The importance of labelling

This year I "successfully" (as in the plants have yet to die) grown 4 varieties of chillies - all of which have fruited to some extent. When sowing the seeds/planting them on I labelled them each with "chilli" and the initial of the variety - J=Jalepeno, PT=Purple Tiger, T=Twilight and C........

For the life of me I cannot remember what the C stands for, I have searched back through my posts on here and on The Grapevine to no avail.

Lesson for today children - label clearly and comprehensively.

Anyway, probably wondering why you haven't heard from me for a while? No? Well, I'll tell you anyway.

A combination of badly timed weather and a slightly dodgy back (yes, again) has mean that I have not been on the plot for soem weeks now, and I haven't really been able to do anything productive in the garden either - so little point on reporting if there's been very little going on.

I've been off work now for 2 and a half weeks, and I'm going somewhat stir crazy as a result. Been to see my osteopath several times - who in the past has managed to solve whatever problem I've been having. This time however, we seem to have drawn a blank. I'm on a cocktail of painkillers and still I have bouts of severe pain down my right leg (sciatica) which can keep me awake at night. I finally managed to pluck up the courage to ask my GP to refer me to a spinal specialist (something I'd been avoiding for fear of having to have a second operation which could result in fusion of vertebrae). My GP reassured me, stating that it's very unusual for them to operate a second time.

Anyway, I'm currently waiting to hear back (2-3 weeks wait apparently - and that's private!), and I've been referred to the same specialist that operated on me last time - which does give me some confidence as he fixed me in the past.

I'm now looking forward to just getting myself fixed so that I can make a bit of headway on the plot and get things ready for planting out plenty of fresh veg to help feed our new arrival when they get here in February - I'm planning to grow plenty of baby-friendly veg, and hopefully make the plot more productive.

LadyWayne has suggested that she may help out a bit more next year - she's suggesting going to the plot during the daytimes with Bean to potter about. Time will tell of course.

I'm not going to lie - my back has really been getting me down of late, and I am actually looking forward to getting back into the office tomorrow to hopefully take my mind of it for a while (with the aid of painkillers). Fingers crossed.

Timing seems to be the biggest factor in this gardening lark - some will tell you compost in the most important thing, others will suggest hard work etc, but in my epxerience timing is everything. Timing is the one thing I seem to be unable to get to grips with yet - my garlic is still as yet unplanted.

2009 should be better - there's always hope!

Not wishing my life away...

But, where does the time go?

It’s been ages since I’ve been to the plot (or posted here) – or even done any real gardening.

A combination of rubbish weather, nursery preparations and a dodgy back/hamstring/sciatic nerve has kept me away.

A couple of weekends ago LadyWayne and I gave the garden a bit of a spruce up – mowed the grass for what I think will be the last time this year, clipped back a few of the perennials, and swept up the leaves (not that you’d know to look this morning after last night’s winds!!).

I’m now at a point where I’m concerned that I’m getting behind – the greenhouse needs emptying (I’ve moved three chili plants indoors already – 1 each Jalapeño, Purple Tiger and Twilight) and cleaning, onions/garlic still need planting, ground needs turning over and the dead plants on the plot need lifting and throwing on the compost.

I still have a few things in the ground – parsnips, celeriac and purple sprouting broccoli (which I fear has outgrown its netting), but with people coming to visit, the fact that the ground is sodden, and whenever I get the time to go to the plot the weather is dire, time has slipped away.

It’s only going to get worse I’m sure when Bean arrives!

Anyway – one must look to the positives…

Bean will arrive in around 13 weeks or so – doesn’t sound that far away when you say it like that does it? There’s Christmas to look forward to. My neighbours are top of the list to get a plot.

Having pretty much given up on this year (I hear shouts of “again?” from the back), I am starting to think ahead to next season and what to grow/concentrate on. Let’s consider year 1 and 2 as foundation years. Not that one ever stops learning of course, but I now have a good idea about what grows well on the plot, where the most exposed areas are, what problems I’ll face etc .

So, plans for next year revolve around Bean – R-Kid, not the runner/string/French/broad varieties.

Potatoes seem to do well – so they’re definitely on the list.
Squashes – I know to get them in earlier this year.
Carrots – will plant plenty more this year, and net them in.
Parsnips – as per carrots.
Sweetcorn – plant them somewhere more sheltered, or plant something to shelter them.
Swede – root crops seem to do well.
Beetroot – will plant successional.
Peas – planted earlier and will plant closer together.
Beans – seem to be foolproof.
Onions – will plant more (and soon!).
Garlic – as per onions.
Courgettes – will plant a few varieties – including yellow ones, just to make things more interesting.
Apples – will take the ladder to the plot come harvest time.

There are other things I intend on growing, but in terms of staple crops, those are mine.
As you can see – there are a large number of “mashable” veg among the list, which is deliberate – I aim to get Bean eating as much home grown from an early age as possible. Teaching them what’s in season, what/how to cook, etc. Stuff I never really had as kid, but wish to an extent that I had.
Time (or the lack of it), will tell of course!
Of course, sitting on one’s backside isn’t good either – physically or psychologically, so I’ve been busy doing other things. The main “thing” being the nursery, and I’m pleased to report that it’s just about there now – just awaiting the arrival of the cot and more importantly, Bean (although they will be in with us initially of course).

2009 is going to be an interesting year – for many reasons. 2008 was just a hint.