Monday 6 April 2020

Swords to Ploughshares III


Garden- latest! During the current emergency I've taken a brief pause from modelling to transform the back garden into a big vegetable patch.

I conscripted all the Bat-lings this weekend, for a Big Push, and it's all starting to come together. Above are the first proper plantings- some broad beans that will hopefully grow up the tripods. Last year our crop amounted to 8 beans- this year I hope to grow kilos of them 

Below is the new main planting area, which looks like a swimming pool filled with mud. We've dug a lot of compost into it and taken a lot of stones out, and planted the first French beans in the corner. Later we will landscape around it.



Above are improvised planters with early crop potatoes in them. The cardboard boxes are what the magnetic sheets arrive here in- they are very substantial, but it remains to be seen whether or not they will survive the spring showers. Nothing much lost, if they don't.

Below is the small planter- we have onions, spring onions, spinach, peas and beetroot in there.



And finally, here is the new raised bed, pretty much as before except I took out the great big bush by the steps and its roots last week, and a couple of sacks of stones, and Harry and I dug the earth over, again. This will be where we will grow most of the root vegetables- it's too shady for much else. Later, I plan to put a water butt in the corner.

So that's where we are; this evening we sat out with a round of gin and tonics and surveyed our domain, with considerable satisfaction. I've already done more gardening than I do in most full years and it's been a comfort, in difficult times. It's going to rain tomorrow, though, and I hope to get back to the modelling! Take care, all.

14 comments:

Gonsalvo said...

Very industrious; we use a hydroponic garden outdoors for our vegetables; wouldn't work for root vegetables, of course!

Kaptain Kobold said...

Where will you keep the chickens?

Millsy said...

Looking great mate! Good to see you making progress for your efforts.

> Where will you keep the chickens?
Knowing Simon there will be a couple of hundred, kept in really useful boxes :P

Carlo said...

Very well done Simon and its great to see the practical side of you making positive changes and actions through these crazy times.
Millsy - very, very funny mate!

Steve J. said...

Fantastic progress and fingers crossed that your efforts will bear fruit.

tradgardmastare said...

Inspiring and industrious, most enjoyable to see your progress. I was out planting potatoes and sowing seeds under cover yesterday while the sun shone.

ACatCalledElvis said...

Great to see! We are busily planting as well

It's a bit early for French beans though - find out when the last frost is expected (usually) where you live, after that point put out the beans!!

BigRedBat said...

> Where will you keep the chickens?
Knowing Simon there will be a couple of hundred, kept in really useful boxes :P

LOL I think there is a RUB that would make a great roost. :-)


> It's a bit early for French beans though - find out when the last frost is expected (usually) where you live, after that point put out the beans!!

We should be OK, just about, living in London. I plan to plant more green beans a bit later on so have a backup if these get frozen.

Bluewillow said...

Excellent mate, coming along nicely

Cheers
Matt

Paul´s Bods said...

Aha! I planted some toilet roll tubes the other day...big money a-coming when they sprout!

BolaPelangi said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
caveadsum1471 said...

Lots of good work, I've been doing more digging than painting for a while now!
Best Iain

Prufrock said...

Very industrious, BRB! This work now will no doubt bring reward in the future. Not sure where I've heard that before, but I'm sure it's true! All jokes aside, here's to broad beans :)

Cheers!

BigRedBat said...

Thanks chaps! Another copule of hours in the garden, today; very relaxing.