Finally, got around to writing this blog post about my gardening exploits this past weekend. The weather was delightful, dry and sunny and it was the perfect opportunity to set to and put my plans for a vegetable/fruit bed into action. I reported in previous posts how I had decided to convert the 'Big Border' in the middle of the garden to grow produce and I have moved a few plants but it really needed a concerted effort and focus to progress it properly.
I did managed to buy three bags of farmyard manure before the lockdown and I have been saving them for the vegetable border. I spent Saturday working through the first section of the border, just over a third of the border. Many snowdrops were lifted, luckily its the ideal time to move them in the green; perennials were moved mainly to the border on the other side of the grass path; some camassias were relocated to the slope and I have to admit that a significant number of camassias have gone to the great compost heap in the sky. Now some might be shocked by this but the camassias were taking over the border and their large leaves and bulbs make it challenging to grow much else so the time was rip for a cull.
This is the border at the end of Saturday. I add two of my precious bags of manure, dug it all over and raked it. I'm going to try to not walk on the border having worked so hard on the soil.
Sunday was planting day which was very exciting. Raspberry canes went in along the top of the border by the grass path. I had bought a couple of pots of canes before the lock down but then realised on Sunday that I now had 10 canes and if I placed them the appropriate 1ft apart I wouldn't be able to fit them in. So I have thrown caution to the wind and have planted them in a double row with the canes planted at 45 degrees to the ones in the adjacent row, so its a kind of zig-zag, if you see what I mean. The fruit section was expanded with a rhubarb, some relocated Sweet Cicely, a Gooseberry Invicta and half a dozen Strawberries.
The Veg are represented by four Potato Sharpe's Express, three Broccoli, Shallots started in pots, some Lettuce Little Gem seedlings. In addition I have sown Rocket, Beetroot and a salad leaf mix.
Here is the Little Veg Bed at the end of Sunday all planted up and no space to spare. I'm now planning on extending across the border as I will hopefully have Courgette, more potatoes, and Sweet Peas to plant as well as other salad seeds.
And to just finish off my happiness we have good steady rain on Sunday night so the border has had a good soak.
I can't believe how much I have enjoyed pulling this border together. I'm really excited about the prospect of finally making veg growing work so watch this space to see how I do.
