Is it all worth it ?

So, we dig the plot, we fertilise the plot, we grow the seed, we tend the seed, we pot on the seedlings, we plant the seedlings, we hoe, we water, we weed  ... then one day we get to eat it all. And it is all worth while ! That is the myth !

One year, I did all the above and got about ten tomatoes all season. That definitely wasn't worth it. I could have saved myself all the work and the expense , by nipping down to the shop and buying a punnet full.

Last year, the potatoes got blight and we didn't get one, not one . Definitely not worth it.

But even in those dreadful years of constant rain, or no rain, or whatever, something drives us on, and that thing is optimism.

Today I went down the garden with a bowl, and stood in the sun, pulling warm, ripe raspberries and it was all worth it.

Today, when I tasted these, I knew it is all worth it :

Next year, the birds might sneak them all, but this year, the canes are loaded with big, fat fruits !

The strawberries are also ready, and the blackcurrants are not far behind.

Barring droughts, blight and other acts of nature, the odds are looking good on getting more than ten tomatoes this year.

No more sulking ...

It's not only people who can sulk,  plants can sulk like moody adolescents ! This year mine seemed to sulk more than most.

It was all due to the weather, I blame it all on the weather. The cold early Spring weather, coupled with low light levels, meant that seeds were slow to germinate and even slower to 'get away'. Even those in the propagator didn't perform at their usual rate. Germination was slow in there, and the percentage of germinated seeds was a lot lower than normal.

I sowed some Ricinus Communis and they languished in the propagator for weeks before deigning to show green,and only about 40% bothered at all. How's that for sulking! I haven't checked it out, but I have a feeling that the seed just rotted in the cold, damp compost.

All the others, to be fair, did eventually throw off their bad moods and make an appearance, but once they arrived they stayed small for a VERY long time.

This season I have sown various seeds  -  Delphinium 'Pacific Giant', Cosmos 'Cosmonaut', Dahlia 'Bishop's Children', Tomatoes ('Tigerella', 'Sweet Baby' and 'Harbinger'), Chillis, Peppers, Aubergines, Butternut Squash, Runner Beans, countless Sweet Peas and Courgettes.  I started in early February with the Chillies, Aubergines and Peppers as they need a long growing season to mature and bear fruit. The squash, beans and courgettes I sowed only about ten days ago and they are all romping away in very good humour.

Here are some 'before' and 'after' photos, to compare growth rates. The 'after' photos show the effect that warmer weather and higher light levels have had on growth, as most of these young plants are now nearly where I would expect them to be. All the seeds , except squash, beans and courgettes, were started in the propagator, and kept in the conservatory with heat on cold nights. The temperature did not dip below about 7 degrees.

Now, that's more like it ! They need repotting now, as the roots are starting to come out of the bottom of the pot, and they are crowding each other out.

Again, they are asking to be potted on so they can steam ahead. Because they are crowded they are a trifle leggy, but when I pot them on I will just set them much deeper in the pot, to diminish any bare stem.

These poor little tomatoes, I have never known such erratic germination. They nearly all came in the end, and, as usual, I have got enough tomato plants to start a shop !

Hmmm, not very proud of these ! They are still little tiddlers compared to other years ! I know they will catch up, but I hope they are not late to fruit because of this slow start.

By comparison, these Courgettes were planted only about ten days ago so they have not been affected by the cold, and have had a good start. They have not had their growth slowed down and are healthy and strong.

Likewise the Butternut Squash. Full steam ahead !

But the Zinnias are still sulking ...

The Dark Destroyer digs indiscriminately...

If you want to grow these ...

and you have one of these ...

Don't turn your back for a second because he will do this ...

... IN THE NEW BED YOU ARE MAKING IN THE GREENHOUSE !!

Gus, aka 'The Dark Destroyer', is a lovely but, shall I say challenging boy who loves digging better than anything else in the world.

 We were in the middle of making this bed in our new greenhouse, in preparation for planting out tomatoes later in the season. We had just added barrowloads of lovely manure, when we turned our attention to something else for a nano-second and in a flash, he was in there, digging for England !

Needless to say, Ruby, the Border Collie wouldn't know how to dig, even if you handed her a spade .

He is such a handsome boy, though, I can forgive him most things , especially when he looks like this  ...