Sandgate Community Garden Team Diary Entry for 19th March: A bee, or not a bee?
We had a touch of frost during the week but from then onwards the temperatures have started to climb, and although we are not out of the woods as regards the possibility of frosts, we can at least restart the sowing of seeds, and the current seedlings stand more of a chance of getting growing. We had good enough weather for the Wednesday morning gardening session, however Saturday was cancelled as it was very wet and blustery and as much of the tasks are about sowing more seeds, it can be difficult when some of the seeds are as fine as dust and get transported all about the plot on a sudden gust of wind, and there are none to go in the seed tray.
Some of the blossoms are out in our hedge growing against the fence, not the sea buckthorn, but some of the other hedge plants of wild cherry, crab apple, and wild plum. All the Sandgate wild plum trees are now in flower and doing battle with the elements so that it is always astonishing that they can manage to bear fruit after the severe battering they often get this time of year combined with a lack of insect life. We were pleased to note that the two varieties of Pulmonaria we have growing close to the pond have survived the winter and are starting to flower – they will certainly attract the bees.
Talking of bees, The Sandgate Environmental Action group is hosting a free Bee identification training day on 15th April should you be interested in taking part in Bee surveys locally to help support the work of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. You can book by emailing sandgateenvironmentalaction@gmail.com or messaging Gemma on 07984694907. The training will take place in the Old Fire Station, Sandgate from 10am to 2pm.
Not having a session to garden on Saturday has put us back a little this week as we had hoped to get the first early potato varieties into the ground; they will now have to wait until next week; however we did manage to get the peas for pea shoots planted, and a further half tray of radishes. The structures for the sweet peas got put up, and the spare sweet pea plants got repotted as they were climbing out of their smaller modules. A few plants were delivered to the Saga children’s nursery in the park which they will plant into their raised bed/pots, and we pruned their apple tree to keep it in good shape.
A little time was spent working through the compost compound as it seems that the bind weed has had a wonderful time travelling into the rich compost from outside, and sending out great long ‘bootlace’ roots which as we know will rapidly grow even if broken into tiny pieces. The roots could be composted, and are frequently put in our large compost bins, but as there were quite a few, it was decided to put them in a compost bag and allow them to ‘cook’ for a while in there to start the breakdown process before they do eventually get put on the compost pile.
During the week there was a catch up visit to ‘Muddy Wellies’ community garden just outside Ashford. Last year a few of us had helped to prune some of the trees in their lovely orchard, and it was good to see the group is still thriving and have new facilities as well as others in the planning. Next week one of their managers will be coming out to visit us and our gardens. It is always helpful and useful to be able to exchange ideas and sometimes resources with other groups.
What’s next?
- Sow more onions and radishes
- Sow some of the flower seeds
- Plant those potatoes
- Maybe plant the spring onions
- Prick out the thyme seedlings
This weeks update from the Sandgate Community Garden Diary.