Sunday 18 November 2012

Last of the turds, and the smallest vineyard in the world

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Ooo, what a lovely day!
Well, the manure pile is no more. About this time last year we took delivery of four tonnes of the stuff, and we've been slowly adding it to newly dug-over patches ever since. The last of it went on today. All sections of the plot , apart from a few bits that still need tidying, are either now planted with something, or covered, awaiting the spring, which is quite smug-inducing.
Apart from that, the rest of our plot-time today was spent on tidying up jobs. Some of the borders got much overdue attention; weeded and planted with crocuses, apart from where nasturtiums have been this year, which we've left to self-seed, and another patch which has got mints in it.

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Neat borders! See you soon crocuses.
And - exciting times - we also planted up our vineyard in the border!

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Probably a couple of years before we'll be releasing any Cotes du Fenham...

Finally, and only because there aren't enough cats on the internet, here's a picture of Albert checking the scene at the front door today. What a champion beast he truly is.

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19 comments:

  1. Love the cat. Black and whites are gorgeous.

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    1. I think so too. I like the tuxedo effect.

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  2. How tidy are you! I have a grand kitten just like Albert, called Spoon!

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    1. Hi Anne, hopefully we should be able to get off to a good start next year. Everything's a bit stark, but it'll look better when things start to grow in the spring.

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    2. Ps, Spoon is a great name for a cat.

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  3. We have a couple of vines on the plot but so far have only achieved miniature grapes - maybe next year?

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    1. Do you do anything particular to the plants, or just let them get on with it?

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    2. Just a but of pruning so far but we haven't taken growing them particularly seriously.

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  4. Don't forget your grandad grew a peach tree, though considerably further south than Fenham.
    I also think Spoon is a very agreeable name for a cat. Mum x

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    1. Hello! What on earth are you doing on the internet?!

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  5. Congratulations and good luck with your vineyard. Anybody who can handle four tons of manure can do anything if so determined.

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    1. Ha, thanks Jason. I'll have to remember that motto!

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  6. Very nice to meet Albert...very handsome he is too.

    I have some grapevines, I thin they are now in their third year and this year did mange to produce a few bunches of grapes but they didn't get big enough to harvest...i think that my be due to the weather. Hopefully next year there will be lots to harvest!!

    I still have digging and tidying to do and at the moment i think i may still be doing it next spring too!!

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  7. I'd pass on the compliment, but Albert is vain enough as it is. Good luck with your prep and tidying work. I read on your blog that you'd been ill, hope that's all better now!

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    1. Thanks Lee...nearly back up to full health again....problem is it's now so cold I still haven't got anything done!

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  8. How did you manage to do all that - I'm desperate to get down to my plot but it keeps persisting it down and foiling all my plans.

    Impressed by your organisation and orderliness!

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    1. Don't be fooled, we're certainly not the fastest gardeners around!

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  9. Enjoyed my visit to your blog, and the visit that gave me to seeing your garden. You are something else. I will be checking in on you and Spoon soon. Here on Lake Michigan 44th parallel (great for wine in France, and I will say here too) we have lots of vineyards in the area. I often show the lake in the backdrop of my garden photos. You might enjoy looking at some past postings. I use Alpaca poop from the neighbors farm, but I confess - not tons! Jack

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    1. Hi Jack, thanks for stopping by. It's great to read blogs like yours, based in a different country, to see how things are done. I'm not sure where we'd be able to get Alpaca manure from round here...

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All comments gratefully received. Sorry about the word verification thing, but I've started getting bombed by spam.

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