Look what I found this morning, next doors cat was trying to get at it and magpies were going mad, poor little fella has a puncture wound and is in shock. I let him rest for an hour or so and then he had lunch. He's making a good recovery so far!
Sunday, 22 April 2012
Monday, 16 April 2012
Lemongino
So basically I've just followed the same recipe as for the Sloe Gin but substituted lemons for sloes. Ill need to leave it for a few months at the least before trying, hoping it will be good :)
The recipe is:
700ml Gin
500g Sugar
715g Lemons
Method: zest some of the lemons and place together with the lemon wedges into a wide mouth jar, sprinkle in the sugar and fill to the top with Gin. I could quite fit in all the gin, so had some left over. Keep giving it a shake every day until all the sugar has dissolved, then leave to steep for several months.
Strain and decant into a sterilised bottle and enjoy!
Thursday, 2 February 2012
August 2011
August is definately the month of forraging! As long as not on private property but hanging over onto public pathway it is permitted for personal use, not for resale! or in public parks or woodlands?
Well so far in my borough I have located several fruit bushes and trees, all that fruit going to waste, but of course I leave plenty for the birds and insects!
So far I have found elderflowers, then elderberries, blackberries, mirabelle plums, scarlet mirabelles, sloes, rosehips, damsons, hazelnuts, haws, crab apples, pears and plums, what a collection. Many I have turned into jams and some stored in the freezer for future use.
Mirabelle Jam
Well so far in my borough I have located several fruit bushes and trees, all that fruit going to waste, but of course I leave plenty for the birds and insects!
So far I have found elderflowers, then elderberries, blackberries, mirabelle plums, scarlet mirabelles, sloes, rosehips, damsons, hazelnuts, haws, crab apples, pears and plums, what a collection. Many I have turned into jams and some stored in the freezer for future use.
Mirabelle Jam
- 1 kg sugar
- 2 kg plums
Add a little water and bring to the boil, sieve to remove the stones or this can be done prior to cooking.
Bring back to the boil and add the sugar, stirring until dissolved.
Bring to a hard boil, then jar.
Friday, 6 January 2012
July 2011
Why doth the Lord fail me? no really, none of my seeds have germinated, dam! think the windowsill is too hot, will try again, this time will put the propagators in the GH, we've had such a hot month, Ive had trouble with most of my veggies drying out and not much growing going on, this time last year my veggie patch was like a jungle but as we've had no rain this year everything looks very miserable!
Ive planted some more green beans, I might get lucky this time.
For some good news, a beautiful thing is happening, the water lilly I planted last year has given its first flower
And my first butterfly in the garden
Ive planted some more green beans, I might get lucky this time.
Thursday, 5 January 2012
June 2011
Planted: Corn, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflowers.
Sowed: Carrots, spring onions, beetroot, okra.
A very hot and very wet month. Apart from a fox getting into the garden and chasing all the chooks around I have nothing much to say! and that is that!
Sowed: Carrots, spring onions, beetroot, okra.
A very hot and very wet month. Apart from a fox getting into the garden and chasing all the chooks around I have nothing much to say! and that is that!
Thursday, 29 December 2011
May 2011
May and its beautifully warm, horah!
When collecting eggs this morning, I came across a huge one, Ouch! that must have been really painful, at first I was delighted but then thought about the strain that poor little chook had to go through. I suppose that's what my mum felt like, she is so tiny, petite, not a bit above 5 ft and I was an 8lb baby, yikes!
I have decided to try making wine and bought a wine kit "Young Elderflower", after following the instructions and letting it ferment I racked it off (meaning syphoned from one demijohn to another to rid it of sediment. and finally after a second racking bottled it into sterilised recycled bottles. It already tastes wonderful! but will leave it for another few months.
May brings the month of Elder flowers
Elder flowers here I come....... have you ever seen such a beautiful sight, real magic for the kitchen, first the flowers then the berries..... cant wait!
So most of the neighbours now think I'm a loony!!! do I care? not a bit! So there I was with carrier bags in hand and a small pair of scissors, I've had old ladies looking out of their windows wondering what the hell I'm up to and groups of young boys on their way home from school calling me a vandal? Me? what do they know.....so I've managed to get a couple of bags full, not bad for my first day.
On my return home I've made some Elderflower cordial, recipe from Pam Corbin's preserves book and some elderflower champagne, I managed to get a good recipe from a work colleagues mad aunt! no madder than me.
Managed to find some demijohns in second hand shops, I had purchased the first couple, wow its all working out rather expensive.
Found a park near to my local Aldi store where I discovered an abundance of Elders, came home with about 5 bags, have measured them into pints sizes, bagged and frozen to use during the next year.
