The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies. Gertrude Jekyll

Annie's Little Plot

Annie's Little Plot

Friday 29 April 2016

The plot in April

April, is it really April. Looking out my window as I write you would be forgiven for thinking that its January or February, only when you look closely and see the brightly coloured Tulips against the snow and the pink blossom of the Rhododendron and the greeness of the garden. Yes its snowing. Crazy April weather. Its May day on sunday!! I thought we had escaped the snow that has been hitting the north of the UK this week, but woke up this morning to a thin covering and its still snowing now. I need to go outside to knock the snow off the greenhouse roof but it can wait a bit. I'll wait till it stops, the showers come and go with bright sunshine in between, and the north wind, it goes right through you. Its no wonder that for the second time this winter I've got a cold. Its all the temperature changes I think.
So I missed posting my last update of the blog in March, as usual its just been too hectic but actually its slow moving on the plot. The cold snap we've had for what it seems like most of April has slowed things down. It will all burst forth soon I'm sure but its still quite bare at the moment. I've been busy at home and in the greenhouse with seed sowing and as usual my greenhouse is fit to burst. Its made all the worse by this cold weather as I can't move things on. I've bought extra shelving for the greenhouse and another mini-greenhouse for outside as a coldframe. But still no space.
At the allotment, my cutting patch has started producing which is the earliest I've ever had flowers, my wallflowers are in bloom. They are a bit dwarfer than I thought they would be, but make a lovely small posy. I've got them in a vase with some chive flower buds, Dianthus 'Green Trick', Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve' and some white Spanish Bluebells that have sprung up on the allotment site round the communal hut. The wallflowers are also delicately scented.

At the plot I've planted a few of my hardy annuals, but how they will be coping with this weather I'm not sure. I'm more worried about them getting squashed by the snow and battered by the wind than the cold really. I've planted some Larkspur, some Poppies 'Falling in Love', Echium 'Blue Bedder', Ammi majus and some Calendula. But still got lots waiting in the wings. I've planted my autumn sown Sweet Peas and have tried a new way of growing them this year. I usually grow up a wigwam but you get lots of growth at the narrow part of the wigwam so thought I would try growing up a vertical frame this time. looking on other blogs have seen people recommend jute netting from Agriframes so I ordered some and got it all set up. Unfortunately I'm not sure what happened but this was what I found when I went up to the plot this week.
A big hole!! My plot neighbour think it would be the foxes but I've managed to salvage it and tied it back up.
Veg-wise I've planted my onions and shallots, potatoes are in and lots on the way in the greenhouse. I've had another go at sowing peas and broad bean direct but no sign of them yet, so we'll see.
Another beauty that I've been growing in my greenhouse this year has been a lovely variety of Ranunculus. Its been in a big pot in my greenhouse and I've had lots of blooms off it for the house. Mostly mixing with tulips, white ones as shown here but also a lovely purple streaked variety. Here it is on its own and then with some tulips and pussy willow.
They have cheered me up on a bleak day, hope they have you too xx

14 comments:

  1. No snow here but it is do cold. The only things that we have planted are some potatoes.

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    1. It only lasted a day thankfully but I'm so glad that cold spelll has past.

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  2. A most enjoyable post and lovely pictures. I especially like the last two. Sorry to see that you have a cold and hope that you feel better soon. It's good to see that despite the weather that you've been planting and sowing. Been wintry here but thankfully no snow. Have a good weekend. Flighty xx

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    1. Yes I have been busy planting and sowing and I'm hoping the weather is starting to improve now.

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  3. Beautiful bouquets which have given me some ideas. Surely today will be the last of the snow and we can confidently return to our gardening tasks.

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    1. Thankyou, yes the forecast looks a bit better for the next week I think

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  4. I can sympathise with not being able to move things on from the greenhouse. Another frost is forecast for tonight and there isn't an inch of space left in mine. I have to move things just to get in the door. Come on Spring, get a shifty on!

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    1. Its all the moving about that takes time, but hopefully the weather is picking up a bit now

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  5. No snow down here but frost nearly every night and hail showers on and off each day, this is worse than our warm winter! love your blooms, they are really pretty.

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    1. Yes the plants must be a bit confused by this weather, though the seem to be mostly taking it in their stride.

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  6. Everything has slowed down here too because of the cold weather, although we haven't had snow. I look forward to seeing your sweet peas grow up on the jute netting. The flowers are lovely, such a gorgeous combination of colours. Hope you shake off the cold, with any luck it'll warm up soon.

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    1. I love the wallflowers I make sure there is still plenty left for the bees. Yes hoping it will warm up this week.

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  7. Goodness, just look at that snow! We got away with hail, but like you endured that awful North wind. The weather certainly has slowed everything down....hopefully we are in for some decent weather. Looking forward to seeing all those flowers shooting up, and what gorgeous posies!!! Delicate and dainty!I do hope the fox takes another route next time.xxx

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  8. we were fortunate enough to not have snow that stayed around. Your flowers are lovely and it's so nice to see them in there vases on display, with my hayfever I tend to leave the flowers in the garden as I then get a little respite when i come into the house...I do sometimes wish though i could just pick a bouquet to appreciate at home.

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