Springs on it's way!

Spring is well and truly on it's way and the plants are echoing this by starting to grow with the longer days. Managed to get out in the garden last week and make a start and it felt really good to get out there again. The sun was shining and it was nice and warm until 4pm when a fleece jacket made it comfortable. I managed to stay in the garden until the light started fading at 6pm.

Made a start on the front garden and started getting it into shape for the Spring/Summer. Cut the grass, edged it and weeded the borders around the edge. Looked a lot smarter! Just need to weed and feed the grass.

I cut rose bushes back very hard and whilst doing so i noticed that greenfly was already evident on the buds. An indication of just how warm the winter has been as this far north i don't see these until much later in the year...time to get out the soapy spray already.

Plug plants have started arriving and Geraniums are resting in the Utility room after there journey from Jersey. More to come. This is the first time i've used Jersey Plants and very pleased with condition and stage of growth. The plants look very healthy and the price was reasonable too, will definitely buy from them again. Must get these potted on tomorrow and will harden off in about four to six weeks for going outside.

I am planning to start sowing my seeds during the week. Have been making lots more paper pots and they are everywhere. Just need to get my compost ready and will start sowing in earnest.

Usually start beetroot off in modules and pot them on until before they start expanding. Starting off this year in paper pots and growing in the cold frames i've recently sited before planting them out under cloches in rows. Hopefully the paper pots will reduce the amount of root disturbance which can occur with the modules, that said I've found this to be a very good way to get beetroot growing.

Need to get my cloches made to warm up the soil. Have got some alkathene water pipe which i'll cut to size and put short lengths of bamboo in the ends and then insert these into the ground. Cover with polythene and hey presto....cloches and a lot cheaper.