2 - 9 March

2^nd March
Mothering Sunday and the weather is bright and sunny and in the garden the daffodils are practically all out in celebration of the mother whose husband planted them all.

 4^th March

I have sown my first seeds of the year. Half of my 40 module propagator tray was filled with compost and 20 cauliflower seeds were sown. The lid was put on, and the tray was put up into our loft (which is a proper room) by the radiator.

5^th March

I finally got round to washing some of the plant pots from last year. It is always good practice to do this as there may be soil and/or plant disease that can be transferred to the new sowings. I meant to do it last summer and then store the pots neatly in the shed, but they have been stuffed behind the raised paving slab since last spring and summer. I washed as many as I could fit to dry on the draining board, I’ll do more later.

 6^th March

I have added sprouts seeds to the other half of the propagator with the cauliflower seeds. These are the Bedford-Fillbasket variety which, according to the instructions, are to be sown a tad earlier than my other variety, Brigitte. I have also been digging at the allotment and applied some horse manure to the area I am growing the squashes in.

7^th March

I have been weeding in the garden again. At least starting early in the year and popping out fairly frequently and doing this will stop weeds becoming established. It is, however, seemingly crazy that I have weeded so often already this year because it has been so warm (to weeds, not to me!)

The garden is awash with sycamore seedlings that have sprung up from the seeds shed by the tree last autumn. They are extremely prolific.

I transplanted the pepper plug plants into slightly larger pots and placed them into a tray on the kitchen window sill. Unfortunately, due to my neighbour’s extension, the kitchen window does not get good sunshine in the winter, even less than the meagre amount it would get if the construction were not there. At times the window sill feels positively chilly and it is little wonder that I have given up trying to germinate temperamental seeds on it.

8^th March

I was passing by the propagator in which the cauliflower and sprouts seeds are planted and the faintest hint of colour caught my eye. On closer inspection, 3 cauliflower seedlings have emerged – not bad for 4 days, but also, a number of sprouts seedlings are about to pop their heads above the parapet too.

9^th March

Today I sowed the sweet peas into pots. 5 seeds per 5 inch pot as per instructions. The varieties were Red Arrow, Charlie’s Angel and Sweet Chariot. The pots were watered (and not to be watered again until the seedlings appear!) and placed in the large tray I bought recently. They are up in our loft next to the radiator.

Next post: 10th March