When collecting eggs this morning, I came across a huge one, Ouch! that must have been really painful, at first I was delighted but then thought about the strain that poor little chook had to go through. I suppose that's what my mum felt like, she is so tiny, petite, not a bit above 5 ft and I was an 8lb baby, yikes!
I have decided to try making wine and bought a wine kit "Young Elderflower", after following the instructions and letting it ferment I racked it off (meaning syphoned from one demijohn to another to rid it of sediment. and finally after a second racking bottled it into sterilised recycled bottles. It already tastes wonderful! but will leave it for another few months.
May brings the month of Elder flowers
Elder flowers here I come....... have you ever seen such a beautiful sight, real magic for the kitchen, first the flowers then the berries..... cant wait!
So most of the neighbours now think I'm a loony!!! do I care? not a bit! So there I was with carrier bags in hand and a small pair of scissors, I've had old ladies looking out of their windows wondering what the hell I'm up to and groups of young boys on their way home from school calling me a vandal? Me? what do they know.....so I've managed to get a couple of bags full, not bad for my first day.
On my return home I've made some Elderflower cordial, recipe from Pam Corbin's preserves book and some elderflower champagne, I managed to get a good recipe from a work colleagues mad aunt! no madder than me.
Managed to find some demijohns in second hand shops, I had purchased the first couple, wow its all working out rather expensive.
Found a park near to my local Aldi store where I discovered an abundance of Elders, came home with about 5 bags, have measured them into pints sizes, bagged and frozen to use during the next year.
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
April 2011
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March 2011
Very sad, Scatty didn't make it, R.I.P. 7/3/11.
On a better note, the mud is finally starting to dry up, managed to harvest the last of the parsnips and planted out some potatoes.
Indoor sowing: Leeks, tom marmande, tom milla, tom gardiners delight, tom Roma, tom red cherry, pepper sweet red mini, pepper Toro Rossi, cucumbers, sprouting broccoli, borage, melon orange sherbert, tom sun baby, cauli.
On a better note, the mud is finally starting to dry up, managed to harvest the last of the parsnips and planted out some potatoes.
Indoor sowing: Leeks, tom marmande, tom milla, tom gardiners delight, tom Roma, tom red cherry, pepper sweet red mini, pepper Toro Rossi, cucumbers, sprouting broccoli, borage, melon orange sherbert, tom sun baby, cauli.
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
February 2011
Sowed indoors
- x2 trays of mixed lettuce, spinach and radishes.
- kitchen herbs
- aubergine
- peppers (red and banana)
- chilli (cayenne and fresno)
- melon (honeydue)
- alpine strawberry
Planted Goji berry bush.
3.2.11
OMG, soooooo windy tonight! just before turning in I heard strange noises coming from the garden, turned on the garden light, where has the Green house gone? I eventually found it next door. Managed to get it all back. Didn't sleep well, kept dreaming of chicken coops being blown away like in 'Wizard of Oz'.
Checked for damage in the morning and this is what I found:
Have decided on trying to build a timber green house from pallets, to follow in projects later.....
Started to clear corner plot for future green house.
Finally put together raised bed for asparagus, emptied out my compost bin and planted x5 asparagus crowns, 3 of them are already 4 years old so should get a good harvest this year.
11.2.11
My other half called me at work today, sad news: Specky my lovely chook has died, she had a prolapse, so I guess she had an egg stuck again, looks like she was always going to suffer with this problem R.I.P. Specky.
Still really muddy out there, put down more woodchip in runs.
Forgotten method in coops
Have done lots of research on whats called the 'Deep litter method' inside the coops, apparently its less work and is actually healthier for the chooks, so, provide deep litter with wood shavings etc and every few days throw in some corn and the girls turn the whole lot over for you. sounds great but what about the smell I hear you ask, they say, there will be no smell?
22.2.11
When I returned home from work I found Scatty beaten up with a large hole wound on her right bum cheek, she was shaking and hiding, think she was in shock. Have brought her indoors and gave her sugar water through a syringe.
23.2.11
Put Ginger and Red back into the main coop to free up Hennies Hospital for Scatty. On my return home from work Ginger has a bloody bum and Red is scared witless so I have put them back into hospital together with Scatty. Extended the run in the hospital. Got antibiotics for Scatty who is not looking good.
28.2.11
Today I noticed Becky being chased around in the main coop, on closer inspection she has a wound on the top of her tail feathers and found Suzi has a bloody bum. Sprayed them both purple but the usual cannibals keep going for the wounds.
I am sooo fed up with this now, I put Scatty, Ginger and Red into the main coop and pulled out Rocky, Amber, Bluebell and Maggie and put them in Hennies Hospital which I have now renamed the Lock down Isolation Prison!
Altogether again, not a good month!!!
