Terrace taming

One down, nine to go.   I promised to only do one long skinny terrace at a time, and have stuck to the plan. It’s painful work, but so tremendously satisfying when you look back and see a neater sward.

Ulysse unhelpfully followed me as I worked.   If only I could teach him to eat vinca and nettles I would find this maintenance a whole lot easier.   He seems to prefer the forbidden fruits of cherry blossom, drat him.

But it’s done.   And I have done endless pottings on and prickings out in the potting shed this morning to feel I have had a wonderful gardening day.

I had another of the Balayn family to be entertained by in the potting shed.   Artur took part in most of the pottings on and prickings out.   He chases the warmth around the studio; and even had the temerity to stalk all the way across the seedlings to seek some shade.   He is being pestered by something and howls at me trying to tell me his troubles.   But short of worming him or dosing him in flea powder, I can’t think what to do.   And he is a borrowed cat after all, I don’t get to do the maintenance.

I limit my maintenance to picking up horse manure every second day to build up my lovely pile of future compost. Cat care isn’t on the agenda.

Here is the list of the plants that have gone on one stage further from germinated seeds, to seedlings, to young plants in small pots:  Swiss chard, verbena bonariensis, purple basil (ruffles), stachys lanata, rudbeckia cherry, tomatoes, brazillian button flower, cosmos candy stripe, hyssop, coriander, scarlet kale, cucumber, morning glory, salad leaves (galore) and yet more tomatoes.

These are the ones that Robyn gave me last summer extolling their taste and varieties.   So I carefully washed off the slime germinator inhibitor around the seeds, and stored them carefully these past six months. I’m looking forward to the tigrella variety.   And will even try and grow some in the hot potting shed along with planting them out.   That’s the plan.   I’m getting ahead of myself.

Now, cup of reviving tea inside me, it’s time to plant out spinach, salad and rocket in the main vegetable garden.