Friday 13 April 2012

From bad weather to good

What started out as a very wet and cool morning has progressed into a lovely, warm, sunny afternoon. Don't know how long it will last before any more rain but I have been out in the garage sieving compost (yes - bought compost this time) ready for my tubs later on.

B. had some left over first earlies so I obtained 6 from her and have put 3 each into a large container. She also gave me some golden courgettes seeds from last year, so I have sown two of them. Hopefully, one will come up which is all I really need but might be able to make use of the other one as well.

I've been taking some pictures of my seedlings and other stuff (I know, not very interesting but everyone seems to be doing it!).

Here are the first 4 broad beans in one corner of what will be the runner/french bean bed. 


Another two corners have also been sown, 2 weeks apart, but they haven't made an appearance yet. In the conservatory are the tomatoes, peppers, tomatillo and dahlia. Only one of those has sprouted so 2 cuttings have been taken from them.



I've never taken dahlia cuttings before so hope they will make it. Just outside the dining room window is this lovely flowering Japanese quince bush. 

 
I usually make quince jelly from its fruits, mixing them with those of the quince tree when it decides to provide them. It varies each year. Two years ago, the tree had about 30 quince on it, last year just 2. That mind you, might be because it got some sort of fungus on it and I tackled it rather enthusiastically. 

I'll post some more tomorrow.

 

6 comments:

  1. The quince is really beautiful. We had sunshine this morning and a mad hailstorm this afternoon- the ground was white over.

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    1. We have had a few hailstone sessions in the past couple of days. I stand at the window mentally trying to protect the blossom!

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  2. Qince is such a lovely oldfashioned fruit. What direction have you got it facing? Does it need southfacing aspects or would it be happy looking towards the east? I`ve been toying with the idea of buying a quince from the garden centre.

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  3. My flowering quince bushes face north and the other east (both spend a good deal of the day in shade). Both flower and fruit well. I don't know what aspect they like, just planted them where I needed them. The quince tree is grown over an arch. Its flowers face east and straight up. I think it failed last year due to the infection it got. I have severely pruned out some of its branches to let in more air and light this year. The flowering quinces I just leave to get on with it. They are so beautiful. The other one I have, has dark red flowers.

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  4. You have been busy. I'm not a vegetable/fruit gardener but enjoy seeing what others do.

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    1. I didn't use to when we first married but slowly became interested. I like to mix my vegetables in with flowers where possible (other than the ones in the raised beds). I also choose vegetables that have lovely flowers to add to the effect.

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