so mild that I seem to now be in the possession of some rather confused daffodils...

I believe these are all the "February Gold" variety that were planted about three weeks ago. Eager little buggers aren't they?!

I had so many wonderful and thoughtful presents this Christmas, but the one I'm most excited about (and didn't think I would get) was the Year Round Seed Tin from the wonderful Sarah Raven.

In side there are seeds including:

• Artichoke 'Violet de Provence' 
• Broad Bean 'Stereo'  
• Leek 'Hannibal' 
• Purple Sprouting Broccoli 'Red Arrow' 
• Spinach 'Medania' 
• Squash 'Red Kuri' 
• Beetroot 'Boltardy' 
• Chard 'White Silver 2'
• Lettuce 'Salad Bowl' 
• Lettuce 'Solix' 
• Carrot 'Nantes 5' 
• Courgette 'Romanesco' 
• Cucumber 'La Diva'
• French Bean 'Blue Lake' (Climbing)  
• Tomato 'Sungold' 

(All taken from the Sarah Raven website)

There is a very exciting update on the carrot experiment...

They have been growing very well, considering they are in toilet roll tubes, on the kitchen window sill for nearly a month now! (Planted 29.11.15). I've resigned myself to the idea that if they don't grow or develop into fruition, then I wont beat myself up about it; this is an experiment, after all. 

The last thing to show you is my own other "Allotment" I've been (...erm...) growing ;-p

Its a cross stitch kit by Bothy Treads called "Allotment Fun". Its come on a bit more since this picture, but I'm really enjoying it!

I'll leave you with a picture of a beautiful Hyacinth that I re-potted after discovering it in the mist of sorting out the new veg beds. It bloomed for me last year and I'm so pleased its decided to do the same again!

That's all for now. Until next time, you take care now x

Better late than never

Its been so mild again; apart form the wind!

But, Finally I have all my spring bulb planted!

I went and treated myself to some new compost and bulbs...

I have a real thing about Yellow; especially when it comes to flowers so I chose Tulips "Yokohama" and daffodils "February Gold" and "Jetfire". Last year my little Tete-a-Tete daffodils made me so stupidly happy that I knew I had to have loads more in the garden for next year.

So I decided to plant them in the beautiful pots at I've been given from my parents new garden as they wont be needing them. That way, I can dig them up when they are done, store them and re use them again next year.

I really do love getting out in the fresh air and getting my hand dirty!

The veg beds now also have a load of compost on them mixed in which will hopefully help the soil for growing next year.

I still think I need to re-jiggle these again, but Im so pleased they are all planted up and I cant wait to (hopefully) be greeted by all those happy yellow flowers in the spring!

In side, I noticed something very exciting today...

My little "carrot experiment" seems to be working! I've had some growth!!! These are on the windowsill in the kitchen, covered by grape packet boxes...

...I do love a good bit of re-cycling! (Note to self; continue to save grape boxes and toilet roll tubes!)

I've also planted up some Aubergine seeds ( from Grow your Own magazine) and some Green Pepper seeds that i collected from a paper several months ago and have stored.
I've never had Aubergine before, so that will be interesting!

And lastly, I went back onto "Veg planner"(via Google) today and re-planned what I have with what I want to plant:

Quite where the Peppers are going to go, I'm not sure yet! But my sister has just moved into a house with a lovely green house in it so I might well be "borrowing" it!

All that's left to do now is to take care of what I have planted inside and wait for spring outside!

I'll leave you with a pretty picture from my Potting Table of some beautiful Polyanthus and some Hyacinths...

That's all for now. Until next time, you take care now x