Sunday, 13 February 2011
January 2011
New Years Day
Well the girls all seem fine after last nights fireworks. Cleaned out the coop and showered down the run, they look so funny scratching in the mud. The 2 newbies are still getting picked on but not too bad.
Sowed: broad beans and early peas in propagator.
3.1.11 Whilst drinking my morning coffee I noticed Ginger (the boss) getting chased around, very strange, on closer inspection, she has a huge hole on her right bumb cheek, very deep , poor love, even though she has been a constant bully I do feel sorry for her! Cleaned her up and used purple spray. I have put her in the Green House for the afternoon. Brought her in the kitchen for the night and placed her in the cat carrier with a towel over, think I will have to keep her separated for a couple of days.
The chicken run is really stinky this morning, there has been so much rain and the ground is turning sour so have purchased some hygiene powder.
9.1.11 Today Red has a sore bumb, the other girls have been picking on her but not as bad as ginger, I have sprayed her purple and put her in with Ginger. Need another small coop but cant afford it so going to try and build one, details to follow in Garden Projects later......
11.1.11 Put Ginger and Red back in the coop this morning, Red was fine and Ginger had a couple set toos but quickly established herself as No. 1 again. Rocky started at her would immediately so I removed Rocky instead, shortly followed by Bluebell and Amber, put all 3 naughty girls in the Green House but returned them to the main coop at night.
Whilst all this tooing and froing was going on I noticed Specky kept squatting and straining all day, brought her inside and gave her a warm bath, didn't really help, she started to look really poorly and wouldn't eat or drink, she is almost prolapsing so I decided the break the egg and get it out. Before doing this I tried applying Vaseline around her vent but she couldn't push it through as there was a fleshy film half over the egg and it wouldn't stretch open enough. So, gently broke the half exposed egg with a chop stick then broke the shell, poor little girl was in alot of pain, she kept wincing, I managed to get it all out, immediately after this she started to squat and strain again, surely she doesn't have another egg in there?
To my horror she squirted out an enormous amount of liquid shit which landed all over my hand (stinky), although i was almost sick I was pleased as it flushed her through and any small pieces of shell I may have left behind were washed out! She wouldn't take any food or water but wanted to go back out so I put her back into the coop, where she has now made a full recovery :)
12.1.11 Decided after seeing Rocky starting on Ginger again to put her back into the Green House, on my return from work other half said the girls started to pick on Red again and she now has a bloody bum so he put her back in with Ginger, she feels safe with her and is calm relaxed and eating again.
16.1.11 Discovered Ginger is laying again, wow good girl.
26.1.11 Finished the hospital coop and run today and just in the nick of time as i need the cat carrier back. My poor Henry is not well again and need to take him to the vets.
Put Ginger and Red into their new home (Hennies Hospital), they seem to love it!
27.1.11 Henry is back from the vets, he has bad gums bless him, a course of antibiotics should do the trick.
Well the girls all seem fine after last nights fireworks. Cleaned out the coop and showered down the run, they look so funny scratching in the mud. The 2 newbies are still getting picked on but not too bad.
Sowed: broad beans and early peas in propagator.
3.1.11 Whilst drinking my morning coffee I noticed Ginger (the boss) getting chased around, very strange, on closer inspection, she has a huge hole on her right bumb cheek, very deep , poor love, even though she has been a constant bully I do feel sorry for her! Cleaned her up and used purple spray. I have put her in the Green House for the afternoon. Brought her in the kitchen for the night and placed her in the cat carrier with a towel over, think I will have to keep her separated for a couple of days.
The chicken run is really stinky this morning, there has been so much rain and the ground is turning sour so have purchased some hygiene powder.
9.1.11 Today Red has a sore bumb, the other girls have been picking on her but not as bad as ginger, I have sprayed her purple and put her in with Ginger. Need another small coop but cant afford it so going to try and build one, details to follow in Garden Projects later......
11.1.11 Put Ginger and Red back in the coop this morning, Red was fine and Ginger had a couple set toos but quickly established herself as No. 1 again. Rocky started at her would immediately so I removed Rocky instead, shortly followed by Bluebell and Amber, put all 3 naughty girls in the Green House but returned them to the main coop at night.
Whilst all this tooing and froing was going on I noticed Specky kept squatting and straining all day, brought her inside and gave her a warm bath, didn't really help, she started to look really poorly and wouldn't eat or drink, she is almost prolapsing so I decided the break the egg and get it out. Before doing this I tried applying Vaseline around her vent but she couldn't push it through as there was a fleshy film half over the egg and it wouldn't stretch open enough. So, gently broke the half exposed egg with a chop stick then broke the shell, poor little girl was in alot of pain, she kept wincing, I managed to get it all out, immediately after this she started to squat and strain again, surely she doesn't have another egg in there?
