Dereks Diary Part 2

This morning I went to the allotment and covered the carrot frames with mesh to keep out the carrot flies. This is why I grow them in frames. It started pouring down about 2,00 this afternoon and is still raining now so I haven't done ant more gardening jobs.

A full day in the garden and greenhouses except that I just went to the allotments this evening to water the communal containers, which only took me 15 minutes. I don't want to leave Rosemary any longer than this. I fed the hanging baskets , other containers, some pot plants and the dahlias and chrysanths not showing colour with maxicrop. I told you yesterday that I had harvested the Charlotte potatoes from the bags. There were three more that contained Casablanca so I harvested these.
About two weeks ago I ordered some winter plug plants from Suttons for my baskets and other containers. This afternoon, they arrived from Thompson and Morgan. I was rather puzzled so to satisfy my curiosity I phoned Suttons .I was told that Thompson and Morgan was a sister company of theirs. I knew that Dobies was a sister company of theirs but I didn't know that Thompson and Morgan was as well. Thompson and Morgan's regulargly send me emails but I ignore them because I always deal with Suttons or Dobies because I get the horticultural society discount. I transferred the plus to cell trays, 108 plants altogether.

Winter plug plants transferred to cell trays

Today I have covered the chrysanth beds with a sheet of polythene. There is a wooden structure over the beds on which I fix the polythene. I had to do some repairs to this first .It took me nearly all morning and afternoon as it is not an easy job. Good job it was a still day,if it had been windy it would have been more difficult. I have not done this job for 2 or 3 years because there have been no shows. This evening, apart for watering on the allotment I have tied up all the chrysanths that needed it.

This is a picture taken from the bedroom window to show you the chrysanth beds covered with polythene

First of all, something I forgot to tell you yesterday. I had ordered some Rudbeckia "Goldsturm" to plant in the border at Blackleach. This is where I grow all my perennials. They arrived on Friday,and I went to Blackleach yesterday afternoon to plant them. There were 15 plants. I had weeded the area before so I hoed it and raked in some fish, blood and bone before planting. This evening I realised that I hadn't seen my hoe and rake since so I went up to Blackleach and they were still there leaning against the wall. Aren't I lucky that nobody had pinched them?.
I took the opportunity to have this afternoon on the allotment while Heather was still here. She went back home this evening and she can't come again this week. Martyn has gone away for a few days so I won't be able to go to the allotment again for a few days. I harvested the potatoes that I grew in 5 large buckets. I then pulled up a lot of large weeds then started hand weeding the onion bed.

I am hoping to go to another show on Saturday. Martyn is coming to stay with Rosemary while I go to the show. I have a problem getting my exhibits ready, though, particularly collecting veg and cutting flowers from the allotment. I normally spend at least a full morning or afternoon on the allotment a few days before the show to do this but I can't leave Rosemary for so long and Heather can't come again this week to look after her. So I decided to start today and do a bit at a time. I went to the allotment this morning and picked the runner beans and the same this evening and picked the French beans both of which only took me about half an hour. I don't want to leave her any longer than this. I have put both lots of beans in wet towels to keep them fresh. This also makes them supple so they can be straightened if they are a bit bent. From the potatoes I washed yesterday I picked out a few that might be good enough for showing and along with some I had picked out before I took them to the kitchen sink and gave them another wash. I will look at them again tomorrow and decide which I am showing. I have also potted some rooted geranium cuttings into three and a half inch pots.

As usual on Thursdays I was at Blackleach till 3.00 for the wellbeing walk, then the art club. The rest of the day I have been making more preparations for Whitefield show .Went to the allotment for a bit this evening and got 3 more sweet corn, some rhubarb and cut the dahlias. I have cut a few chrysanths from the garden. This evening I have also made up a basket of veg for the show

This is the basket of veg that I have just made. Do you think it will do?

Whitefield show today. Went this morning to finish my staging .Then had a well earned rest including having my lunch, till it was time to look round at 2.00. I put 46 entries in and got 14 firsts, 11 seconds and 9 thirds. Won a trophy for the most points in the flower classes .Will show you pictures of some of my exhibits tomorrow.