Growth!

The last time you saw this planter, Sue was pricking out tiny chard seedlings on the right and setting radish, rocket and lettuce seeds. Now look at it! And this picture was taken several days ago. All of those little plants are now significantly bigger – so significantly much bigger that on Monday I am going to pick some of the lettuce and rocket leaves and take them in to our Urban Forest Tribe session so the children can really start to get a feel of what the Growing Garden is all about.

And it is not just the lettuce leaves. The tomatoes are all but filling their planter….

The beetroot are also roaring away although the carrots (you can see them, the curly leaves round the edge) are being a bit slower.

Indeed, I have already pricked out nearly half of the beetroot, along with a lot of radishes, and put them in little pots which we hope to sell at our open day on June 22nd. I am a bit of a novice at this and I cannot say that they are looking too healthy but I am assured that they are tough and will be OK….

In fact we have a proper little nursery going up on the patio! My various prickings out, a few super healthy looking pots that have been donated to us, some fennel and some mint that have not yet found a home and our hanging basket of nasturciums (both flowers and leaves edible) which will be suspended from the pergola.

However, even more exciting than the planters is our grass seed! You will remember that Paula and Sue were hard at work a few weeks ago preparing the ground in between our stepping stones…..

And that I had found this great roll of scaffolders’ netting to cover the new seed by the old compost bin and keep the pigeons off….

So two weeks ago I seeded all Paula and Sue’s newly raked soil and covered it all with the netting. And now – only two weeks later – we have grass! A little bit patchy still – but grass…

And, even more exciting – thanks to a phenomenal burst of activity by Steve, Paula and I this afternoon – we also have our mirrored trellis installed and our seat in place. Currently only supported on a few bricks – but in place! And here are the mirror and the seat in all their glory.

Still to come are Steve’s water feature and our pond – which are going to be fabulous – and our pergola. Next week…

Meanwhile, the raspberries are sprouting, the rhubard is getting settled in, and the redcurrant bush is going mad – just look at all that fruit!

We have also been promised a blackcurrant bush (which will fit in nicely beside the redcurrant) by the lovely lady who organises the National Gardens Scheme openings in Hampstead and Highgate and who is coming to visit on Monday to see how we are getting on. Her garden in East Finchley was open last weekend and was absolutely stunning -– a high bar we have to meet!

SO DON’T FORGET – 22nd JUNE – 12.00 – 6pm

Entry – £5 to include a cup of tea – slices of home made cake available to buy, mini pots (we hope!) available to buy – and….. music to entertain you – a guitar and then a saxophone quartet!
You can pay on the door or you can book here.