To my horror she squirted out an enormous amount of liquid shit which landed all over my hand (stinky), although i was almost sick I was pleased as it flushed her through and any small pieces of shell I may have left behind were washed out! She wouldn't take any food or water but wanted to go back out so I put her back into the coop, where she has now made a full recovery :)
12.1.11 Decided after seeing Rocky starting on Ginger again to put her back into the Green House, on my return from work other half said the girls started to pick on Red again and she now has a bloody bum so he put her back in with Ginger, she feels safe with her and is calm relaxed and eating again.
16.1.11 Discovered Ginger is laying again, wow good girl.
26.1.11 Finished the hospital coop and run today and just in the nick of time as i need the cat carrier back. My poor Henry is not well again and need to take him to the vets.
Put Ginger and Red into their new home (Hennies Hospital), they seem to love it!
27.1.11 Henry is back from the vets, he has bad gums bless him, a course of antibiotics should do the trick.
Thursday, 6 January 2011
December 2010
Ok so i have cannibals in the garden, i am starting to think that chooks really are a descendant of the dinosaurs! Poor Specky has been bullied again and her bum is red raw, separated from the others, brought some violet spray, apparently heals and covers the sight of blood and stop the others from pecking her, well see.
I have discovered the bad girl is Rocky (as i have named her) she has gone mad....little bitch, constantly plucks feathers from all of the others, i tried poking her with a stick, you know as the dog whisperer gives a bite mimicking another dog, thought she might realise I am the pack leader. yes i know I'm mad....
I now have more chick manure than i can handle, phone my local allotments to see if they would like it, the man from delmonte say YES. his name actually is Derek.
I have now found names for all the chooks:
Becky, Specky, Rocky, Ginger, Suzi, Quatro, Amber, Maggie and Bluebell.
Louri said we eat less eggs now than before we got the girls, I've been selling eggs to friends and clients at work, his suggestion, that way the girls earn their keep and it pays for their food, good idea i thought. So he has suggested we get some more chooks, like i need any persuading?
Its amazing how much these girls grow on you, i now find that I am missing them, I leave them in the morning and by the time I get home at night, they are already tucked up in bed, don't get to see them at all it seems.
27.12.10 Today we picked up 4 more chooks, it was dark by the time we got home so put them straight to bed.
They all seemed fine in the morning, so we went out Xmas shopping.
To my horror, on our return I found one of the new girls dead in the run, they had pecked her so badly she collapsed under a hanging feeder, I cant understand how they can do this to each other, I was really shocked. Three days later I found another new chook dead in the coop when I let them out in the morning! I will never again introduce new chickens to the group again, I know its mother nature and how it would be in the wild but its hard to stomach.
All in all, not a good December either!
Here's looking forward to a better 2011
I have discovered the bad girl is Rocky (as i have named her) she has gone mad....little bitch, constantly plucks feathers from all of the others, i tried poking her with a stick, you know as the dog whisperer gives a bite mimicking another dog, thought she might realise I am the pack leader. yes i know I'm mad....
I now have more chick manure than i can handle, phone my local allotments to see if they would like it, the man from delmonte say YES. his name actually is Derek.
I have now found names for all the chooks:
Becky, Specky, Rocky, Ginger, Suzi, Quatro, Amber, Maggie and Bluebell.
Louri said we eat less eggs now than before we got the girls, I've been selling eggs to friends and clients at work, his suggestion, that way the girls earn their keep and it pays for their food, good idea i thought. So he has suggested we get some more chooks, like i need any persuading?
Its amazing how much these girls grow on you, i now find that I am missing them, I leave them in the morning and by the time I get home at night, they are already tucked up in bed, don't get to see them at all it seems.
27.12.10 Today we picked up 4 more chooks, it was dark by the time we got home so put them straight to bed.
They all seemed fine in the morning, so we went out Xmas shopping.
To my horror, on our return I found one of the new girls dead in the run, they had pecked her so badly she collapsed under a hanging feeder, I cant understand how they can do this to each other, I was really shocked. Three days later I found another new chook dead in the coop when I let them out in the morning! I will never again introduce new chickens to the group again, I know its mother nature and how it would be in the wild but its hard to stomach.
All in all, not a good December either!
Here's looking forward to a better 2011
November 2010
The egg laying is slowing down, think its after the girls are moved, it upsets their systems, a delayed reaction, hope they settle in soon.
Found a farm shop near me, great for getting feed, straw etc.
Roxy, one of my girls is not well, acting strange, all haunched up and not interested in anything, she has lost loads of weight, she stayed like this for a few days and finally passed away, how sad :(
I tried everything i could, nothing worked. Had been in touch with farm for advice, when i told her of the sad news, she very kindly offered to replace her, didn't think it was a good idea, but Louri said yes, so along we went.....didn't want to replace her with another black rock so got another speckaldy instead.
