THE OLD KENNELS

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IN THE GARDEN...

January 2012

The first resolution in 2012 is to keep a better record of what happens in the garden, trials, errors and tribulations. Looking fondly at the scribbled, doodled and rather muddy five year RHS garden log (which has already done 15years) I realise more detail might prevent me recalling past cropping years through rose tinted spectacles. So I decided to bravely share my thoughts with the world.

We are still busy cutting back brash which has crept up around the place over the years. It has been useful brash, filberts and holly, things with berries and nuts that have always made me leave them for the wildlife or us to harvest. But this years theme is 'let there be light'.

A few years ago I realised my tomatoes were getting fewer, then less were ripening, then this year a measly offering despite a spanky new gravity watering system (to stop me killing them with kindness). They are in a glasshouse, and all should be good in their world, but no.

So looking about, my south-east sloping garden has wonderful shelter...but no light. There have been advantages, less watering for one. In all that shade, its lovely and cool, it doesn't get the wind. But all at the expense of certain crops. The blueberries & cucumbers love it of course, its like an unintentional forest garden, but when you keep selecting plants for shade suddenly you realise you really need to cut your hedges.

Therefore it's time to be brutal on the brash. Its the right time as most of the birds aren't home, and as our very kind neighbours at Stentwood Farm Bakery have been taking down huge trees directly above our house for safety, the light gain is already massive, so we have started on the brash below, what a difference. Our kindly neighbours to the otherside have agreed to top a line of delinquent leylandii, now suddenly I am really enthused about this seasons planting!

Occasionally its great having the memory of a goldfish, as just about now I start to receive parcels in the post, full of excitement I open them to see what goodies I ordered back in November! Just got four varieties of spuds from the Organic Gardening Catalogue, so they are in chitting trays in the cold glass house now with a cosy cloth over them for when they wake up. Also got my seed selections from the Heritage Seed Library, some new bean & lettuce varieties to try this year (if you don't already know about the HSL have a look at joining, they do great work).

My rotation plan complete, together with my all new 'log of plants in the garden' (and gosh I'm proud of it, better than my usual scribbled on the back of a seed delivery note so I have put it below). Its been such a mild winter I keep reminding myself not to get too enthusiastic too early, we always get two weeks snowed in, its just which two weeks. I will sit on my hands and try not plant a seed till at least February!

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