Greenhouse Arrives!

The new greenhouse arrived on schedule with delivery on Thursday. I was a little disappointed with Elite, I thought they’d give me an estimated time for delivery but didn’t. So, I telephoned in the morning and asked if they could give me an ETA. They promised to look up the schedule and call back, but didn’t.

New Greenhouse Frame etc

Greenhouse glass stacked on patio leaning on house wall.

The thing is, their website says they deliver in “15 ton lorries, similar in dimensions to a furniture removal van” Since that would not get to the house, I assumed we’d unload at the roadside and walk everything up. Accordingly, arranged some help. Unlike me, they had somewhere else to be but waited about as the delivery would surely turn up if they weren’t here.

Anyway, it eventually arrived in a long wheelbase van that came up the track to the house easily. Nice driver, had it down and carefully unloaded quickly and efficiently. Shame the office couldn’t be bothered to make a phone call.

Ready to Erect

Installation is due to start next Wednesday. The chap erecting it works for Greenhouse Stores, different kettle of fish with communications. Can’t wait to get it set up and productive!

The base is nearly finished, The last major part of the interior base is now finished. Where the slabs finish to the edge of the soil growing border has been filled with a concrete and chippings mix running to an edge made from a repurposed greenhouse base rail.

Concrete slabs and bricks for greenhouse base

All that’s left to do with what will become the interior base now is to brush a dry sand and cement mixture into the joints between the slabs and to sort the border soil. That’s got too many concrete bits and broken glass in, so I’ll shovel that part out and refill with a mix of compost and good soil.

The old greenhouse frame has been cut up into pieces that will fit into the car and will be off to the recycling centre, soon.

Brussels Sprouts

Pricked out and potted up 8 Groninger Brussels sprouts into pots and moved them to the small Eden greenhouse. Left the rest of the seedlings in the tray to grow on. Micro-salad for the chickens.

Ant City

Decided to set up the wicking bed in the Eden and plant up some lettuce. Slight problem… When I lifted the base, discovered little red ants had occupied it and built ant city under and in it.

So the bed didn’t get set up as it took quite a while to sort out things out. Just once, it would be nice for a 5-minute job not to take an hour or longer.

Red Acre & Earliest of All Cabbage

My old Red Acre seeds weren’t any good, none germinated. They were quite old, so not unexpected. The Earliest of All had popped up a few seedlings, but they’ve also had their day. I’ll prick out the seedlings, if they look viable. Too small to tell at the moment.

Ordered more Red Acre and some Copenhagen Market cabbage seeds. I’ve not grown Copenhagen Market before. They’re similar to Earliest of All and I’d like to see if they do better on my plot.

I also ordered some Chinese Michihili cabbage. Once again, new to me and I just fancied giving them a go.

Jostaberry Leafing Up

Leaves appearing on the Jostaberry, a sure sign spring has arrived in ernest

Cat Enjoying the Sunshine

Lotty cat having a snooze on the wall in the sunshine.