Arrived home and placed her in the run, OMG, it was like Raptor showdown, really scary, poor little girl, they all pecked at her like mad, she ran up into the coop, her crown pouring with blood! WOW I felt so guilty....apparently this is normal and is where Hen Pecked came from.
After a couple of days she settled in fine yay!
14.11.10 Woke up this morning to find husband had cleaned out the coop for me....will wonders never seize?
The cold has really come, the fish pond frozen over, melted a little hole for them.
Specky is limping, he foot is badly bruised, think she may have twisted it coming down the ramp.
Cant believe how stressed out the girlies are keeping me, maybe I'm not cut out for all this, have I made a mistake?
have put cage wire all around my veggie beds, JD keeps insisting to use it as her toilet, not for much longer.
30.11.10 and we have snow!!! everything is covered, poor veggies, poor fish and poor chooks.
Altogether not a good November.
Found a farm shop near me, great for getting feed, straw etc.
Roxy, one of my girls is not well, acting strange, all haunched up and not interested in anything, she has lost loads of weight, she stayed like this for a few days and finally passed away, how sad :(
I tried everything i could, nothing worked. Had been in touch with farm for advice, when i told her of the sad news, she very kindly offered to replace her, didn't think it was a good idea, but Louri said yes, so along we went.....didn't want to replace her with another black rock so got another speckaldy instead.
Arrived home and placed her in the run, OMG, it was like Raptor showdown, really scary, poor little girl, they all pecked at her like mad, she ran up into the coop, her crown pouring with blood! WOW I felt so guilty....apparently this is normal and is where Hen Pecked came from.
After a couple of days she settled in fine yay!
14.11.10 Woke up this morning to find husband had cleaned out the coop for me....will wonders never seize?
The cold has really come, the fish pond frozen over, melted a little hole for them.
Specky is limping, he foot is badly bruised, think she may have twisted it coming down the ramp.
Cant believe how stressed out the girlies are keeping me, maybe I'm not cut out for all this, have I made a mistake?
have put cage wire all around my veggie beds, JD keeps insisting to use it as her toilet, not for much longer.
30.11.10 and we have snow!!! everything is covered, poor veggies, poor fish and poor chooks.
Altogether not a good November.
September 2010
Bought a "Tidy Tent" and have placed it just outside the french doors, finally i have somewhere to put all my bits, should make the kitchen a bit tidier.
Built a raised fish pond for the girls/boys? used log edging and planted herbs around it, really cute in my opinion, transferred the fish over, hopefully they'll settle in with no problems.
Finally the chicken coop arrived, i had it assembled in about an hour and went to Linda's (lady with chicken farm near me) and have bought home 9 girls, Louri helped me from the car, it was already dark so we put them straight to bed, I'm a bit nervous of handling them, I'm sure ill get used to it soon....goodnight girlies xxx
Well, in just 3 days, the girls have eaten every shred of grass in the run, unbelievable?
Rachelle and Stu came to visit, said i am mad for getting so many compared to their 3.
Well its reached freezing point, i was well prepared, ball in the fish pond, all the girls seem ok, none are bothered by the cold at all, i suppose they are wrapped in quilt :)
24.10.10 Well what a palaver today.....whilst cleaning out the coop I started to feel a bit guilty having them shut inside their run, so i decided to let them out and have a little wonder. Half way through I started to panic thinking "if a fox should jump into our garden theres absolutely no way i can protect them" so I decided to get them all back in (she says) OMG!!!!!
why did i let them out? slowly one by one I managed to persuade them with bird seed etc apart from Amber, she had me running round the garden for 2 hours, until I decided to just stand by their door and hold it slightly ajar, she calmly just walked right in....go figure? God knows what the neighbours think, it really was like a Benny Hill sketch, i can even hear the music!
Harvested peppers and aubergines and some more potatoes.
Finally found hardwood chippings to put inside the run so the girls will have something to scratch at, you know, do their Essex 2 step! put them in....they love it, lol, they look so funny!
Built a raised fish pond for the girls/boys? used log edging and planted herbs around it, really cute in my opinion, transferred the fish over, hopefully they'll settle in with no problems.
Finally the chicken coop arrived, i had it assembled in about an hour and went to Linda's (lady with chicken farm near me) and have bought home 9 girls, Louri helped me from the car, it was already dark so we put them straight to bed, I'm a bit nervous of handling them, I'm sure ill get used to it soon....goodnight girlies xxx
Well, in just 3 days, the girls have eaten every shred of grass in the run, unbelievable?
