Still no sign of Spring

It's supposed to be getting close to Spring - but what on earth is the matter with this weather? After the earthquake came the almost-hurricane thing that threatened to bend my garden in two last week!

That said, I've been out doing my bit - there's no shortage of jobs that need doing!

I've put in my carrots this weekend and even found time to pick a nice bunch of daffs for the Long Suffering - I've also got some crocus growing in the lawn and I'll wait until they produce some seed before cutting that area of grass. I also pruned the roses on Saturday so they're looking all spick and span -cutting out the old branches as close to ground level as possible.

Some of my fruit trees looked a bit hungry too - so I gave them a dash of high potash feed. Then I did a bit more work on the lawn and repaired a couple of damaged areas by loosening the soil and sowing some seed. I then covered the patch with a bit of polythene tapped down with a couple of pegs.

So, I suppose that they're all spring-ish jobs - but I want that sun on my back please!

That's that sorted!

Those who know me know how much I enjoy my potatoes.

God's onw food I always say - and I have to say the Long Suffereing certainly knows how to prepare the best Jerseys I've ever tasted. So, in February and March I tend to sort out mt spuds for later in the year. I'm usually a bit later than most - but I find its always worked for me.

I normally get my chitting underway in late January (that simply means encouraging the seed potatoes to sprout before planting). The potatoes are then ready to be planted out when the shoots are 1.5-2.5cm (0.5-1in) long.

So, this weekend I've been out planting - the soil has started to warm up a bit by now I dug my trench about three inches deep, adding a dash of fertiliser before planting. I plant them about a foot apart with 18 inches between the rows. I always make sure the shoots are pointing upwards and careful not to break the shoots. After covering the potatoes lightly with soil I've now got to wait until the shoots appear before covering them with a ridge of soil so that the shoots are just buried.

Now all I have to do is sit and watch the little lovelies grow!