We had a great burst of activity in the garden this week, but, before I tell you about it please mark SUNDAY 26TH APRIL in your diaries for EARTH DAY at the Stratford Hotel and the Lighthouse and Gardens.
A range of FREE eco activities, including Earth Day cards, the power of plants and garden tours at the hotel with Jim, the head gardener. A variety of nature themed crafts, learn to Waggle Dance with Jess (a fun, interactive routine all about the importance of bees) and then join the sing-along with Tobago Crusoe and Raz Tavaris’ drumming circle. Time to relax, explore, and enjoy the gardens together – maybe bring a picnic to enjoy in the garden in the afternoon?
Go here to book your free tickets.
SO, TO THE GARDEN
A few weeks ago when we planted the potatoes, Paul harvested some of the pak choi.
And then, ten days ago, I cleared two of the remaining planters and send all this great produce off to the team at the Urban Forest Tribe’s new home in Bound’s Green.
But obviously I had not harvested enough as by the time everyone arrived on Friday, not only the pak choi had gone to seed, but so had the cavolo nero! And indeed the rocket – although it did look very pretty and actually tasted delicious.
No worries! The team were soon at work clearing out the remaining planters and getting them ready for reseeding. Carrots, beetroot, spring onions and chard which were all such a success last year – with a few nasturciums down the middle to keep those slugs away.
Meanwhile, our resident genius designer/craftsman Steve and son Stephen were at work on our water supply! A Victorian cast iron radiator that I had brought from my old house because I could not bear to throw it out – and that Steve has converted into our watering point!!
THE POTATO SAGA
You may remember that our first crop of potatoes turned out rather bijou as I had failed to ‘earth them up’. So when we planted the next crop I was all ready to ‘earth up’. The only trouble was that I had completely misunderstood the concept. Numerous WhatApp messages flowed to and from Sue, my spud guru as the new plants popped their heads out of the ground and I, thinking that was what I was meant to do, poured more soil on top of them to cover their leaves entirely.
They are taking so much soil, I complained…..
Why don’t you use compost, said Sue?
What a mess, I moaned.
Can’t think why, she said.
I give up – I’m going to cover them in cardboard, I said
But now you are going to have to cut holes in the cardboard for their leaves, said Sue….
But I thought I was covering their leaves!!!!
NO!!!! Just the stems up to the leaves………..
Ahh! Well, that does make lot more sense. So off has come the cardboard and the potatoes are heaving a sigh of relief that at last someone has got the message! And as a result are charging ahead.
And meanwhile even our vines have leapt into action. Here are the buds on one last week.
And of course all of this is because we are already starting to gear up for our National Gardens Scheme opening on June 21st. You can already book your tickets here – cakes, scones and plants to buy and a saxophone quartet to entertain you – and you can also see all the other wonderful gardens that are open around the country.
Potato planting
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