Fresh soil, clean seed trays

I have learnt the hard way about the importance of using new soil for seed germination.  I was so careful to wash the seed trays in hot soapy water, and rinse the soap off them afterwards.  The trouble was I didn't have any new seed compost around, and the weather was so disgusting that it discouraged me from travelling anywhere to get new. 

I lovingly sowed my chilli seeds in two trays.  I am rather fond of chillis, as I am fascinated by the huge variety of shapes, sizes and colours they choose to grow in.  They come in very handy in winter to give extra warmth and interest to comforting meals.  This Christmas for the first time I pickled some in kilner jars as presents.  I decorated the lids with spicey coloured Liberty lawn, and they went down very well. 

I planned the sowing so that the seeds would be just germinating when I returned form skiing, and it was such a surprise to see them all glowing healthily under their tray lids.  Then a couple of days later it was like they had been hit by a pox.  Healthy young leaves all nibbled along the edges.  I wracked my brains about what could have caused this; was it baby slugs, or mice?  There was no sign of slugs hiding anywhere around the trays, and I suspected that both creatures wouldn't just daintily nibble the very edges of seed leaves, but gobble the whole plant entirely.  I put organic slug pellets down, but there were no takers. 

Then I realized how similar the damage was to the damage on my broad bean leaves one summer.  It was some kind of weevil, almost definitely.  The pea and bean weevils lie unnoticed in the soil until they hatch, and crawl up the stems of plants to eat their leaves, and when they are finished they crawl back into the soil again to mutate. 

When the weather became kinder I bought some fresh soil, and transplanted the least damaged of the little seedlings into it.  I was very careful to wash the old soil off their roots as much as I could.  They do look in a sorry state though, and I don't know how healthy the muture plants will be.  I'm going to have to sow another batch. 

Time to be tarped

I have neglected my shack this last year, much as I have neglected this blog.  The truth is, I found myself embroiled in an Allotment War last year, which caused me to become rather disenchanted with allotment gardening.  In fact, I would have given up completely, if it were not for a friendly allotmenteer, who refused to let me go.

The experience rather shocked me, as I am the gentlest and friendliest of Pixies, but found myself harshly judged publicly after standing up for my rights and my land in a manner I felt to be civilized and reasonable.   The whole situation reminded me very much of a cross between Lord of the Flies and Animal Farm.  

I now choose to avoid certain members of the allotment committee, as my life is more peaceful that way.  This means that I haven't been visiting my plots as much as I would like, and as much as they need.  Things are getting a little ragged at the edges, and it is hopefully something that I will remedy this year. 

I soldiered on last year, but as usual the vermin ate most things I planted.  They continued to do so throughout the winter.  I no longer have any garlic or onion tops, and I rather suspect that all my Maris Widgeon shoots have been nibbled away.  Really I need to secure the side fence, through which all the  badgers, muntjak and rabbits in the vicinity nimbly and happily skip, knowing that their bellies will be soon be filled. 

I cleared my shack of all my personal items when I thought I was leaving, and actually it felt good and wholesome to have a clear brown timbered space inside it again.  As it turns out, it was just as well I did empty it, as the storms have wreaked havoc inside and out.  The plastic has been torn off the roof, along with half of the ashfelt on one side.  The gap where the two halves of the roof no longer meet at the apex was exposed to the elements.  The rain has poured down through it, and through the unprotected part of the roof, so inside is totally sodden. 

Nevertheless, I rather like this raw elemental space inside my shed.  I go there to think, and it gives me a sense of being at one with the elements, protected, and at peace.  Things are always changing in my plots though, and this year I feel it is time once more to take hold of the land a little more strongly, and see what the outcome will be. 

I'm still standing

My greenhouse has bravely stood firm throughout the winter, but this last storm was too much for it.  I discovered it yesterday with its door on the ground and 10 panes of glass missing.  It looks as if the wind just lifted the door out of the frame and blasted straight through the greenhouse and out the other side.  The door was always a bit loose, but it doesn't stay on at all now.  There is an inexplicable half inch gap where it should rest on the frame.  The only solution I can see is to lengthen the adjustment holes with a metal file.  A gardener's work is never done..