Rachelle and Stu came to visit, said i am mad for getting so many compared to their 3.
Well its reached freezing point, i was well prepared, ball in the fish pond, all the girls seem ok, none are bothered by the cold at all, i suppose they are wrapped in quilt :)
24.10.10 Well what a palaver today.....whilst cleaning out the coop I started to feel a bit guilty having them shut inside their run, so i decided to let them out and have a little wonder. Half way through I started to panic thinking "if a fox should jump into our garden theres absolutely no way i can protect them" so I decided to get them all back in (she says) OMG!!!!!
why did i let them out? slowly one by one I managed to persuade them with bird seed etc apart from Amber, she had me running round the garden for 2 hours, until I decided to just stand by their door and hold it slightly ajar, she calmly just walked right in....go figure? God knows what the neighbours think, it really was like a Benny Hill sketch, i can even hear the music!
Harvested peppers and aubergines and some more potatoes.
Finally found hardwood chippings to put inside the run so the girls will have something to scratch at, you know, do their Essex 2 step! put them in....they love it, lol, they look so funny!
August 2010
Ah....discovered out resident frog is living in the veggie patch, good to see him back, alive and kicking!
After much surfing I have found the perfect chicken coop with a double run....only £294.98 + £17.49 bargain! the run is only 70cm high, so it will fit nicely under the apple tree at the end of the garden, cool.
All my seedlings inside the mini greenhouse are absolutely covered in caterpillars, what the ......? Saw fly larvae, bastards!
8.8.10 flying ants everywhere this afternoon, makes my skin crawl, but fascinating to watch!
Ive been having caterpillar salad nightmares, when will i have decent sleep again?
Have potted all strawberry runners, taken box cuttings.
22.8.10 Plucked my first Braeburn apple, delicious, cant wait for next year, the new tree only have x2 apples on it, and yes i know i should have snipped them both off, but couldn't resist.
Harvested the sweetcorn, maybe a bit too early, not very big cobs.
Most of the different courgette plants have been absolutely useless apart from the normal green ones and the yellow kind, next year will only plant them.
All in all, a very wet August! but good for the plants.
After much surfing I have found the perfect chicken coop with a double run....only £294.98 + £17.49 bargain! the run is only 70cm high, so it will fit nicely under the apple tree at the end of the garden, cool.
All my seedlings inside the mini greenhouse are absolutely covered in caterpillars, what the ......? Saw fly larvae, bastards!
8.8.10 flying ants everywhere this afternoon, makes my skin crawl, but fascinating to watch!
Ive been having caterpillar salad nightmares, when will i have decent sleep again?
Have potted all strawberry runners, taken box cuttings.
22.8.10 Plucked my first Braeburn apple, delicious, cant wait for next year, the new tree only have x2 apples on it, and yes i know i should have snipped them both off, but couldn't resist.
Harvested the sweetcorn, maybe a bit too early, not very big cobs.
Most of the different courgette plants have been absolutely useless apart from the normal green ones and the yellow kind, next year will only plant them.
All in all, a very wet August! but good for the plants.
Friday, 29 October 2010
July 2010
On return from my 1 week away.....WOW! I now have a jungle in my veggie patch!
I have harvested my first fruit courgette, charlotte pots, beetroots, peas and x1 green bean lol!
The raspberries and strawberries are coming ripe, the tomatoes are overgrown but all salads have bolted, shame.
All the parsnips are covered in black flies, YUK, sprayed with a detergent solution.
I have bought some GH staging and had a good clear out.
Sowed:
I have harvested my first fruit courgette, charlotte pots, beetroots, peas and x1 green bean lol!
The raspberries and strawberries are coming ripe, the tomatoes are overgrown but all salads have bolted, shame.
All the parsnips are covered in black flies, YUK, sprayed with a detergent solution.
I have bought some GH staging and had a good clear out.
Sowed:
- salads
- turnips
- carrots
- beans
- peas
- okra (one last time) damn it!
- radish
- fennel
- kohl Rabi
- cauli
- broccoli
- pakchoi
Placed all new into mini GH.
Whilst clearing up found a tiny baby frog near the outside tap, I filled a tub with water and pebbles, rocks for an escape route and a few leaves. Wonder if hell stay?
As usual I always go overboard, so after finding the frog I have decided to set up a miniature pond for him, last night I ordered from the internet, a pink sparkly tub, and some aquatic plants, its going to be so cute!
Well the next morning.....should I be surprised? of course the frog has gone.....and then the pink sparkles with plants have turned up...oh dear!
Harvested my first Patty pan courgette and my Cyprus potatoes, nice size but full of dimples?
Propagated strawberry runners, thyme, mint basil and bonsai pine, put in GH.
Picking toms daily now, also courgettes, put into soup, delicious!
