Frozen solid - jobs for the weekend?

[terrace max]

Minus 5 here last night.

I've got a second hand shed to assemble so I'm sorted - what are you people up to this weekend (allotment-wise)?

[terrace max]

[robkb]

Seeing if my soil is too rock-hard to dig! If so, generally pottering about and tidying up. Oh, and checking if my onions and broad beans need any protection - anyone got any idea how hardy they are?

Cheers,
Rob ;)

[aquilegia]

Not allotment-wise, as I don't have one (some might say not wise at all! ;)

But I shall be out in the garden making the most of the sun while I can, digging up the frosted remains of the nasturiums and sowing green manure in the bed (it's a winter one). Although it didn't germinate in the other bed, so maybe I'll just spread brown manure and compost and cover with cardboard (to keep the cats off).

I also need to get the pineapple sage indoors (if it's not already a goner!) and probably just potter about a bit enjoying the frosty sunshine.

I was thinking of turning the compost, but I'm sure it must be full of little creatures (toads and that) who would not appreciate that.

That's just Saturday. Sunday is horse-day!

Rob - your broad beans will be fine (as long as they are an overwintering variety). don't know about onions.

[robkb]

Ta. Broad beans are the Sutton variety, so hoping they'll be okay. God knows what the onions are, some bag I picked up in the garden centre - they're being sold as overwintering, so hopefully will be okay.

Sunday's horsey day for us too - my daughter's riding lesson while I stand around shivering!

Cheers,
Rob ;)

[Obelixx]

HI Rob,

I've sown broad beans in autumn for the first time this year to try and get ahead for next spring.   Our winters regularly include a spell of a few weeks of -15 and we also had a cold patch down to -20 late last winter.  I've given each little plant a plastic bottle overcoat to protect it, just in case, as we also get strong winds.

I've grown Japanese onion sets a couple of times here but not last year as I couldn't find any.  They do fine without protection, even though the veggie patch is on the north side of the house and won't get any direct sun during December and January.  

[aquilegia]

Rob - you should join her for the lesson - you certainly won't be shivering then! It was freezing on Wednesday when I last rode and I was sweating by the end!

[daisymay]

we've got our work cut out this weekend. 2 tonnes of top soil, shed and a trellis panel are arriving today!  ;D should keep me quiet for a while

[lorna]

Daisymay. Will keep fingers crossed that the sun  keeps shining over the weekend for you :)  I am just going to tidy up and maybe start on removing a couple of largish conifers. (that will take me more than weekend!!)   Lorna

[jennym]

For me - day out Saturday, and Sunday hope to dig some soil over whilst still freezing in an attempt to kill slugs etc.
Last few winters have been so mild, thay just seem to get worse and worse.
Nothing better than working hard on a cold winters day!

[Doris_Pinks]

I have to get out into my garden this weekend, geraniums and fushias still to put inside, leaves to rake up etc. etc.  Then back indoors in front of the fire with a nice glass of vino! Hope the weather holds!!

[Gillian]

Well I was going to move my Artichokes but I guess that's out of the question now. I'll probably be bedding them down with straw instead.
And I might....
edge the pathways, fix the raspberry wire, compost the (probably dead by now) Naturtiums, pick some Spinach, then go home to order some shallots and sit infront of  the fire with a glass of red wine.

I might even browse a seed catalgue or two!

[wardy]

I've been on the plot today, sporting my new wellies  ;D  Went early this morning and have just got back.  I was putting my Link a Bord raised bed up and filling it with spent manure and soil.  My husband had the day off today so I dragged him to the plot with me.  We moved my builders rubble sack raised beds onto sheet mulch as we're sick of mowing round them.

A robin was with us all the time we were up the plot, and got really very close.  My cameras batteries were flat as a pancake so got no snaps, except for one pic of my wellies  :)

Was ravenous so went home  :)

[terrace max]

Nice pattern on those wellies Wardy - I saw a similar one (when I closed my eyes) after trying some of that gas stuff they have on maternity wards...

[robkb]

Nice pattern on those wellies Wardy - I saw a similar one (when I closed my eyes) after trying some of that gas stuff they have on maternity wards...

They wouldn't let me have that >:(! Although my wife was using it at the time...

Cheers,
Rob ;)

[aquilegia]

Beautiful wellies Wardy! Mine are just boring green ones (although they are high in the sentimental value as I rode "my" horse (RIP) when I was a teenager in them - that is I wore them when I rode her, we didn't ride around inside the wellies - I'm not that small!)  ;)

Gilliam - don't remind me about catelogues - I've already placed my order, but now with my pretty, edible garden plan, I may just have to buy some more. (Aqui gives self stern talking to along the lines of you already have too many seeds!)

I may just have to read the book I've bought mum for christmas ( :-\) or my Joy Larkcom book instead. Oh and sleep a lot too.

[katynewbie]

 >:(
First chance to go up to the lottie for a week and its frozen solid....grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

Ah well, at least its not raining!! The robin was there and it all looked like a picture with leaves frosted. Sometimes its good to just go and LOOK!!!

;D

[wardy]

Aqui   Joy Larkomm's books are great I reckon.  I've not got the veg growing one yet but bought it my bro for his birthday and he says it's marvellous.  I hope he might loan it to me for a while  :)

I have two new lotty related books which my husband got for me.  One is called Close to the Veg (a book of allotment tales) by Michael Rand who was in the ill-fated lotty programme which got pulled by the Beeb after about 3 episodes.  He's the guy making the straight backed chairs.  And my other new book is about self-sufficiency.  I think my husband is hinting that he wants to retire  ;D   

I'm glad my new wellies are green.  Had they been pink I would have looked like Mrs Blobby  ;D

[redimp]

Digging and putting in my pea and broad bean seedlings.

[undercarriage plan]

Wow Wardy!!! Am green with envy....GG! Well if it's not too frozen, I'll be continuing digging yet moe trench for rabbit proofing the new bit, only got about 30 more yards to go... ::) ::) ::)which is going to be just for squash!! Thanks Lorna!!  ;DIf too frozen will be sat in PT sulking.....
Lottie  ;D

[Icyberjunkie]

Wow!  Now them is wellies you wouldn't get me in!  Mind you thinking about it I always wear hiking boots anyway cos soil lovely and loose with not much clay  ;D

Will be cutting back rest of asparagus this weekend and then having a fire to keep warm!  Kiddies loved cooking tatties in the fire last weekend so may do that again.