Damp dashings

macheWell I hadn’t counted on the rain. Seriously heavy torrents of the stuff coming off the mountain and thwarting my plans.

Actually nothing quite beats standing in my new potting shed with a cup of tea, a mince pie, the rain drumming down on the roof above, and knowing I won’t be wet.   A far fry from the old potting shed believe me.

And I did manage to get heaps done, despite the weather. water in torrents

I had a good look at all the seedlings on the staging and decided which needed a good soak, which needed potting on and which needed tossing out.   The winter lettuce was more a light snack for a slug before it came into the new home.   And look very sorry indeed.   But the mache (lamb’s lettuce) are fine and putting on growth.   And now all fourteen of the plants have been potted on and given some good compost in which to thrive.

santolinasI also had a go at the santolinas.   These were cuttings I took in April this year from Andrew’s plants, and I still marvel at how well they have done. Sturdy little critters.   So I found the 17 special pots from the Filippi order (these were from the plants I have already planted into the shade garden) and decided to put them to good use.   I don’t know the name in English, but in French they are called anti-chignon. Anti knotting.   The pots are square and have grooves down the inside to make the roots grow down more strongly and not get twisted around themselves.

And they have a mesh bottom so there is plenty of drainage. Wonderful pots and now all my santolinas have a chance of putting on similar straight growth before they go into the ground in the spring.

I also potted on 11 cerinthe major plants that I grew from seed.   They are looking sturdy and fleshy and really ought to go out into the garden.   But one look at the weather tells me they can happily have another month indoors before I fling them out.

I potted on endless nepeta plants as well. More cuttings. And I don’t even like the things.   Well, at least where they are at the moment.   They are edging the path on the way up to the potting shed and don’t like the partial shade.   If I get organised I will lift the monster gaura plant that is down at the edge of the vegetable bed and fill the space with these nepetas.   Full sun, a bit of wet and they should be great.

Two cups of tea, endles dashing back and forth to the house to feed more logs on the fire. And then I abandoned at five to go and devour a crime novel in the bath.   Hardly a strenous gardening day.