Growbags and Greenhouses -The WB Garden Blog

Well two of them any way - finally went in between the runners and the lettuces in front of the greenhouse. The weather was goodish today, plenty of sun but still a cool northerly wind - not very pleasant when sitting still outside, as I was when fishing part of the day. There are a couple more french beans to go in probably tomorrow, and I planted another four beans today so that there are some beans later - they have a relatively short cropping season I find.

There were a few other jobs to do both today and yesterday. Some more 'salad leaves' (which includes things like 'pak choi'), and a row of parsnips (a bit late I know but they should grow enough by winter hopefully. All planted near the greenhouse in short rows near the others already planted. I've thinned out the rocket and mixed leaves already coming up as well. The carrots have made a fair showing now - so another row should go in soon.

The lettuces around the brassicas have been watered with liquid fertiliser a couple of times as well, and some of the brassicas as well.

Lettuces nearest greenhouse - just about ready 

As tonight was fairly still the ground-elder received another dose of systemic weedkiller - it is a difficult weed to eradicate and although starting to look a bit sad, another dose will help it go - at least for now.

Also, I finally put in some Dahlias yesterday (they've been around for over a month) after clearing part of the border around the lawn - lots more border to go though.

I'll update the story with pictures as soon as I manage to take a few.

The weather improved today (although it looks as though it is only a brief interlude) so there was a chance to get on with a few jobs. We had sun most of the day although it didn't get terrifically warm, but rain is predicted tomorrow…

Most of the lettuces are in the garden now - all round the edge of the plot with the brassicas in, and some others close to those already planted (see below). There are still a few left in the tray, but they are the 'runts' of the collection so may not be worth planting.

Also the remaining runner beans are now in (alright I lied in the earlier story - there were some more growing as potential replacements for any failures), along the S edge of plot C so when all the runner produce we'll be knee deep in them - and there are still beans from previous years in the freezer…

I spoiled my 'organic' credentials a bit by spraying with weedkiller a load of ground elder - a pernicious weed that is spreading from the hedge on the E side into the garden plots. There really isn't much option - although it can be dug out, the root system is extensive and can't be removed from under the hedge so it just keeps coming back. The weedkiller will probably only suppress it for a while, but we'll see.

The other hanging basket is 'hanging' outside the kitchen as well - and I managed to cut the grass (there is a lawn at the back as well). The hedges at the front, and some at the back now need cutting - so that's a job to fit in during the weekend. Cutting the hedges is a staged process here as there are flowering components like roses, birds nests and later brambles (blackberries) to consider, so it is tricky timing sometimes.

Managed to get about 90 mins of time in the garden yesterday. We've had windy and showery weather fora few days now - April sort of weather again…

So apart from the runner beans I had to finish off stringing the Broad Beans to stop them from being blown over.

There were still four spare places for Runner Beans and I'd had four outside the greenhouse for a few days ready to go in, so that was the first job - watered in with some liquid plant feed. The beans already there are well up now, at least 3ft in some cases.
Next, the remaining two rows of Broad Beans - canes and string between to restraine the beans, already some were trying to grow along the ground rather than upwards! Most are now flowering so it won't be long before there are baby beans (they can be eaten whole when small). Just in time as it has carried on being windy, although the hedges protect us quite well from winds (see garden map) some still does get down to ground level.

The picture below shows the runner beans in front with the broad bean behind (compare with the very first picture on the first post…

Below - the broad bean rows - the white bits are lumps of polystyrene pushed onto the canes to stop me from poking my eye out when I bend over them…..
Note the string to stop them from falling over - a traditional way of doing it that I learned from my grandparents.

See also a close up in the 'Other Plant Pics' page.

Away from the veg I managed to put a collection of plants we bought at a garden centre a week ago into a couple of hanging baskets. These hang outside our kitchen (S facing - into the garden) so we see them at breakfast and meals. They are planted with a mixture of plants, surfinia, lobelia etc. that provide flowering through until the autumn.

Meanwhile, the rows of 'mixed leaves' and rocket are starting to appear, no sign of the carrots yet though.

In the last couple of days I've managed acouple of hours in the garden so things have moved on a bit.

One row of the broad beans is now supported with canes and twine - some of the plants are already flowering. One of the other rows has canes ready for adding the twine to support the beans

As for the French Beans - well the purple variety I planted have all failed, so I 've planted some more in pots in the greenhouse, together with some new beans I bought today - one way or another I'll get some French Beans!

Some of the pepper plants are now in grow bags in the greenhouse - and a couple in a grow bag outside along with the last 2 tomatoes (cherry type). There are still more peppers to plant out - I have a large container and a grow bag left so they'll go in those when I get chance - the pepper plants aren't too big yet so they will keep for a while.

Below - picture of tomatoes in growbag outside greenhouse - the peppers are to the left. (These were planted sometime in the last few days)

Also, managed to get some of the brassicas planted out - some broccoli, Brussels and cabbage. The cabbages are still quite small, and those in the greenhouse aren't doing very well compared to the other brassicas, they obviously didn't like being moved form their original seed tray.
And there are loads more to plant out…
The slugs finally found the lettuces - so I've had to resort to slug pellets to protect them, yes I know it's not environmentally sound but I had some and needed to protect them. I'll investigate alternatives as soon as I can.
I also managed to plant out about a dozen or so more lettuce on plot C (the most recently dug bit), which I have 'cordoned off' with more slug pellets. There are still maybe a couple of dozen plants left to plant out and they are getting pretty big in the seed trays so it will have to be soon.

Managed a few minutes in the evening today - a pretty murky day with drizzle & rain on and off all day - but not cold - around 12degC. I was occupied most of the day with a half-marathon (not just the running, but getting there and getting back as well) - but notwithstanding the tired legs I managed to do a few bits in the garden.

Runner Beans
First I planted four of the runner beans which had been getting used to conditions outside the greenhouse. Then rigged the last bit of netting for the runner beans over the canes so I could plant the other four. All watered in with a liquid fertiliser.
They will be up the netting pretty quick I think - they are already the best part of a foot tall (sorry about the mixed units in this blog - it's the way I tend to think). There is still room for a few more - and some should hopefully be appearing in pots in the greenhouse shortly. Pictures when I get chance.
Lettuces
Also managed to replace a couple of the lettuces that hadn't made it with a couple of leftovers from the tray outside the greenhouse.

Yesterday and today have been really hot and sunny - 27degC yesterday! Not quite as warm today, but pretty close. Had to make sure the windows were open in the greenhouse, and that everything was watered.

When it had cooled a bit this afternoon and evening I managed to get some of the netting up to support the runner beans - and put the beans outside the greenhouse to harden off ready for planting.

Also, put 4 tomatoes (2 cherry & 2 'olive' type) into a grow bag outside the kitchen (it faces south). There are more ready to go in a grow bag outside the greenhouse.