Monthly Archives: March 2017

Preparations for Monday

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Helen

I’ve left the Jerusalem artichokes in the ground too long. They have started to sprout no less. However, there are quite a number of tubers, which I am going to freeze, now that I have the new and bigger freezer. … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged Jerusalem artichokes, thornless blackberries | 10 Comments

The birds and Brexit

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Helen

It’s been a sad day for me (I’m talking on an emotional level rather than a political one). I have no idea what Brexit holds but I feel part of me has been wiped away with Theresa May’s letter to … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture, Wildlife | Tagged Brexit, garden birds, mulching, rhubarb, walking onions | 13 Comments

The forgotten hum

Posted on March 24, 2017 by Helen

More tomato seedlings had appeared over the last few days, so after last week’s under-watering and then damping off, it looks like I will end up with at least enough tomato plants this year. It also meant that I needed … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening | Tagged bumblebees, dandelions, tomatoes | 17 Comments

Patio strawberries

Posted on March 23, 2017 by Helen

After I’d lifted the flagstones on my patio and finished the base for my shed, I had a big mound of soil on top of the strawberry patch. I decided this would be best moved in order to cover the … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged hugelbeds, strawberries | 18 Comments

The sesame and the slug

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Helen

I’ve been watching the pots on my windowsill for a week or so. The oregano has germinated and so have a few of the seame seeds. The oregano are growing, albeit at a very slow pace. On the other hand, … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening | Tagged compost, sesame, slugs | 12 Comments

In between the flagstones

Posted on March 20, 2017 by Helen

When I looked out this morning at my beloved shed, I noticed something I hadn’t expected to see under the door. My first thought was that something had happened to the support but upon closer inspection, lo and behold, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening | Tagged Glory-of-the-snow, peas | 2 Comments

Cut- and-come-again kale

Posted on March 19, 2017 by Helen

You know how something happens but it takes you a while to see it? Well, this is the case with the kale stalks that are dotted around the garden. I’d been lopping the tops off as I wanted kale for … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged cabbage, cut and come again, kale | 5 Comments

The bokashi’s second birthday

Posted on March 18, 2017 by Helen

On the eighteenth of March 2015, two bokashi bins, bran and activator liquid arrived at a nearby newsagent’s and with great excitement I picked them up after work. The excitement dropped a bit when I realised that I didn’t have … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged bokashi, hugelculture, Jerusalem artichokes | 13 Comments

Drooping

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Helen

This is the first time it’s happenened: I overwatered the tomato seedlings and one hasn’t survived. Fortunately, a new one has popped up and it is is from a packet which has lots of seeds (in comparison with the organic … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening | Tagged damping off, echinacea, tomatoes | 9 Comments