I sometimes feel that my life is a game of snakes and ladders. Especially so with my back. After regular visits to the osteopath and being very cautious, all seemed well. So, I came back after what was supposed to be my last visit to the osteopath feeling that I’d near won.
Now one thing you’re not supposed to do after a treatment is strain your back. No lifting, twisting and stretching. Just let things settle for a few days. All I did was move a couple of heavy pots and carry the shopping in.
So, one square from the top of the board, I landed on a snake and slid down. Maybe not to square one but certainly near the bottom. Two visits to the osteopath later and I’m still not back where I was.
First New Raised Bed Finished
New raised bed in need of filling.
I can cope with some jobs but hoeing, digging and the Merry Tiller are off the menu at least for a while. Happily, Gary has been a big help. For starters, he’s got the first of the new raised beds built. It’s 13 feet (3.9M) long by 4 feet (1.2M) wide and 17 inches (450mm) deep.
Normally I’d suggest a raised bed is best no longer than 10 feet (3M) but 13 feet (3.9M) is the length the scaffold boards come and is ideal for their position between a permanent path and allowing for a path to the wall. Rules often work best went bent!
I won’t be filling it to the top immediately, probably only a bit over half-way to the top. Adding compost and manure as I go along will take it up over the next couple of years. Anyway, it’s going to need something like 25 barrow loads to start, at least.
The soil quality and condition in the walled vegetable plot is very good, so the only benefit to the raised beds is that I can cultivate without needing to bend. Sadly, I need to accept I ain’t getting any younger. I can’t say I like this getting older lark, but it sure beats the alternative!
Polytunnel Potatoes
Casablanca New Potatoes in the Polytunnel Raised Bed
In the polytunnel things are moving along. The new potatoes are showing well – it won’t be long before we can start harvesting them. The four feet (1.2M) square bed was planted first, and the haulm is about covering. They got a quick boost of high nitrogen fertiliser to support them. A mix of S-Chelate 12 Star and a little Calcinit. See potato fertiliser plan for my reasoning.
Potatoes in Tubs – Marfona, Estima, Casablanca
Strawberries
The strawberries in the hanging baskets are flowering, so they’re getting tomato feed every week or ten days. Some of the baskets need taking down and weeding but for that I will need help. Surprisingly heavy and high.
Leeks
So I didn’t need to get on my hands and knees and stretch, Gary planted a patch of Bulgarian Giant Leeks in the right-hand bed along with a cucumber (Marketmore) which is sitting under a cloche. The extra warmth of the cloche at night will really help. Also popped a few lettuce in. I’m going to intercrop some radishes with the leeks.
Cucumber under cloche, Lettuce and Leeks to the right
The last of the late planted Bulgarian Giant leeks were lifted from the centre bed, which leaves about half a dozen Musselburgh to clear the bed. I then base fertilised the whole bed with Marshall’s organic compost fertiliser and some chicken manure pellets. That bed will have sweetcorn, which is very greedy, so nutrient rich soil is a must.
Food Prices
Despite the supermarket’s crazy offers like carrots for 8p a kilo, there are worrying signs on the food front. Trade beef prices have risen by 25% since the beginning of the year, for a start. There are serious worries about foot and mouth on the continent – pray it doesn’t get over the channel. Then we’ve got the Avian Flu, which is pushing up the prices of chickens and eggs.
Now before the Vegan fraternity can say ‘not my problem,’ there are problems with vegetables and grains. At home, farmers have taken hundreds of thousand of acres of land out of agricultural production so they can claim environmental subsidies (SFI) from the government. Increasing the reliance on imports from the global markets.
The global political situation doesn’t engender confidence with the global markets either. The Ukraine war, Gaza, Sudan and the USA-China trade war could all end up driving price increase that are likely to affect us.
Fingers crossed I’m worrying over nothing, in the meantime – keep growing.
Hi John,
Sorry to hear about your bad back but I am in the same boat as I am currently undergoing chemo treatment which is very frustrating as I love my gardening nearly as much as golf. However my children who are in their 40’s who up to now have never been interested in growing vegetables offered to help and allow me to project manage. Funnily enough I think they are actually enjoying learning new skills which is good news all round. I have 5 raised beds with an average size of 3.5 m x 1.5 m plus 2 trugs and a reasonable size greenhouse so there is plenty to do. As someone who has never really classed themselves as a proper gardener it now transpires that I have built up far more knowledge than I have given myself credit for and much of that has come from your newsletters that are always useful to us amateurs. Keep up the good work my friend your help is invaluable and get that back sorted out.
Best Wishes
John
Hope your treatment has a good outcome and you regain your strength. I must admit that it’s a source of pride when people say they’ve been helped by my writings.
Thanks John