Have started to make up plans for winter and next years veggie layout.
Today I am the proud new mummy of x4 goldfish (Shubunkins), put into tub.
The garden next door has had tree surgeons in this morning, by the afternoon on my return from work cant believe it, they have completely cleared all the garden, including x2 huge fern trees, the old shed and pine trees, so sad! now my garden is completely exposed!
Sunday, 24 October 2010
June 2010
And its raining yet again, I discovered this morning that something (don't think its the cats) has been tunneling for gold in my veggie beds, it has completely destroyed the pakchoi i planted only a few days ago and lights trampled my beans and lettuce, hopefully they will recover! :(
Well it rained all day and all night. Beautiful sunshine today. Came downstairs, looked through the kitchen window and ......BASTARDS!!!!!
Once again the suspect has been at my veggies! Will have to put cloche back over it again after replanting some more spinach and pak choi....GITS!
Unbelievable? what ever it was that trampled my veggie beds had upset both of my Okra seedlings, reset them and thought they would recover but unfortunately not! Will resow some tomorrow and plant them direct.
Also very low on salads since the event!
Navestock flower festival today
Will it be raining? have asked my friend Teri to join me. Wow no rain, but what a disappointment, it was more like a church gathering, never mind. We used the day to visit several garden centres and lunch out, cant be bad.
Sowed:
Well it rained all day and all night. Beautiful sunshine today. Came downstairs, looked through the kitchen window and ......BASTARDS!!!!!
Once again the suspect has been at my veggies! Will have to put cloche back over it again after replanting some more spinach and pak choi....GITS!
Unbelievable? what ever it was that trampled my veggie beds had upset both of my Okra seedlings, reset them and thought they would recover but unfortunately not! Will resow some tomorrow and plant them direct.
Also very low on salads since the event!
Navestock flower festival today
Will it be raining? have asked my friend Teri to join me. Wow no rain, but what a disappointment, it was more like a church gathering, never mind. We used the day to visit several garden centres and lunch out, cant be bad.
Sowed:
- Asparagus
- Okra
- Spinach
- Radish
- Pak choi
- Lettuce
Repotted 3 cherry tom plants to keep upstairs in window together with chilli plant.
Have spotted first tomatoes on all tom plants.
Harvested my Maris pipers today, lots of potatoes but very small, maybe i was a little impatient, i should have waited till all the leaves had died.
Went to water inside the GH, something has eaten all my new lettuce seedlings, one of my Aubergines, not happy! Found the culprit, a very large slug.....just you wait till I get my chickens, they'll have you for breakfast!
Well the mole is back, or at least that's what I think it is, it has tunnelled near my chives, slightly damaging my courgette and newly planted marigolds.
Had a garden tap fitted today, yay! finally no more carrying heavy watering cans, made a wire cage around my veggie beds, hopefully this will keep out our little tunnelling friend.
....
well, so far so good, looks like my cage has worked.:)
Saturday, 23 October 2010
May 2010
First day of May and the weather is SHIT!
Planted some marigolds today, hopefully they are good at keeping bugs away?
Sowed:
Harvested my first pakchoi today YUM!
Planted some marigolds today, hopefully they are good at keeping bugs away?
Sowed:
- Aubergine
- Lambs lettuce
- Lavender
- Sweet bell peppers
- Banana peppers
- Radish
Oh dear, Ive overdone it with the jelly in the hanging baskets, there has been sooooo much rain that they have swelled and are almost spilling over. Took out the bulbs and half of the compost/jelly mixture and replanted the bulbs.
Went to B&Q to get filling for veggie bed No. 2.
Have seen a fox over the past couple of days, discovered whilst emptying compost that it live next door in an abandoned old shed! what does this mean for my future chicken plans?
Harvested my first pakchoi today YUM!Have finally filled veggie bed No. 2, Oh no, JD is not going to be happy as it has taken over her toilet plot, shame.....go next door! :)
My potatoes are in flower!
Planted strawberry plants and fuchsias, look really nice.
Found 2 naughty slugs in my beds, sent them away and put some pellets down. Also had another naughty visitor in my veggie bed, her name is JD, she is in protest, no poo, just a bit of digging.
Its now the end of May and my potato plants have toppled over, googled and apparently this normal at point of flowering.
Tomato plants are full of flowers, wont be long now!
April 2010
Now that i find myself addicted to planting seeds i have decided to add yet more variety of vegetables to the collection:
Drew up plans for no.1 bed, measured out grid and tied up. Planted out beetroot, carrots, corn, courgette, french beans, fruit courgette, lettuce, pakchoi, pattypan courgette, peas, runner beans, spaghetti squash, spinach, spring onions, red onions. Covered it all with fleece, cross fingers and hope for the best.
