It was easy enough to start a few pottles of seed off inside and move them about to catch the sun but once I potted them on there was always going to be a problem...
Bill came home from sailing to find the problem, and then build a solution down in the garage. The trusses fit onto a compost frame. It is lightweight and easy to lift off.
I covered the current compost heap which was still warmish, with a wheelbarrow of grass clippings and a layer of cardboard. Cardboard also around the sides to keep out the wind. The plastic has steamed up a little with this cold weather; a good sign. I'm hardly going to start growing pineapples but it will boost the plants a little.
I have Siberia and Galina, those two that you thought would be good for Dunedin Mum, and Moneymaker and a black cherry tomato: feeling optimistic there. A little like Field of Dreams , 'plant the seeds and the tunnel house will come.'
Bill came home from sailing to find the problem, and then build a solution down in the garage. The trusses fit onto a compost frame. It is lightweight and easy to lift off.
I covered the current compost heap which was still warmish, with a wheelbarrow of grass clippings and a layer of cardboard. Cardboard also around the sides to keep out the wind. The plastic has steamed up a little with this cold weather; a good sign. I'm hardly going to start growing pineapples but it will boost the plants a little.
I have Siberia and Galina, those two that you thought would be good for Dunedin Mum, and Moneymaker and a black cherry tomato: feeling optimistic there. A little like Field of Dreams , 'plant the seeds and the tunnel house will come.'
I will end up replanting about 75% of the front bank I think. Am leaving in some of the taller hebes to shelter new plants, quite a few of which are peices or cuttings of the old ones.Notice how nice and clear the path is. It became so overgrown that you had to brush through plants to get to the front door (no fun in the rain) or worse, visitors tripped on the overgrowth.
The dwarf NZ Toe Toes ( new plants below) died off in the centre but threw out lots of vigourous side shoots first. It figures that any successful plant must have a back-up plan. They were also easy to pull out which secures their future. I will put in one or two again. I've managed to 'gift' most of the rest of these away. The remaining debris is on a long-term compost heap.
Here's the little nursery of cuttings. Some of these are hebes that didn't survive so I'm pleased I can start again with them, for free. Others are cuttings from the cemetery. I didn't think there would be any ownership issues and the plants there generally have to thrive on neglect.
That's a mighty fine looking cloche and how ingenious to perch it on top of the compost heap. Before we left the house, I added bags of horse poo to the compost and mixed it in. Hey presto, three months later it looks like compost in a "how-to" compost text book. I'm rather proud of it, given the disparaging comments made about my compost heap from time to time. The front garden looks nice and clear there, I think we should do something similar soon ourselves.
ReplyDeleteNever mind disparaging comments about your compost when the results speak for themselves. It was a bit of a revelation to me that the front garden would ever need replanting at all but now that I'm attuned to it, well it is a great opportunity to revamp and easier than starting from turf the first time; there are bones there to flesh out.
ReplyDeleteYour cold frame looks good. Someone told me recently that any tomato with "Russian" in the name is good for a cool climate, so "Siberia" must be great! I was given a Russian Red this year and it's leading the charge in my glasshouse. Ooh I can't wait till tomato season...
ReplyDeleteSorry I have been slow getting back to you Ruth. Our computer is on go-slow (it's a teenage by product, they hog the broadband) let alone access. The two specialty tomatoes are doing really well, far better than money maker and cherry so definately living up to their promise so far.
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