GARDENING BLOG

Week fifteen April 8th - April 15th

2005

Finished planting out the Rasberries. Started burning the hive bases.

Sunday April 19th 2005 A better brighter warmer day. I opened up my last remaining unchecked bee hive that is a few miles out of town in a country garden. The queen was easy to see on the second frame in - so it didn't take long to check that hive. I put it on a frame and a half.

Started planting out more raspberries in Geoffs end allotment apiary. Put in more broad beans.

Saturday April 9th 2005 the street and cars were covered with a light dusting of white in the early hours as winter made one last flounce before leaving for the last time this year (we hope!) Planted out more seedling onions grown by John in the Greenhouse that we bought second hand last year.

Friday April the 8th 2005 A cold wind has set in and it was quite unpleasant digging in the allotment.

2004

9,10,11,12th April - Easter weekend. A great gardening opportunity with spring weather and April showers. In fact we have had a good amount of rain this year and the the allotment soil is in perfect condition for seed sowing and planting. Weeding is a constant activity in the allotment and any area missed one year becomes twice as bad the next year. I'm burning mine as I go in an old oil drum that is now too leaky to function as a water butt.The resulting ashes eventually (when they have aged and weathered somewhat) get spread on the ground under the apple trees and goosberry bushes. I also try to give broad beans, onions, strawberries and rasberries a dressing of old ash when it is raining.

Sowed a variety of Cabbage seeds. Finished burning of the bases of the bee hives. Sowed beetroot and more carrots, radish, broad beans, lettuce and spinach.

The hive with the one queen cell (2003 below) came through the winter in the best condition is now the strongest hive on both the allotment sites. This spring has been wet and cold up until recently so none of the bees have had the best conditions for making honey. I have put chemical strips in the brood boxes to help control varroa and they are supposed to stay in the hives for five to six weeks. The six weeks is up next weekend - but I removed them from this hive last week and put some empty frames on for the bees to put honey into. This hive will have have some autumn strips put in this year to be on the safe side I think.

2003

12 th April The days are bright and sunny although the breeze is still from the east and the nights are cold. We haven't had a good solid rain for many weeks

Sowed more radish and spinach and made the first sowing of rocket. Sowed cabbage savoy and Golden Acre Earliana plus coz lettuce and some mixed varieties. I'm still planting potatoes and burning cooch grass.

I opened up both of the bee hives in the allotment. The hive with the queen is doing really well and seems to be making the most of the sunny weather. The other hive that I had to remove the Queen from last week has made a queen cell - but only one - in previous years I have had to select one from several.

2002

We haven't had any real rain for weeks now and many of the days in the last week have been bright and sunny. Some of the nights however have been quite cold as the wind hasn't moved from the east except when it has been in the north. So far I have managed to earth up the potatoes to protect them from frost but they are becoming two big to cope with and will have to be left to chance. I still have a few main crop varieties to get in and will endeavor to get them all in before the end of the week.

Emptied the liquid feed dustbin ready to start again with stinging nettles and Russian comfrey

I did sow purple and white sprouting broccoli, cauliflower (Leamington) Savoy and January king cabbage and spinach plus more peas and radish as I planned last week.

The lawn hasn't yet been mowed but the lawn mower has now been oiled and made ready.

I split the remaining beehive in the allotment up earlier in the week and the hive without a queen is making lots of emergency queen cells. The other hive was moved up to the apiary earlier in the week.

As the purple sprouting and spring cauliflower finish cropping I will have more land to clear ready for the French beans and courgette.

2000

1999

April 10,11th

The warm spell continues and spring is in full bloom. The lawn has had a second mowing, as we move into summer this will become a weekly task. The sun makes it easy to sit and enjoy the sight of the new bulbs and wallflowers planted last Autumn.

Planting has to continue however, if there is going to be colour in the garden later in the year. It's not too late to plant more Gladioli (I hope, as I've planted some this weekend). Some of the wallflowers (spring bedding) are to be succeeded by Impatiens (Summer/Autumn bedding) and the small seedlings were pricked out into trays and pots for planting out at the end of May beginning of June. These will have to be hardened off by standing outside during the day and bringing indoors again for the night if there is a risk of frost.

The beginning of April is a great planting time for container grown shrubs and plants, but I think it's too late for assured success with bare rooted trees and roses.

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