Sunday 14th February 2016 – Something Hot and Something Sweet!

Yes it’s Valentine’s Day, so what’s the most appropriate seeds to sow? That’s right Hot Chillies! Well they are supposed to be an aphrodisiac after all (you can keep your Oysters though, they’re just not for me). I’ve not tried them myself, but I’d rather stick with strawberries thank you. The Chillies are “Hot Bulgarian Carrot” and the Sweet Peppers are “California Wonder”. Hopefully this’ll make these cold days in February seem much warmer. I’ll keep you updated on their progress throughout the year. Check on the Scoville Scale if you want to grow anything majorly hot, but don’t expect me to try it. I like spicy food, but don’t like to blow my head off at the same time.

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At the foot of the mountain – starting a new writing project…

MarkStayWrites's avatarMark Stay Writes

Jon Wright and I are just starting out on a new writing project, TOP SECRET PROJECT X. I know, catchy! This is immediately coming off the back of over a year’s solid work writing a script that we hope to get into production this year, and we wanted to have something ready to follow it up with (always helps to think ahead). So we’ve gone from hurtling at a hundred miles an hour, steering skilfully round familiar bends, to suddenly pushing a clapped-out old Vauxhall Viva uphill to the nearest garage.

Starting a new thing can be very daunting indeed.

It’s taken us about six months to get around to the actual writing bit. Time is great aid to fomenting ideas, and it’s a luxury a screenwriter doesn’t often get, but I would recommend using it whenever you can. Take any intriguing idea you have, jot it down, nurture it with seedling ideas and…

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Friday 12th February 2016 – Sowing Broad Beans and Shallots

Today is the day when I get to sow my Broad Beans. This year it’s “Bunyards Exhibition” which I got from Pennard Plants at Gardeners’ World last summer. Apparently they’re suppose to be really good, so I can’t wait to find out, but I’ll have to. Also a started off my Shallots, which this year are “Golden Gourmet”. I’ve grown these before and they did really well, but for some reason have not grown shallots for several year. Why I don’t know. Is it just me, but when you say “shallots” over and over again, it sounds like you’re drunk. Go on try it…. You are aren’t you? I’ll keep you updated on their progress. Next week is half term, and the kids and I have some stuff planned, but they’ve both got revision to do because they have tests when they go back to school. But it won’t be all work and no play. I’ll be busy in the garden (fingers crossed the weather is good), so we’ll all be busy in our own little ways. Hope you enjoy this next video, any questions just ask.

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Wednesday 10th February 2016 – Time to sow your Broccoli Seeds

Today I’ve been the greenhouse sowing my Broccoli (Calabrese) Ironman F1 Seeds. Calabrese is very easy to grow, but does need a fair amount of space when it’s put outside to manure into larger plants. If you grow your own it’s very tasty and brilliant boiled, sautéed, or even roasted. It doesn’t suffer from many diseases, but once outside keep it covered with netting to stop the butterflies. I hope my kids realise that I know that Ironman is Marvel and not DC, that’s Superman. But eating all this greenery will make you as strong as Superman,

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How to Sow Leeks from Seed

Today is the day when I sow my Leeks. This year I’ve chosen Autumn Mammoth 2 (Snowstar). I’ve never sown this variety before but they looked good so I thought I’d give them a go. Leeks are a great one to try if you’re new to gardening because they’re very easy and don’t suffer from many diseases. Why not give them a go. There are plenty of varieties to choose from, so take your pick.

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Tuesday 9th February 2016 – How are my Onions and Garlic getting on.

This afternoon I popped into my greenhouse to see how everything was getting on and was delighted to see that my Onions and Garlic cloves have started to sprout. Some have taller green shoots than others, and some are yet to sprout. But at least they’re starting to grow.

Some of my garlic has started to sprout.

Some of my garlic cloves has started to sprout.

I did give them a water over the weekend because they looked a little dry. Yesterday when the gales blew all my seeds and little plants were safe and sound in my greenhouse at home. I have yet to venture to the allotment to see what damage has been done there. I expect some, because the allotment site is very exposed! Oh er misses! I’ll let you know what damage has occurred when I go down later this week.

Onions are sprouting away as well.

Onions are sprouting away as well.

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Friday 5th February 2016 – Sowing the first of the Tomatoes!!

Some Tomatoes can be sown from January through to March. Today I’m sowing Shirley F1 and Moneymaker. I’ve still got some other weird and wonderful Tomatoes to sow, but they can’t be sown for at least another month.

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Wednesday 3rd February 2016 – Perennial flowers

Time to get some perennial flower seeds sown today. Today I’ve sown “Lupin – Festival Mixed” and “Cornflower – Persian” You can see what colour the Lupins are supposed to be by the picture on the packet, but the Cornflowers are a bright pink flower and actually look quite spiky. I hope you give at least one of them a try they’ll brighten up any flower bed.

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Sowing Sweet Peas – Claire’s Allotment – Part 276

Time to start sowing this year’s Sweet Peas.

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Tuesday 2nd February 2016 – Highly Scented Sweet Peas

It may be Groundhog Day (let’s hope Phil is right), my Father in laws birthday and my Granddad’s birthday (he’s 91 you know), but today is also the day when I sowed my Sweet peas. I love the smell of Sweet peas as you move through the garden. They have such a wonderfully scented aroma. This year I’ve sown “Incense Mixed” and “Hi Scent“, so hopefully they’ll fill my garden with such wonderful smells. They’re very easy to sow and grow, and I’ve made a little video that I’ll put up once it’s ready. There are loads of varieties to choose from so take your pick and have have a bit of fun. After all that’s what gardening is all about.

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