An experiment with Squash

On 17th April I planted some squash, butternut in fact I planted 4 seeds from a packet and 4 from a fresh squash. Both lots are sitting on the dinning room windowcill where it's nice and warm and I want to see if what the differences are. I'm hoping the fresh seed germinate and amount to something so I don't have to buy packets again.

Also on the window cill are pots of cerinthe, with seed collected in the autumn, so far a third of the seed are through. I may sell them at the garden open day or have to put them in the garden as many of the self seeded ones from last year have not lasted the frosts.

The cerinthe were a pretty safe bet as they self seed readily, however I have also planted seed collected from the cardoon and also plan to plant some echinacha. Needless to say the runner beans from last years seed are romping away and just waiting for me to put the canes in and harden them off a little longer. It is still getting quite cold at night.

Spring by the sea

Well that was a long break, I rather thought that when I started blogging about the garden last year that as soon as the garden started growing in ernest that there may not be enough time in the day to keep up with writing about the progress, it proved to be true. But, as we all know we were promised great things for the summer last year and it never happened, too much rain, too much wind, this year we are promised a heat wave! Anyway,this year I resolve to write less and more often.

We have had a wonderful spring, probably the best in many years. Two falls of snow in February and March which was unusual in itself. Several old favouries succumbed to the cold. Notabley two osteospernums which were nearly 5 years old, a lovely frilly white daisy thing that I don't know the name of that I grew from a cutting, it was realy dependable and flowered for 8 or 9 months of the year. I am hoping when I get round to cutting it right back it may still have some life in it.

I'm not sure if the dahlias and cannas will all come through, we'll have to see. But the cardoon is well and thriving!

Today, slightly belatedly I dug over my veg patch and planted broad beans (a first) just so I could give the one and only bean that Cameron planted for Cubs one evening in the autumn a few companions, I don't actually like broad beans, well not the fresh ones. I also planted the red onions and a row of pick and come again lettuces (again a first).

Michael and the boys dug over the patch that had the maris pipers in last year. They were a very bountiful crop but took a lot of room and this year I think it is probably too late to put them in so the space will be taken up with cougettes and squash which also take a lot of room.

Made a start on tidying the black bed which for the most part is forget me not blue at the moment but they're easy to remove once finished.

All in all another lovely spring day, now to watch a blu-ray Quantum of Solace.

Sorry Mr Bond... not one of your best.