Rambling Rector

Just as we're going away for nearly two weeks this rose, Rambling Rector, which covers a shabby garage and is set to take over the world, starts its one off bloom.

It's as if there really is never a good time to leave the garden.

We've been frantically trying to get everything in shape, mowing, weeding, tying in the sweet pea, cutting more pea sticks - the Alderman are heading for the heavens. Lettuce cut and given to neighbours before it bolts, rocket sown so it'll be up and away when we get back, tomatoes staked and more put out (Ildi and Gardeners' Delight) even before they're properly hardened off. They'll never survive the glass lean too and our dog sitter who stays over is no gardener.

Cut and come again lettuces given a hair cut for picking later. More mixed leaves broadcast sown (for a bit of a change from lines) in a spare square foot near Mr Bethells Purple Podded pea.

The allotment mowed and planted up 30 foot of leeks, 20 celeriac (new to me). Started off more plugs of parsley and coriander and sowed 5o small pots sown of sweetcorn - Lark for the garden and Sweet Nugget for the allotment. Seed beds seem fine and have perked up with the rain so hopefully the kales, Brussels and cabbages will come through for transplanting in June. Harvested the mother load of broad beans from the Aquadulce and expect the Windsor to pod up by the end of the month.

Germination of the parsnips, Tender & True and Hollow Crown (from Patrick at Bifurcated Carrots) has been erratic and if they're not up by June I'll sow up those bed with turnips I think. I've not had great success with parsnip for the last few years.

Beans sown directly in the ground as I've given up sowing them in pots first. I'm not looking to get an earlier crop and so far I'm lucky that snails,slugs and mice haven't bothered the seed that much. Trying Kew Blue for the first time - a bean given to me by Rebsie (Daughter of the Soil) and repeating Rapide (long, flat and yellow) and the reliable Blauhilde.

All potatoes are up now, the last to appear were Lumpers got from Eiler in Norway and I'm really looking forward to harvesting Red Duke of York soonish. Boiled so there is still a bit of bite in them and lightly dressed with chive,mint, honey, grain mustard and olive oil dressing, they're delicious.

Butternut squashes are growing away under cover quite happily and I'll be planting some of these at the back of the allotment near the brambles - this never get mown so as an experiment I'll see if they happily trail away. I'll dig a hole, fill with manure and see what happens. Sowed another five in pots and these will go in front of the sweet peas where there is unused space.

The three courgette (zucchini) plants in the ground are looking a bit peeky at the moment but as long as we don't get prolonged cold they'll be fine. Still haven't used up last years courgette pasta sauce that's in the freezer but the temptation of courgette and basil soup always makes me plant more than we'll need.

Dropped by the Friary garden to check on the planting and mulch, pull bindweed and hoe  some weeds.

Oh - I said I like gardening didn't I? Back soon.

Comments

[Yolanda Elizabet]

There is never a good time to leave the garden. Have a lovely holiday John! BTW for some reason I have the impression that you like gardening. I wonder why. :-D