This time last week I was worried about my tomatoes. A month after sowing and still no sign, so I got Mick to pick up some more seed on his way home - "Sungold" this time. Then ,of course, i sowed them and all the original seed started germinating - i've a feeling i've been here before ;o)

It's all happening now. As a quick run down, here's what we've got so far....


Cucumber 5 germinated out of 5 Unfortunately though 3 were eaten by slugs, despit the slug
prevention gel! I have sown 3 more.
Courgette 2/2
Pumpkin 1/1
Squash 1/1
Garlic chive 0/12
Parsley 0/12
Brussels 14/22 Although i would say only 2 of the seedlings look healthy - not quite sure what the problem is with the others.
Leeks 30/50 Sowed 2 to a pot and in most pots both have germinated
Tomatoes 3/16
Carrot 2/6
Beetroot 0/11 One set i soaked before sowing to (hopefully) aid germination
French Bean 5/6
Pea 22/29
Sweetcorn 6/9
Lettuce 2/11 plus the tray of cut and come again which i have thinned a little and is doing really well.

We were really busy throughout the Bank Holiday weekend getting the beds sorted and now have two ready for planting up this weekend.

I think I will plant out the courgettes/pumpkin/squash under fleece as they are getting a bit leggy. It's worth the risk as they are so fast growing but I'd better get the copper rings out to protect them from the slugs!

I have been given 4 tomato plants from my neighbour (after hearing my tales of woe over the non germination!) so looks like we won't be short ;o)

Other exciting news is the strawberries in the green house are in flower. This was an experiment really as we had to get rid of some of our plants so i just put them in pots in the greenhouse. I hadn't expected them to do very well, but so far at least they seem to be loving it :o)

On a rather less exciting note we have a wasp's nest right in front of the shed door...

I've been so busy in the garden of late that come the evening i am too tired to blog my achievements!

So as a summary here is what i have been up to the past week:

Sowed peas, sweetcorn, lettuce, courgette, pumpkin, squash, beetroot, carrot, French bean, cucumber, garlic chives and parsley... think that's it.

9 of my Brussels seeds have now germinated and 3 of the leeks. No sign of the tomatoes yet though.

Mick bought me one of those temporary greenhouses and has put it up on Bed 5.

It should prove useful - as long as it doesn't blow away in all this wind!

I've moved my climbing rose which has been in one of the veg beds since i moved it when the builders started their work last spring. I've put it outside the extension, in the new bed, so we can see it from the kitchen/diner. I also moved the echinacea here. Not sure if this will upset it's flowering but i needed my veg beds back! Next task is to move all the giant snowdrops (???) and Lily of the Valley once flowering is over as they are taking up too much space in Bed 5.