Good Egg Behaviour

Well, it’s gone cold again. So annoying with my peas ready to go in. David and I had a long walk around Primrose Hill and Regent’s Park last night and we were positively dressed for winter. Hats, cloves, huddled into coats and moaning at the relentless wind. But at least it’s sunny. After my morning chores I shall go up with my improvised cloches for the peas. Cut down water bottles. They will look positively ghastly, but Rino has them (that’s where I cottoned on to the idea) and if I bury them deep enough they may not blow over in this gale.

Half-time at the football (listening to Arsenal against Juventus Champions League quarter final) and I have emerged from a wonderful bath. Waiting all that time for the plumber was worthwhile. First long soak since February. But on with the garden news. I did the peas and the beans and weeded the garden, and did my silly plastic bottles.

And there are now three rows of broad beans, which is plenty. And I must leave room for the dwarf French beans growing lustily on the roof terrace. The peas are in place in a slightly wonky row. I seem to recall you can cram the peas into the trenches, but I just didn’t have the heart. So there is going to be a bit of space between them. No slugs in sight thank goodness, and I remembered to water each plant before I placed their plastic cloche over the top. It’s rather dry right now and I have no idea how they are going to thrive in such clay soil. But at least the clay does keep in the moisture if there is any.

I watered the plot from my supply in the wheelie bin and positively glowed with Good Egg Behaviour in being able to recycle rain water. The taps haven’t been turned on, so I wouldn’t have been able to water them any other way mind you. I wonder when the water does come back on at the taps?

I reckon I have one more big day of weeding to finish the first work on the flower bed. As I stood back and gazed at the immense amount of work at the end of today I thought – my god this space is huge. I won’t have enough seeds to plant this area, let alone the vases to hold the flowers. But nothing beats over-ambition in the garden dreams department. I’ll just have to plant more nerines and sedums along the back. And maybe make the paths around the sides a bit wider.

But that’s a long way off. No more planting until we come back after Easter.

Vegetable: Sutton Dwarf Broad Beans
How many?: half a row (8 seeds)
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: Bed 4

Vegetable: Sutton Dwarf Beans plants
How many?: 3 plants
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: Bed 4

Vegetable: Klevedon Wonder pea plants
How many?: 8 small plants
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: Bed 4

Vegetable: Feltham First pea plants
How many?: 4 small plants
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: Bed 4