It is hard enough at this time of year to do the stuff that needs doing, with so few hours of daylight meaning only weekends are available to do things. Having a 6 week onld baby means that those weekends rapidly disappear as well. So far I have managed to do the following:
- finished off the new lawn (to give Max somewhere to play!).
- moved the perennials around in the long perennial bed.
- planted up and protected the Echium pinninana plants (see below).
Several years ago we went to the Eden Project in Cornwall and marvelled at the gigantic Viper's Bugloss plants growing there. I bought some seed and 2 years ago finally got round to sowing it. I had expected the plants to bloom this year since they are biennials, and planted them out in May, but while they have put on some growth they have still not flowered - I suppose it was a pretty crap summer. So while I was expecting them to have died off this autumn I was now lumbered with the prospect of protecting them from the frost. I checked with someone I knew at Cambridge University Botanic Gardens, and they confirmed that unless they were in a very sheltered south facing spot they shoudl be protected. So I staked them and wrapped them up in bubblewrap, in one of the few spare hours I had. Sadly the very evening after swaddling them up snug and warm I saw on Gardeners World that you should not use bubblewrap since it promotes rot. It took me another month to get the stuff off and replace it with fleece. The cold snap over the new year period has hopefully vindicated this decision.
Of course all those long dark sleepless hours in the middle of the night when there is nothing else to be done does allow you to think and plan. I have had to be careful not to overplan, it is all very well deciding to do things but if you only have two spare hours per week then it is only a good way way to ensure disappointment. Plans in the offing include:
- Install fencing at the bottom of the lawn and across the two perennial beds.
- Growing asparagus from seed in one of the vegetable beds.
- Growing Green Tomatoes.
- Moving the pondcam pc box to provide better views for the pond cam, which will also require:
- Fixing the pondcam!
- At the same time setting up a new time lapse generating cam to monitor the development of the meadow through the summer.
- Possibly removing the composters and replacing them with a shed.
The composters are to be moved to the allotment. Other proposed activities on the allotment next year include:
- Creating a sheet barrier to retain the manure when delivered.
- Creating a few new beds between the manure heap, and the onions. One for growing Italian Spagna butter beans has already been made and filled with manure.
- Growing white asparagus from crowns already ordered (not the same as the seed I am planning to grow in the garden!).
- Growing as many vegetables as time will allow!
Proposed varieties include:
| Variety | English Name |
| Argenteuil | Asparagus |
| de Barbentane | Aubergine |
| White | Beetroot |
| Sanguina | Beetroot |
| Barbabietola di Chioggia | Beetroot |
| Ishigura Long White | Bunching Onion - Summer |
| Ishigura Long White | Bunching Onion - Winter |
| Friverde | Bush french bean |
| Cupidon | Bush french bean |
| Precoce de Louviers | Cabbage |
| Greyhound | Cabbage |
| d'Eysines | Carrot |
| Autumn King | Carrot |
| James Scarlett | Carrot |
| Amsterdam Forcing | Carrot |
| Early Nantes | Carrot |
| Borlotto Lamon | Climbing Bean |
| Cosse Violette | Climbing French Bean |
| Barlotta di Fuoco | Climbing french bean |
| Spagna Corona | Climbing french bean |
| Serpette Guilloteau | Climbing Pea |
| Louviers | Corn Salad |
| Genovese | Courgette |
| Mirella | Cucumber |
| Vert Petit de Paris | Cucumber |
| Dill | Dill |
| Aquadulce Claudia | Fava Bean |
| Piccolo di Parigi | Gherkin |
| Cavalo Nero di Toscana | Kale |
| Cavalo Nero di Toscana | Kale |
| Telephone | Late maincrop Pea |
| Winter Crop | Lettuce |
| Winter Density | Lettuce |
| Minnesota Midget | Melon |
| Dorata di Parma | Onion |
| Keepwell | Onion |
| Gigante di Napoli | Parsley |
| Frise Vert Fonce | Parsley |
| Tender & True | Parsnip |
| Turga | Parsnip |
| Tender & True | Parsnip |
| Etna | Peperoncini Hot |
| Spagna Corona | Runner Bean |
| Salsify | Salsify |
| Silene inflata | Sculpit |
| Picasso | Shallot |
| Beleville | Sorrel |
| New Zealand | Spinach |
| Giant Winter | Spinach |
| bloomsdale | Spinach |
| Queensland Blue | Squash |
| Round Small | Squash |
| Harrier Butternut F1 | Squash |
| Sunnybrook | Sweet Pepper |
| mini pop | Sweetcorn |
| mini pop | Sweetcorn |
| mini pop | Sweetcorn |
| San Marzano | Tomato |
| Irish Gardener's Delight | Tomato |
| Galina | Tomato |
| Amish Paste | Tomato |
| Gold Nugget | Winter Squash |
| Jaune de Poitou | Yellow Leek |
| Genovese | Zucchino |
| Nano verde di Milano | Zucchino |
| Goldie | Zucchino |
Since writing all that (over a month ago!) I have moved the composters to the allotment (but not out up a shed) moved the pondcam pc (but not yet fixed the pondcam) and planted the asparagus.No i wouldn't normally plant asparagus in january either, but the helpful people at seeds of italy sent them and the crowns were sprouting so i have had to plant them, give them a thick blanket of mulch and hope for the best. I have sown the first pepper and tomato seeds though - spring starts in January in this house. The chilis are already up!
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