Brassicas and Totties

The brassicas and Potatoes

Neem Time

Neem oil time is just starting, or rather the application of the nutty smelling oil is just starting. It took me a little while to understand this use of natural product, when to spray, how much, etc. As an oil it has a relatively low setting temperature, around 17 celsius, so its pretty solid for a lot of the year. My belief is that the time to use neem is when it is in liquid form, no need for microwaves or hot water, and the insects that attack our plants and pets are just getting "started" for the season.

My citrus trees have aphids as do the roses and orleanders. A general tell-tale is that there is much more wasp activity around the tree and small shiny parts on leaves. I will spray this afternoon/evening around 7pm -- it is much more effctive to spray in the afternoons, however wind can be more problematic. I will use 60ml neem oil mixed with 50ml of potassium soap for a 16 litre back-pack sprayer and make sure the plants get a good soaking. The addition of the potassium soap works as an amulsifier so pathways and drives don't get slippy with the application of an oil, or gravel doesn't stain with the tiny droplets of oil that are airborne when spraying. The same process will be repeated in around 14 days, this time, however, it is to combat Californian scale or piojo rojo de california

waste - a flagrant waste

Onions on the ground cauliflowers in the bin.

A trip to the glasgow fruit market, what a shame the stuff that gets flung in the bin.

Artickokes and Broad(ish) Beans.

The beans are known as Habas of Faves and are a brilliant thing to plant for cropping in spring. You get beans and lots of nitrogen put back into the ground.

placer

Las vistas que mi trabajo me da. Un placer.
The views from work, they are pretty good.

Swiss Cheese plant - Monstera Deliciosa

Monstera,monstera.

Still no fruit, however I have palnted another half dozen underneath the limes lemons and limonquats - along with strawberries.

The monstera was one of my first plants as a child, that along with coleus and geraniums. I soon graduated to tomatoe seedlings, named chrysant and dhalia cuttings. Well I could sell these via some shops that my mother and grandmother owned.

How time passes - when I have planted monsteras for their fruit.

There has been a chaotic route to arrive at this idylic spot in life.

The fruit takes some 9 months to rippen, and as of yet I have not even seen glimpse of a flower. They say the fruit taste like Jackfruit, which is all well if you know jack,thankfully the internet is a place of resources and it also tastes like pineapple.

I did latin at school and deliciosa sounds pretty scrumptious, i'll be patient and wait. And i'll probably plant some more. I like the leaves for flower arrangements and the will give more shade for the strawberries.

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what a flymo dm does

And this is what the flymo dm does best. Not a brute of a machine, more of a gentle help.

Flymo DM

I got this machine when I was 14 and it has satyed with me since then.

Trbajos de enero

Trabajos de enero.

A light rotavation of the soil - top 10cm- to aireate and prepare for planting. This spring i am not going to put any more manure on the plots. They have, for 5 years, had chicken , horse and bull manure and a lorry load or two of recycled compost in overadequate proprtions.

Take out all peppers and tomatoes that are in the greenhouses.

Plant onions, lettuce, and brassicas. Sow tomatoe seeds and lots and lots of marigolds. Raddishes do well at this time of the year and sow all herb seeds.

Prune grapes apples pears roses