- Cucumber Telepathy
- Yellow Scallop courgette
- Pattypan courgette
- Fruit courgette
- Golden Zucchini
Herbs:
- Dill
- found some wild Chervil already growing in garden
- shop brought Rosemary
- found some garlic and spring onions which i had planted last year and forgotten about
Bought a Mushroom kit, thinking this should be fairly straight forward? Put compost into tray, spray mist for 10 days in warm place. Mix in mushroom vercilium, place in a cool room. Once mushrooms appear start to spray again, harvest when ready....... after all this effort am i really only going to get a hand full of mushrooms.......unbelievable?
- I added a couple of purple asparagus crowns to my 2 year old green asparagus crowns in large pot
- Cyprus potatoes
- the Okra i seeded last month didn't take, so this time i have sowed directly into a grow bag, cross fingers this time.
- Topped my potatoes with more compost to bury about half deep of the green shoots, they are all dong nicely.
- seeded some Sweet corn Ambrosia
- Leeks Musselburgh.
- Beetroot Boltardy
- Parsnips Hollow Crown
Now your really going to think I'm mad, but i read somewhere that Dandelions are healing by purifying the blood, balancing out the bodies natural fighting capabilities and boosting the immune system, they are used in native remedies to cure Cancer etc.
With this knowledge in mind i have decided to make some Dandelion and Orange Marmalade recipe below:
- Bowl of Dandelion
- x2 oranges and zest
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 pint water
Add dandelions to boiling water and boil for 10 mins, strain, add all ingredients. Whilst stirring bring to the boil, simmer for 20 mins or until thick. Let cool, transfer to jars.
delicious added to yogurt or on toast. Enjoy!
Hanging Baskets
Mixed some jelly stuff to my compost and planted cascading begonia bulbs, surely its warm enough? have kept them in the greenhouse until the frosts are over and hopefully they will emerge quicker? well have to wait and see.
Veggie Beds
Today i have been promised faithfully by husband that he will dig my veg plot over, when i arrived home from work i have been told that it was impossible as our clay soil was completely compacted, even if he had managed i think the quality of the soil is so poor what could possibly live in a house like this?
Solution to this problem is creating some raised beds, bought some timber kits and put them together. Places weed liner underneath and started to fill with manure at the bottom (which absolutely stunk the car out coming back from B&Q) pooooooy!
Then topped with loads of topsoil and compost, sprinkled with some blood fish and bone, wow this is working out expensive, ho hum.
Bed No 1
Drew up plans for no.1 bed, measured out grid and tied up. Planted out beetroot, carrots, corn, courgette, french beans, fruit courgette, lettuce, pakchoi, pattypan courgette, peas, runner beans, spaghetti squash, spinach, spring onions, red onions. Covered it all with fleece, cross fingers and hope for the best.Have now added by planted direct, tatsoi, chives, and sorrel. Transplanted into bed coriander, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary and thyme.
March 2010
Well March brings my new plastic greenhouse into the picture, really don't know if its going to be any good being plastic an all! Its freezing cold outside but I'm excited, have received delivery of my new greenhouse which i purchased from EBay, just have to put it all together, armed with woolly hat and gloves, thick jacket and boots, out I go into the wilderness.......ok a bit dramatic but hey, i do have Latin in the blood.
So, having finally erected the GH i have transferred my seedlings, potted up and put them inside their new little home until the sun decides to come out.
Both Henry and JD have visited, they like it in there, nice and warm!
I have decided to expand on the variety of vegetables and have seeded some more:
So, having finally erected the GH i have transferred my seedlings, potted up and put them inside their new little home until the sun decides to come out.
Both Henry and JD have visited, they like it in there, nice and warm!
I have decided to expand on the variety of vegetables and have seeded some more:
- Dwarf Bean Ferrari
- Pea Kelvedon Wonder
- Pak choi
- Spinach Apollo
- Lettuce mixed salad blend
- Spring onions
- Charlotte potatoes
- Maris piper potatoes
- Carrots Paris market 5
- Okra
- Fennel
- Celery
The seeder potatoes i planted into compost inside some old compost bags, will try the earthing up method each time the leaves appear.
Friday, 22 October 2010
February 2010
I brought windowsill propagators and decided on a few different seeds to grow, slowly did them one by one and placed them in an upstairs front window which gets full sunlight all day. Cant believe how exciting it is to watch with anticipation, every day another seed would poke its head up out of the compost and say hello.
I planted the following seeds:
I planted the following seeds:
- Beef tomatoes
- courgettes
- red cherry tomatoes
- Gardiner's delight tomatoes
- cayenne chillies
- bell peppers.
- Mint
- oregano
- parsley
- thyme
- basil.
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