I weeded the vegetable patch then realised that I had sown some spring onions, no sign of them and I've now well cleared that area so I must sow some more. I was going to water but Tina said not to worry, things that have already sprouted will be OK as the ground is wet, there's only been 3 days of sun. Actually my ground is drier than hers so I decided to give them a bit of water anyway.
Thursday15th April
Needless to say it rained last night, I knew it would if I watered! Today I sowed some more spring onions and some parsnips in the vegetable patch and mint and parsley in pots. Then I set to on the orchard. I cleared a bit, essentially the area where I want to put a table and chairs. It's getting rid of the perennial nettles and brambles that is going to take time, but I did move some roots today. I didn't work the 2 hours that I had planned, my excuse is the rain that started to come down heavily, but it is obvious that I've started. 'Poco a poco' as they say here!
Saturday 17th April
I've been looking for small pots to prick out my tomato plants but haven't been able to find any but today I found an answer!!
I now have 11 mugs, each with it's own plant, hopefully they survive the move. Not exactly what the mugs were designed for! Next year I'll be better prepared and save plastic bottles or something. This has been a labour of love as my car won't start so I walked the 14 kms to Trives, this includes 200 metres, down and then up, in both directions.
Monday, 19th April
I weeded my vegetable patch, it's difficult to weed around the lettuce, don't know how people do that! I've planted some potatoes and sown some more lettuce, the lettuce is a mixture of 'cut and come again varieties', including rocket, so I hope it works. The patch isn't really big enough for many potatoes but I've put in 6 and I'll see what happens. I really fancy new potatoes with my salads.
I've had another bash at the orchard, that is really hardwork but I can see some progress.
The tomato plants have survived the transplanting and all look good.
Thursday 22nd April
The Spring Onions aren't doing anything but I have a couple of potential potato plants, I don't think they're the potatoes that I planted though! Weeds are doing well, I'll weed again tomorrow. We're having April showers which should help everything. The tomatoes are looking great I think I will be able to put them out soon, we haven't had a frost in ages.
The 'huerta' is looking good! I've dug over a fair sized area, big enough to use as a seating area, now i have to decide how to cover the ground. I'll go to the Garden Centre on Monday. The bracken and the nettles and brambles in the rest of the area I will just have to keep on top of this year and dig out that area next year.
Monday,26th April
The trip to the 'Garden Centre' wasn't very productive. Not like an english garden centre at all. Though I did find a modular tray to prick out my peppers into. They are starting to look quite healthy.
I also bought some geraniums to go outside the front door. The two pots with mint and parsley aren't doing anything.
The weather is very hot at the moment, I don't know if this will continue, but it is as hot, if not hotter, than England in July. There is no question of needing to harden off young plants before planting them out, it's warmer outside than in! I think I will be able to plant out my tomatoes next week. I'm already having to water my seeds and seedlings. The weeds are very persistent. Still no sign of any spring onions but I think the second sowing of lettuce is showing through.
Thursday 29th April
Big thunder storms last night, lovely and sunny today. That's the way I like it. I've thinned out my lettuce today, I'll have the first produce of my garden tonight!
One of my pots of herbs is starting to show life but rather stupidly I didn't label them so I'll have to wait and see. I've potted on 3 Italian peppers, that's probably all I'll get but, if they survive, that's probably enough.
Tuesday 4th May
I am now able to eat lettuce out of my own garden! The Spring Onions are still doing nothing, obviously not a good idea. Maybe I'll try chives next year, I'll have to buy a packet of seeds when I'm in England as I haven't seen any here.
Tina, a neighbour, examined my orchard the other day and tells me that all the small trees are plums! They are all growing straight up and apparently this is not good, so today I have been pruning them, probably not the right time but as they have no blossom I doubt it matters too much. They are young trees but hopefully next year I will get some fruit.
I am still not sure when to plant out my tomatoes, they are doing really well in doors and last week was really warm but it has gone cold again, though the cold is mostly wind chill, there is a very cold wind blowing from somewhere. It has also been snowing on some high mountains so I reckon I will wait a week or two. I will concentrate on clearing the orchard this week. I went to the market yesterday and they were selling tomato plants as well as onions and cabbage etc. All my neighbours have been ploughing and preparing their land ready to start sowing or planting and many have already started. My tomatoes look much healthier than those in the market!
Wednesday, 5th May
There was a heavy frost last night and it continues to snow over much of the north. Not what one expects in May, though the sun still had some power in it! I've spent today clearing some of the wood I chopped yesterday.
Thursday, 6th May
I went to water my plants today and discovered that the frost has completely killed off the potatoes, not sure it's affected the ones I planted myself, I don't think they've sprouted yet, but the others have gone. I was looking forward to new potatoes shortly!
I put my tomatoes outside today to start 'hardening them off'. It's actually warmer outside than in so this is a strange idea but it will get them used to weather. One of my neighbours admired them and asked where I had got them from. She was most impressed that I had grown them from seed myself but she said not to plant them out before the 15th so I will take note, she's a lady who does a lot of work herself.
Work on my orchard progresses, I can start to see some kind of plan there though I don't think it will come to fruition this year.
Monday, 10th May
It's been raining pretty well continuously since Friday and they reckon it will carry on for the next 2 days. This is fairly unusual, it rains frequently here but not usually for so many days continuously.
The spring onions continue to do nothing whilst the weeds flourish! Today I've sown some chives and some courgettes, both in pots indoors, hopefully they'll do. I did find a packet of chives here, thanks to Mr Lidl! Chives are usually fool proof and will add flavour to my salads. My lettuce are still flourishing thankfully. Not much I can do outside really, though the rain is a benefit as the ground was drying out!
Tuesday, 11th May
Work in progress!
I've cleared most of the bottom half now, will finish the rest this week I hope. I have also made a flower bed at the end here, next to where I am going to have my seating area. I'm just keeping on top of the bracken at the top by cutting it back frequently.
