Madame Cholet is hosting a potential feast of seedlings. Most seeds have germinated so there are heaps of corn, bean, tomato and courgette plants. The herb seeds are taking their time, as are the chillis, but the warm temperatures should sort them out. There are also a couple of large trays packed with seedlings that were planted as a reserve in case the self-watering system was a disaster. It’s a joy to behold, so here’s hoping the ultimate reality matches the dream.
The raised bed in the horse arena that was last year’s compost bed has been dealt with. The numerous sticks that had been added too close to the top were pulled out, leaving behind a small mountain of delicious black compost. There was plenty spare to distribute around the planting beds, and the raised bed itself is now accommodating several thyme plants and a couple of sage, so far. Plans are to have around a dozen of each, and to grow coriander in between. Sage cuttings have been taken, and coriander seeds planted.
300+ onions were planted, and four packs of carrots were sown and have been watered daily. Some leeks are planted surrounding the carrots as a potential deterrent to carrot fly (or as companion plants if not). Several more elephant garlic were added (thanks Lucy) and other beds are prepared for future planting. The soil in the keyhole beds is looking really healthy – dark, crumbly and with plenty of organic material. The generous compost boost, in addition to the horse poo and pea straw it got in autumn, seems to be making a difference.
The foliar spray programme for the fruit trees has kicked off, and amazingly I’ve kept to the schedule so far. All the fruit, including those planted in the veg garden and horse arena, have now had 2 sprayings of a mix of neem, seaweed, fish oil, molasses and EMs. The photos show the neatly pruned and tied in grapes (thank you Peter - very professional) and the emerging buds on one of the entrance pear trees. Not sure how I’m going to know what benefits the spray programme will bring as they’re looking pretty healthy already, but can’t do any harm. Hope not anyway.
Karyn’s bed has had a bit of a makeover. The artichokes in the centre were spreading wider and wider. They’ve been dug out, and some have been transplanted to the flower garden. Others are liberated to Karyn’s garden. In their place is a peacharine, and lining each side of the keyhole entrance are 2 blackcurrants. It’s even looking a bit tidier.
Peter cut down some silver birch logs from the trees along the driveway. Along with a wineberry log (from a tree that blew down in the last storm), they’ve had holes drilled and shiitake mushroom dowels hammered in and sealed with wax. They were soaked for 24 hours and dropped onto the concrete path in accordance with the instructions. They’re stacked in the ‘Fungery’ atop a bed of scraggy old carpet, awaiting fruiting. Now we just need to water and keep waiting.
The cows have been separated. The boys – Dionysus, Heracles and Hermes – are apart from Apollo and the girls. It was looking like Dionysus was coming between Apollo doing the business with Hera and Athena. He’s still the alpha male, and the only one with horns, and usually chief trouble-maker. However, when the gate was upended from its gudgeon pins and 3 cows were running (and crapping) amok on the driveway, Dionysus was far away and with alibis. Perhaps Apollo is getting his hooves under the door at last. Peter managed to return them to the paddock and fortify the gate, and luckily there was very little damage.
The bees are buzzing happily, and any minute now there should be another couple of colonies. Derryn is splitting her hives (hopefully x2 splits) so I should have 3 hives up and running. There was a potential hitch when Derryn was notified that American Foulbrood (AFB) had been identified within 3kms of her hives. She’s done a full disease check, and we’re both of the view that AFB is likely to be around whether it’s formally detected or not. My remaining hive is healthy and thriving, and even some signs of honey storage. The spring varroa strips are in and fingers crossed it'll be a great honey season.
We’re still adjusting to a life without kids. Happily, they’re all getting on with their lives and not missing home or us at all. They'll all be back home sometime in the next couple of weeks to catch up with our visitors Grandma and Grandpa Nick. I'll try and resist the urge to overfeed them, though I'm not very confident I'll pull it off. Work – both paid and lifestyle - seems to invade any gaps in our lives. One of my colleagues at the health board has just resigned and that’s likely to lead to more work coming my way at a time when Polytechnic work is increasing towards the end of the academic year. I’m also involved in the steering committee for next year’s national Apiculture conference, which is in Blenheim (the first time on the South Island). But the spring garden chores can’t be delayed, so hopefully there’s an efficient way to fit everything in, and perhaps even get round to weeding the other half of the flower garden. Let's hope that 'garden therapy' works.
