I sowed these runner beans 23 April in toilet rolls. They are a variety called Painted Lady, delicious picked and lightly steamed whilst still small. They promise a late summer, plastic free supply.
Category: Eco
Will have content based on environmental and or ecological issues
too chilly for chillies
A cold north wind is battering the garden today, so I\’ve had to keep my small pepper plants indoors today. Even though they are still small plants, there are the beginnings of flower buds. Mad as it sounds, I’m going to pick these off. The reason is to stimulate the plants to put on more…
herby delights
Seed trays sprinkled with dill, coriander and basil seeds 2 weeks ago and kept in my small greenhouse are emerging. The dill and coriander are worth growing just for their large flower heads which are attractive and act like magnetic platforms for beneficial insects. Not only do bees love them but hoverflies, lacewings, ladybirds and…
plastic free salad leaves
For a plastic free and cheaper alternative to buying bags of mixed salad leaves, I’m going to grow some cut and come again mixed leaves. I have re used an old wooden crate that had Clementines in, and made some drainage holes in the bottom. Last weekend I filled it with some sieved garden soil…
harden off time
So my toms are ready to go out side for the first time. The weather is currently mild, so ideal conditions to start accustoming my toms to life outdoors. This is a gradual process because these plants have only ever known a pampered existence in a centrally heated house with no draughts. So this week…
Fulton Strawberry Surprise
Rhubarb is another easy vegetable to grow, needing little attention, and left alone by most pests. Most often the rhubarb sold by supermarkets is wrapped in plastic film which you cannot recycle, so growing my own is another way to cut back on landfill. Sold as small plants called “crowns”, the best time to plant…
kale ready for picking
Keep netted to protect from pigeons and butterflies – I have other things in the garden especially for them This morning I checked on my trough of kale, planted as tiny plugs in the Autumn. They are now ready for picking. If you take a few leaves from the bottom of the stalk of each…
tomato update
They are coming on well since I potted them on. I add a little water each morning, and give the pots a 1/4 turn if they are leaning too much towards the window. Soon be ready to harden off which means gradually accustom them to life outdoors over about 2 weeks. My chilli peppers have…
potting on
Having grown their first set if true leaves I decided today to pot my toms on into a size larger pot. I had sown 2 seeds per plug in case one didn’t germinate. Where both seeds did sprout, as I only have limited space to put them, it’s a matter of comparing the 2 and…
toms and garlic progress
My window sill sown toms are doing ok. The stems have stretched a little long as they try to seek more light. I have put a white card behind them to reflect as much light from the window back onto them as I can. They need plenty of light but at this early stage they…