Sprouting spuds in the springtime

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Joe Maiden (RIP) used to say that Good Friday was the ideal time to plant potatoes. Meanwhile, Spike from Morschen43 in Le Puy-en-Velay, France, plants his around April 10th and if all goes well, they’re ready to eat by July 6–7th.

We got ours in a few weeks ago in the raised bed (and some in another bed under jam jars) with plastic covering them, and they’re already sprouting. There’s still a risk of frost though, so we’ll be putting the plastic back over them in the evenings to keep them from any cold weather or potential frost damage.

We checked http://www.lastfrostdate.co.uk above again and hopefully we should be okay, but you know what the weather will be like, it could be snowing here tomorrow and then a heatwave over the Easter weekend. We say stick your spuds in but keep an eye on the weather and if there are frosts forecast, stick some fleece, fabric or net curtains over the top! Good luck.

Spring mix alert, spring mix alert

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Cheers to our good mate WillJeff (LWSTD FM) for letting us know about a mix he has just put up on his mixcloud. It is in the music for walking series (well that’s what we’ve just called it) and it’s called Walking in the spring 2026. Wonderful stuff as ever with a nice hint of Cafe Del Mar. Eclectic as every and as Gemini just told us, “it’s vibey”. Well worth a listen!

Blue Eyed Soul – Ain’t No Weight
Vangelis – Let It Happen
Bibio – A Couple Swim
Dauwd – Theory of Colours
Luiz Bonfá – Don Quixote
Skinshape, The Horus All Stars – God Of The Sun
Flea – Thinkin Bout You
Molly Drake – I Remember

Work little and often (before the weather changes again)

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It wasn’t too bad here earlier this afternoon, so we tidied up the bed by the garage (above) and stuck in some seeds from the Kew Garden flower collection we were given as a xmas present. There’s some wonderful seeds in those selections.

Then at the back of the bed we stuck in the remaining seven seed potatoes of the “Jazz” variety. There’s still going to be some cold nights to come, so when they do sprout they’ll hopefully be protected by the jam jars. Hope there’s been some work in the garden where you are.

(Is there) a change on its way?

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This afternoon we walked briskly down to the compost heap (to deposit a few teabags) as it was a bit on the parky side. Earlier we didn’t take off the protective plastic covering the raised beds as we have been doing for the past few mornings as we don’t think the just germinated seedlings would have appreciated it. We even had a hail storm at 3pm!

Looking at www.lastfrostdate.co.uk we are still not out of the danger zone yet so there won’t be anything tender going in the garden for a few weeks yet!

 

News from ‘om

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The other day we saw a great space saving device on Facebook; someone had put their seed trays on a shoe rack. Unfortunately, we haven’t got a shoe rack on hand, and the kitchen window is well full. We found this rack thing in the street a few months ago knowing it will come in handy soon, and it did! It’s holding up some Moneymaker tomatoes and some marvel of Peru seedlings. Below are a few different varieties of basil which we sowed today.

We’re trying to find time to tidy up the wild bit and going to fill the now weed-free area around the penstemons and love-in-a-mist with some wildflower seeds. The window frame that once had glass in it is now used to shield some plastic seed covers so they don’t blow away. Waste not, want not, part 33!

A report from France

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A big thanks to Spike from Morschen43 for sharing more photos of his garden in Le Puy-en-Velay, France. As you can see, looking at the pictures (aboove and below), a hell of a lot work has been done over the last couple of weeks and there’s a nice new fence up as well. Sterling work Spike!

If you can remember what the garden was like (below) before the pickaxe, fork and shovel were applied and when it was full of couch grass and dandelions (here), all we can say is “Wow!”

And there’s been a massive bit of pruning on his Granny Smith’s apple tree (below)). Spike was gifted the tree by his grandmother for his 13th birthday and it’s now 35 years old. Here are the before and after pictures of the big cut. It does look a bit severe, but it did need it and we are sure it will grow back fine.

We found out the gardening runs in the family as Spike’s father was a market gardener and swore by gardening using the moon. It’s been a long time since we used the Biodynamic method and Maria Thun‘s Book here but perhaps we will revisit it and give it a try. What have we got to lose?

Cheers for the great pictures of your garden again Spike and keep them coming!

And thanks a million to Spike for playing Jasmine & Madtone’s “Open up your heart” at 50.08 minutes in on his Vampire Freaks radio show here (N°365) here.

A report from north London

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We’ve heard from Debby H in North London whose sent us an update of some pictures from her garden. The first is of her pear tree (above) and as she said, “It seems that the winter wash has worked this year.”

Below is the salix flamingo tree, which is now budding after she thought it was dead and it’s great to see it’s back to life.

As she mentioned in her last post here, here’s the dwarf sunflowers (below) that are looking well healthy.

And below the peonies that are starting to grow. Thanks Debby, the garden is definately bursting into life!

A report from north of the river

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Cheers to Debby H for getting in touch and for letting us know that things are starting to hot up in the garden. “We have germinated about 30 dwarf sunflowers which will need to be potted soon. Also, our tomato plants have finally started to shoot.” Brilliant.

“The cosmos are ready to be planted in pots and put in the cold frame. We have already put some in our plastic greenhouse. We are going to see which environment they prefer.” Great stuff! Please let us know the outcome of that Debby.

She also mentions a plant we have never heard of before (pic above). “Last year our neighbours gave us some plants that we think are called Doronicum. We had seen them giving a good display in our neighbours’ garden and praised them, so they gave us some which we planted last autumn. They are all now beginning to flower. Lots of buds there.” They look a lovely flower!

We look forward to more reports Debby!