The weather has been beautiful for the last couple of weeks, seed germination has been a doddle (although I’m still waiting on a tray of asparagus) and seedlings have put on a lot of growth, all of this means that watering has been a bit of a chore at times. Still, mustn’t grumble! I planted onion sets out this [...]
All posts for the month April, 2011
April in the Garden Smallholding
Posted by Karen on April 29, 2011
http://thegardensmallholder.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/april-in-the-garden-smallholding/
First Spring Harvest
I’ve been pulling radish for the past few days, they’re always a welcome treat and usually straight forward to grow. With prolonged warm weather you can expect to start pulling radish from 3 weeks after sowing, because of their speed of growth they’re a handy gap filler amongst slower growing plants and a great first crop for children to [...]
Posted by Karen on April 28, 2011
http://thegardensmallholder.wordpress.com/2011/04/28/first-spring-harvest/
I Have an Allotment Plot
Here she is, all weedy and wonderful. A plot was offered to me at my village allotment on Good Friday, I jumped at the chance - who wouldn’t? What with waiting lists as long as 10 years in some places I feel ever so lucky to have an allotment plot so soon. You might be surprised to learn [...]
Posted by Karen on April 24, 2011
http://thegardensmallholder.wordpress.com/2011/04/24/i-have-an-allotment-plot/
Meteor Peas in Flower
I’m growing Meteor peas which can be autumn or spring sown, after a disastrous attempt at autumn sowing I decided to wait until March before direct sowing again. This time germination was a success, the plants are romping away and flowering already but my joy has quickly turned to dread because of a pest called Pea Moth. Pea flowers are self [...]
Posted by Karen on April 23, 2011
http://thegardensmallholder.wordpress.com/2011/04/23/meteor-peas-in-flower/
We’re Having a Bit of a Celebration
I’m chuffed to bits to announce that today marks the 3rd anniversary of freedom for a couple of my original ex battery hens, Lily ‘Savage’ and Emily have been out of a battery cage for 3 whole years, whoopee! Believe it or not both hens are still laying quality shelled eggs every single day, usually taking [...]
Posted by Karen on April 20, 2011
http://thegardensmallholder.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/were-having-a-bit-of-a-celebration/
Make Veg Frames for Raised Beds
I mainly use raised beds to grow fruit and vegetables in my garden, for the last 2 years I’ve been using what I call ‘veg frames’, to prevent my seeds, seedlings and onion sets being disturbed by cats, birds and rodents, giving them protection during the vulnerable early weeks of growing. The frames sit on top of my raised beds allowing essential light, water and air [...]
Posted by Karen on April 13, 2011
http://thegardensmallholder.wordpress.com/2011/04/13/make-veg-frames-for-raised-beds/
A Beautiful Sunny Weekend
The weather is utterly gorgeous at the moment, brilliant blue sky and wall to wall sunshine. The weekend was spent pottering around the garden, watering seed trays, sowing rows of carrots, planting herbs and dining al fresco with evening drinks by candlelight, entertainment provided by bats with their magnificent aerial display. Everything looks so much better in the sunshine, especially the [...]
Posted by Karen on April 11, 2011
http://thegardensmallholder.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/a-beautiful-sunny-weekend/
Sowing Sweetcorn
I started sowing sweetcorn about a week ago using 4 in pots inside the greenhouse, the seedlings are germinating well in this tropical heat that we are experiencing at the moment. All you need to keep sweetcorn happy until planted outside (wait until the last frosts are over) is a sunny windowsill, they love the heat but need plenty [...]
Posted by Karen on April 8, 2011
http://thegardensmallholder.wordpress.com/2011/04/08/sowing-sweetcorn/
Pear Tree Flowering
My Williams Bon Chrétien pear tree is in full flower, bees are flocking to the blossom and it looks a real treat. Last year my young ‘Williams’ suffered a bit from the heat, the fruit set but didn’t mature properly so I removed the fruit to give the tree a chance to recover. Hopefully its root system can cope [...]
Posted by Karen on April 4, 2011
http://thegardensmallholder.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/pear-tree-flowering/
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Welcome to The Garden Smallholder, it's a blog about growing veg, fruit and keeping chickens in a rural back garden.
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