Warm Spring Days!

Here in London, we've had 4 or 5 sunny, warm Spring days in a row. Finally the blossom on my plum tree has opened! Much later than it did last year. The warm Spring days have given my garden frogs some ideas as well... In the absence of a garden pond, they spawned in a shallow flowerpot dish, only 2" deep! They must have been desperate! I know I have frogs living under the carpet on my compost heap, and I suppose they couldn't escape to the neighbours garden where there is a small pond. This spawn has been safely transported to a friends garden and found a home there!

A belated Birthday prezzie arrived in the post this week. The aptly named Plants4Presents online gift shop has exotic plants on mail order.

This is a Coffee Plant... or several. Growing instructions say it should be out of direct sunlight, warm, and constantly wet. I will find a place indoors and see how it goes. Fun!

The past few days has me caught up with all my pricking out now. My tomato seedlings have been potted up into modules. I planted these, almost all the way up the stem right up to the seed leaves as new roots can develop from the hairs on the stem. They have already perked up and put on some growth in just a few days.

I have taken my seedlings outdoors for some bright sunshine too, started the hardening off process in the warm shelter outside.

These leek seedlings are well on their way too. This year I am trying a F1 variety called Oarsman. They were recommended to me by a member of the National Vegetable Society. I thought I would give them a go.

Peas are hardened off and planted out too. These are Hurst Green Shaft, I've not tried this variety before but they have a great reputation for flavour and productivity. Fingers crossed.
Finally, today I put my back into some hard work, and dug my runner bean trench, and filled it with grass clippings and worm compost. I'll let that sit and settle for a few weeks before planting my Runner beans.