Walk on

Posted on February 17, 2022 by onedeckpete

The Egyptian Walking Onions arrived this morning and now have gone into the ground post-Storm Dudley and pre-Storm Eunice. The plants were well packaged and arrived in a well healthy condition and we even got a bonus sprouting lower bulb as well.

A couple were put in the raised beds which have a top made out of a wooden frame with some plastic over the top. The other one was put into a tub with a glass jar pushed in the compost a good bit for protection. Even though the plants are well hardy we’re taking no chances. We’ll keep you posted on these horticultural oddities! #egyptianwalkingonions

Seed swap alert, seed swap alert!

Posted on December 30, 2021 by onedeckpete

We’ve just found out about the Incredible Edible Lambeth Seed Swap and AGM at the Garden Museum, 5 Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7LB on Saturday 12th February 2022 from 12 noon – 3 pm. The cost is by donation and looks like to be a great event. As it says on the Eventbrite page “Meet up with fellow gardeners, share seeds, tips, stories and connect with the community” sounds good with us! Tickets available here.

Have you news of any other garden related events for 2022, if so send us them in the comments with an email and details with location, date and price.

And while we’re on the subject of seeds…

Tales from the heap

Posted on August 21, 2021 by onedeckpete

The other week we cleared out some grass clippings and recent vegetation from out of the dalek compost bin and stuck it into the old fashioned “out in the elements” heap of old next to it. Up until a few days earlier the wooden frame was full of a few years worth of sticks and ivy that had never rotted down but we moved that into the local council’s garden refuse bin leaving the bottom of the dalek with a load of brandling worms chomping their way through some well rotted warm debris.

Well we looked in the “Open to the wilds of SE23” compost area today (we took off the once stylish now mouldy, bath mat cover first) and gave it a good fork over and it seems to be rotting much quicker than it was in the dalek, not sure if it’s the weather or just being outdoors but whatever it is, it’s working well (see above).

The quarter full darlek (above) is also doing well, there’s less brandling worms compared to last time we looked which means it’s on its way to maturing. Composting well is a bit of a science but it’s worth delving into (no pun intended) as your garden will thank you for it!

Freedom blues

Posted on July 19, 2021 by onedeckpete

Since the relining earlier this year things have gone a bit haywire (in the best sense of the word) down the pond. The water is a hell of a lot clearer, the fish seem happier and we’ve seen far more wildlife in and around there.

We usually get frogspawn, then tadpoles and then usually nothing after. This has had us scratching our heads thinking “Where have they gone then?” expecting to see lots of “something” but no, nothing, just an pond full of fish and plants, nothing frog-related at all.

It’s been different of late as there’s a load of mini frogs sunbathing, swimming and some even making the trip out of the pond out to the surrounding jungle (it’s going to look like a jungle to something so small!) We’ve been watering around the pond recently as we usually just leave it to go dry so we wonder if that’s helping matters too. Nice to see a frog sitting down comtemplating what to do next (above) on this the so called “Freedom Day”.

Feeling high, so high…

Posted on July 18, 2021 by onedeckpete

It’s been a hot weekend to say the least here in SE23!

Yesterday was spent at a local “Midsummer Fayre” in the searing heat but a great time was had by all. Between the Taekwondo demonstration, a brass band (playing renditions of Dancing Queen and Anarchy in the UK) and the eagerly awaited results to the prize rafffle, various plant and bric-a-brac stalls were visited. A few bargains were acquired; some plants, a couple of rugs for indoors and a foot high plastic mushroom (above) for a pound. A right bargain!

And as you know we are suckers for any plant that is subtitled “Rare” “Giant” or “Unusual” in seed listings and it looks like the giant Sunflower seeds we bought on ebay are coming true to their word. They’re at seven foot now and not stopping. We’ll keep you posted on how high they get.

And talking of Rupie Edwards’ Ire Feelings here’s a couple of cuts of it, the second has a little bit of the tune Nite Owl from Tony Allen and the Champs and also later covered by Lee & The Clarendonians. More about that great piece of music from a post earlier this year here. It’s a small musical world. Keep cool and keep safe this week as it’s going to be a hot one!

‘ere? ‘ave you seen me Solstice?

Posted on December 21, 2020 by onedeckpete

Happy Solstice to one and all! Think of today as “The beginning of winter’s death” (Den Ming Dao, 365 Tao #355 Winter) rather than the grey, drizzly day stuck in lockdown again, the Monday before Christmas 2020 it really is.

We are presently keeping ourselves amused by watching the replay of the Stonehenge Winter Solstice stream here on youtube where at the moment there’s a bunch of security guards in high visibility vests congregating in the upper right hand corner either having their own celebration or standing around a calor gas heater.

Big shout to all our gardening and music mates worldwide and remember, from today the days will be getting longer and the sunny days are on their way (well we can dream can’t we?)

Dubbing is a must

Posted on October 4, 2020 by onedeckpete

Next Sunday 11th October 2020 One Deck Pete will be presenting an hour’s “Weeds up to me knees dub mix” on Jesse Yuen‘s excellent North of the River Swan (a show featuring music of the downtempo, dub and bass variety) show from 4pm-6pm on RMT.FM Radio Thamesmead. Pete’s mix will commence around 5pm and to tune in click here. Expect dub of the old and new. Here’s the last show from July below to give you a sample of the top tunes played.

And this excellent tune from Tyler Ov Gaia called A Portal into another world will be thrown into pete’s mix for go measure. Tune in next week!

Seedswapping, we’re seedswapping (and spud buying)

Posted on January 21, 2019 by onedeckpete

Here’s news of three interesting events (all FREE!) coming up in the forthcoming months. The first is the Incredible Edible Lambeth Seed Swap on Saturday February 9th from 12-3pm at The Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7LB. More details here.

The second is The Roots & Shoots Potato Day over Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th February 2019 from 11.00am-2.30pm at Roots & Shoots, Walnut Tree Walk, Lambeth SE11 6DN. More details at www.roots&shoots.org

And the third another Potato Day on Sunday March 3rd from 11-4pm at The Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7LB. More details here. More details about Potato Days nationwide here.

Rock the CABAHs, rock the CABAHs

Posted on October 9, 2018 by onedeckpete

You know we love a plant sale here at Weeds. Thanks to Lewisham Gardens for letting us know about the Charlton & Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society‘s plant stall at The Horn Fair, Charlton House SE7 8RE on Sunday 14th October from 10am-6pm. There’s plants grown by members, free seeds and a talk with gardening tips and tricks at 11am, what more do you want! Fingers crossed the weather’s good. Remember do send us details of any plant sales, seed swaps etc and we’ll give them a plug.

John Peel is not enough

Posted on September 25, 2018 by onedeckpete

Big shout to a good gardening pal of ours who’s putting on an event in the Merton Art Space (at the Wimbledon Library) on Monday 22nd October 2018 from 7.30-10.30pm featuring the electronic duo Spray (featuring Ricardo Autobahn who sounds interesting by all accounts) and a John Peel inspired DJ set from Venice Hopper (tickets £12 plus £1.45 booking fee.) More about what looks like an interesting night here.

Weeds up to me knees

Madtone, gardening and life

Category Archives: Events