Published 11 May 2010
Planting by the moon. I've been busy observing, so I've seen alot:
Mr Stanford
He laid blue pipeing in a trench, left two pieces standing upright, then filled with compost. Next he erected runner bean poles, neatly knotted at the top with brown string. Mr Stanford knows about knots;The Director does not. She erected five bamboo canes in wigwam formation but needed Duffus's fingers to help with the knots.
Mr Stanford has sown more parsnips, carrots and puddled in leeks. His spring cabbages look big, his rhubarb even bigger and he's been watering his garlic to make the bulbs swell and split into cloves. He's also planted lettuce, cauliflower and cabbage seedlings under cloches.
The Director
The March sowings of parsnips, beetroot and carrots are doing well:
'They're coming up Alice, in spite of Mr Stanford's prediction; I'll tell him when we meet.'
She won't need to; Mr Stanford regularly inspects the plot although he doesn't speak to me - I think he's more used to male scarecrows.
The Director's only sowing when the moon is waxing. She thinks this will help everything grow, so all sowing occurred during the last ten days of April- more rows of root vegetables plus peas and dill. There's also clover for green manure, although some lies scattered around my pole. Apparently clover looks pretty and attracts the bees; this could be a mixed blessing - bees are good for pollination but not good if they get under my hat.
The moon starts waxing again on May 17th and finishes on May 29th so meantime The Director has replenished the small pond in the permanent bed with fresh pond water. She can't find any tadpoles though; perhaps they're waiting for the moon as well.
Mabel
Mabel doesn't follow the moon, only her own way. Mabel sows in 'stations,'* three seeds to each station, then thins the two weakest seedlings; everyone else, even Mr Stanford, sow in rows.
Mabel's got lots of beetroot in her 'stations.' She told Mr Stanford
'They're so good for cakes dear.'
He thought beetroot belonged in chutney.
'Yes dear,'said Mabel, 'but chutney doesn't go well with a pot of tea.'
He agreed so they left to drink tea and eat Mabel's ginger fairings.
Mabel has harvested lots of rhubarb; perhaps she's going to make rhubarb cake.
Duffus
Duffus harvested two spring cabbages - I think one was for Mabel - and earthed his potatoes, of which he has a lot. He buys them from Carroll's Heritage Potatoes and told The Director he has Arran Victory and British Queen because of their Scottish connections for his main crop. The Director looked interested which surprised me - she doesn't like potatoes.
Gary
Gary's not visited; its probably too cold for him. His assistant has done all the work. She's sown White Silver Chard and mange toute peas called Carouby de Mausanne. I like Gary'a assistant - she always speaks to me.
Other observations
The lady blackbird is sitting on her nest, the gentleman blackbird keeps singing, the convent bell keeps getting stuck and I'm observing the moon - it looks thin and far away.
Alice S
* Please contact me if you'd like more information on Mabel's 'stations' - or on any growing problem
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