Thanks to Jim at Garden Ruminations for continuing to host this weekly update. I am an infrequent poster but this week there are shoots and signs that Spring is on its way.
- Eaten – the slimy munchers have woken up and polished off what was a promising green shoot of pyrethrum. It also seems they have been at other shoots before they had time to unfurl. Nematodes are on order.
2. Sarcophagus bed – topped up with soil and compost. The jasmine trachelospermum is looking much happier. I re-homed the hydrangea (one of the lost label cohort) and have a climbing rose ‘Heaven scent’ to add. No idea why floribunda Champagne has decided to grow at an angle.
3. Other hydrangeas – The survivor in the north border is putting on some strong growth and the rest of the lost label cohort have found spots in the south herbaceous border or pots where they will get the afternoon sun.
4. Other green shoots – first is a clematis I’m encouraging to grow up and through the pittosporum. Then moving over to the north border the bluebells are pushing through the soil.
5. Chandos Beauty rose – The original plan was to call time on the two bushes I’d transplanted into the front garden from the plot last year. The afternoon sun seemed too hot for them and both bushes looked miserable. I purchased two shrub roses, reputed to be much tougher ‘Charles Austin’ to replace them. When I lifted one of the beauties, I noticed strong growth from the main stems so have re-thought the plan. One is in the south herbaceous border where it will get sun for most of the day and I have the other in situ in the front to monitor progress this year. I’m holding off pruning for a few more weeks. The Charles Austin shrub roses are currently in pots and will go in the front garden next week.
6. Pottering zone – the greenhouse is now in place alongside the polytunnel. The plan is to move the block pavers from the allotment to create a solid base inside the greenhouse. The polytunnel is hosting a jumble of dahlia tubers and various pots growing on peony tubers and other lovelies to fill the borders and a small dahlia ‘field’ at the plot.
The paint brushes have been put away, and the carpet fitter is laying carpet for the stairs, hall and bedroom tomorrow, which means that work on the house is complete and I can focus attention on the garden and plot. Woo hoo!
Enjoy your weekend and remember to check out the other sixes on Jim’s page.
Allotment Life 
Good luck on the slugs.
Nice Polytunnel, I could do with one of those.
If you have space, go for it
I do, just need to persuade the rest of the family of its necessity!