Six on Saturday: Seeds, Pestbye Cat Repellent and more jobs

It has rained at some point every day this week, apart from Friday when the sky was blue and the sun shone with the heat of an English summer. Removing layers of jumpers I stripped down to a t-shirt. Starving mosquitoes, after weeks of rain, lost no opportunity in feasting on my bare arms as I worked in the garden. Note to self: Eat more garlic.

1. Cat Deterrent

The two solar-powered Pestbyte cat deterrents I ordered from Amazon Germany, arrived on Thursday. We planted in (hopefully) a strategic position in the virgin soil. Friday we checked the raised bed but we still had a visitor during the night. We will see. Apparently, it can take up to 30 days to have an effect. IF I can hear it why can’t they?

2. Tomato Plant – A Gift from the Birds (or the chickens)

I was most surprised to discover a tomato plant in flower growing in the area where I had dumped some chicken poop.

3. Potatoes Growing in Pots

We planted our first lot of potatoes on the 16th of January in a VERY large pot. Followed by two more pots two weeks apart.

Once the potatoes have sprouted, I cut them in half, check for blight, cover the open wound with cinnamon powder and leave to ‘heal’ for a few days before planting. An old Portuguese farmer gave me this advice.

We have already covered the potatoes with compost several times and now the leaves are almost level with the top of the pot. In case you are wondering, the sticks are to deter cats and blackbirds

We now have three large pots of spuds planted two weeks apart.

4. Errm …

This is meant to be a tray of watercress. I planted the seeds a couple of weeks ago but the only thing to sprout so far is an assortment of weeds and some self-seeded tomato plants. I am beginning to doubt whether I planted the seeds. Note to self: plant seeds in lines so as they germinate they are easy to differentiate from the weeds.

5. February – Seeds of Hope

I’ve already planted an assortment of seeds but the compost was far too bulky as it included shredded wood chippings and various other organic matter. Realising I was probably wasting my time I had a ‘moment’ so I broke cover from our bunker (we are shielding) and after scoping a couple of places from the outside to assess the number of customers etc., I and managed to source a bag of seed compost from a deserted garden supplies warehouse. Probably not many people venture out in the rain it was empty, so masked up with the additional protection of a visor I procured a large bag of seed and a couple of bags of multi-purpose compost. I will place my seed order from a seed company in Portugal today, for delivery next week and there will be no stopping me. Happy days. It’s just a shame my large plastic cloche disintegrated in the sun a couple of years ago and had to be thrown away. Maybe I should look for one online.

I also need to create a planting plan on an excel spreadsheet.

6. Herb Bed – Project

Last week the ‘job of the week’ was to weed and clean the succulent bed at the side of the house. It proved quite a challenge as it has rained at some point every day, except Friday. My Gnome kindly did most of the grunt work as I can’t kneel down or stretch and balance on rocks.

Gnome also turned the compost heap so another job unexpectectaly completed from my ‘To Do’ list

My project for next week and one that is long overdue to is to revamp the herb bed.

and untangle the chives from the weeds and replant.

That’s it for this Saturday. If you are interested in gardening and would like to read more Six on Saturday posts from gardening enthusiasts over the world, check out the Propagators Gardening Blog.

Is anyone interested in photgraphing wild flowers etc. Why not join me for WildWednesday