Tim Prater

Sandgate Community Garden Team Diary Entry for 24th March: Unleash the ladybirds.

We were lucky to be able to get along to our gardening sessions Wednesday and Saturday without being rained on although it seems to have rained for most of the other days.  On Saturday there was a biting wind so that sitting still for too long pricking out seedlings was not to be recommended.  However we did for a while so that the aubergines were potted up for the greenhouse at Pent Farm, and yet more tomatoes pricked out to go with those we did on Wednesday.

Wednesday felt warmer than Saturday, and it seems the ladybirds thought so too, enough to come out from their hibernation spaces which it seems are in all the nooks and crannies of the entire fence.  They were appearing in droves, sunning themselves on the fence, then flying off mostly into the garden.  We have never seen quite so many in one go.  We have seen plenty before but never as many as this.  It is a good job they are a friend of the garden or we would be in trouble for sure.

We have been rewarded with some sprouting broccoli, the bits that did not get eaten by the pigeons, and were somewhat bewildered to understand why what should be purple sprouting is actually white.  It is just another example of seed companies having free reign to mostly do as they like and you can never really be sure of what you are getting until you do the growing.  It tastes the same of course but it was not what we were expecting.

Talking of tasting – Leanne, one of our gardeners, has just completed a course to qualify in Nutrition in Culinary Practice.  Her final task was to create a five day menu, and needless to say she came top of the class with some of the most interesting recipes.  She brought along to the garden some pickled magnolia flowers, which it has to be said were delicious – who would have known unless you try these things.  As a group we are proud of her achievements and will be interested to see how her career develops as a result.

The potatoes got planted, although it was a case of having to remove yet more sycamore seedlings where they had previously been hoed just a few days before, to give space for the spuds.

Hard to believe it will be Easter this coming week, and the clocks will be going forward.  This year seems to be galloping by fast!

What’s next?

• Keep hoeing those sycamores

• Finish staking the broad beans

• Remove the last of the spring onions

• Label the potato bed

This weeks update from the Sandgate Community Garden Diary.

Sandgate Community Garden Team Diary Entry for 17th March: Spring seems to have snuck in through the back door.

Just about everyone is fed up with the weather locally, and so it has continued with cold winds, and frequent showers just to add to the already ridiculously high water table.  However spring really has arrived even if it seems to have sneaked in through the back door.  There are so many buds just about to burst and new things are popping up all over the place.  Unfortunately we are still under a tsunami of sycamore seeds and spending time hoeing as much as we can, however now that spring has arrived we are having to be ultra-careful in places because the first of the asparagus spears are poking through the ground and one of them got hoed before it was noticed.

On Saturday the sun did actually show itself and it was warm enough to want to take your coat off.  We planted the peas for pea shoots and some radishes, the very first plantings of the year.  They had to be covered with a good layer of fleece just to keep off the night chill and for some protection from the winds.  It was also the first time we had used water from the bowser to water in the plants, but on opening the lid to access the inner water cap to check the water level, several great fat bumble bees flew out, startled at being disturbed.  Last year it was full of ladybirds – interesting how the wildlife looks for shelter in the most unexpected places.

One of our tasks was to put a layer of wood chips onto the working compost heap which was when it was discovered that the wheelbarrow tyre had given up on life and was very much useless, so another tyre will have to be purchased.  It has to be said our wheelbarrows do get well used and we probably get through a couple of tyres every year.

The marigolds have been pricked out into trays and will go to the greenhouse at Pent farm to bask in some sunshine for a while.  It looks like it will not be too long before the tomatoes will need sorting out as six of our varieties have emerged already.

What’s Next?

• Wind supporting string around the base of the broad beans

• Prick out the tomatoes to grow on

• Fix the wheelbarrow

• Take out the sycamore seedlings by hand on asparagus beds

This weeks update from the Sandgate Community Garden Diary.