Here's a fine thing, six on Saturday and I had done nothing until this morning. Being in the luxurious state that is retirement, I usually have it all lined up by Friday night at the latest. It was inevitable then that the weather would conspire to frustrate me, not that it's raining or snowing, just…
Author: Jim Stephens
Gardener, no-dig allotmenteer, camellia enthusiast.
I love colour, it cheers me up.
Retired nurseryman.
Six on Saturday – 9/2/2019
I'm hoping for enough of a break between weather events this morning to meet with a young couple who are going to take on half of one of my two allotments. I don't really need two whole plots but one isn't quite enough either. They're new to veg growing and both work full time, so…
Six on Saturday – 2/2/2019
It rained steadily all day Thursday, turning to snow in late afternoon. Any salt applied to the roads had been washed away so the snow settled and as the temperature dropped, froze, along with the slushy stuff underneath. Result, an inch or less of snow and impassable roads. I was very glad I didn't have to…
Six on Saturday – 26/1/2019
Yesterday the temperature was well up in double figures and there is no doubt the pace of things in the garden is picking up. I went out expecting very little to have changed from last week and found twice as many items as I needed. I'm not complaining, winter is plenty long enough and I'm always desperate…
Six on Saturday -19/1/2019
When I was writing this yesterday afternoon it was 8°C and raining, as it had been all day. It was also getting brighter, like it was going to brighten up just in time to go dark. Thanks a lot. I didn't fancy going out in the rain with my camera and today I'm off gallivanting…
Apple upcycling
OK, you planted a bunch of step-over apples nearly ten years ago because they were fashionable then and to be honest they’ve been a disappointment. Maybe they don’t get enough sun, maybe they weren’t pruned quite right. Some good varieties among them too, like ‘Saint Cecilia’. According to the National Fruit Collection this is a…
Six on Saturday – 12/1/2019
If we had a well defined winter in this country I imagine there would be months of nothing at all happening followed by a relatively quick transition into full on growth. It seems that one season starts before the last one has finished and the acceleration into full growth runs at about 0 to 60…
