[growth] in which I count my chickens

[kaberett]

I have, today, planted six butternut squash seeds in an eggbox. With any luck they'll have germinated by early next week, and with a tiny bit more luck I'll get a letter through from the council saying I've got the allotment I first thought of well before they actually need planting out, so that I'll have time to clear one of the (rather fallen into disrepair) raised beds and negotiate with U to dig manure through it.

I have more-or-less decided to proceed on the basis that I've Probably Got The Allotment, because (i) the allotment manager was encouraging, and (ii) if the pronouncement actually ends up being a letter from the council rather than an e-mail from the allotment manager I... would not be surprised if it takes for ever. It's still the case (as of yesterday) that nothing's been done with it; I'm resisting the urge to actually start weeding it until I Know For Definite, but I've given in and ordered the hot compost bin I was eyeing up (it can eat weeds, including roots! it can eat compostable caddy bags provided I slice them up good and proper first! it takes three months to produce matured compost! A is getting very used to the background refrain of "you can put that in the compost bin, dear"! I'm delighted about how much less we're going to be sending to landfill!). However, again, I'm not actually going to install it until I've had word one way or the other.

On the upside, if I don't get the plot and the winter squash do germinate, U has agreed to take them off my hands -- they've just cleared the final raised bed in their plot (so much carpet. why was there so much carpet.) and, given the weed-suppressing nature of squash & my willingness to be Generally Helpful (nice things about redcurrant bushes: they're quite easy to weed while sitting absolutely stationary), they're a reasonable thing to put in there if etc etc etc.

But hey. Maybe my resolve will waver and, come this Wednesday, I will start weeding one of the beds. (The council provides free manure and wood chippings. I have so many plaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaans.)

Elsewise: the tomatoes are coming on great; almost all of them now have two fairly convincing trusses (i.e. stalks with tomatoes on), with sizes ranging from Plausible to RIDICULOUSLY TINY. None of them are yet ripe but they're Thinking About It. The bay shrub is cautiously putting out new leaves; the rosemary continues to adore the hot weather; the mint is sending up new leaves and the parsley is thinking about flowering; the sage is settling in enthusiastically. Even the windowsill basil is doing fairly well, albeit in need of feeding next time I water it.

I am really very enjoying having Plants.

Comments

[alexseanchai]

For your amusement: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=865029767025149&id=100005544008675&ref=bookmarks

[kaberett]

Heeee, yep. (My experience is that basil plants need A LOT of babying, and they're so densely planted that half of 'em will die off, and probably after six or so weeks you'll end up with yellowing leaves so you'll want to give it some more plant food -- but YES homegrown herbs are great, AND ALSO the way basil dies back is to just sort of... dry off, and then you can stick the dried leaves in a jar and also have DRY BASIL.)

[alexseanchai]

Eh. I'm get more and better basil for a single extra penny before my black thumb does it in. That is the extent of my care. XD

(It's funny to my mom and her friend bc the friend did the same thing last week.)

[kaberett]

Heeeee, yes, that's generally my attitude!

(Happily for me, the current basil is doing sufficiently well that I mostly don't even feel bad for pulling bits off it. My usual problem with growing herbs is that I go BUT IT IS MY FRIEND???? I CANNOT EAT MY FRIEND???? but thankfully thus far I am spared this attitude to these ones because they are doing ridiculously well.)

[alexseanchai]

Pesky "work" nonsense. Thinking animist things but cannot take time to articulate them!

[harpers_child]

Yay plants!

[divulge]

Yay for Plants and Probable Allotment!

[kht]

Yay compost! I make compost and use it in my garden and it is the best thing ever. Hot compost sounds even more exciting.

[kht]

Also yay for probable allotment and possible house, but compost is awesome <3

[kaberett]

I am really very excited about the compost. >_> I keep going "why hasn't the bin arriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiived yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet", which is ridiculous because I ordered it on Monday and shipping routinely takes up to 28 days.

BUT ALSO.

[sfred]

Hurray for plants!

[kaberett]

I keep prodding anxiously at the squash and going WHY HAVEN'T YOU GERMINATED YET...

[sfred]

<3

I didn't know until this summer that squash are a bit disinclined to fertilise themselves - they work better if they are near other squash and can fertilise each other. I share this in case you didn't know either!

[kaberett]

HOPEFULLY more than one of the seeds I have in my egg carton will germinate! The Plan is to plant them all out as I clear beds so as to make use of their weed suppression properties...

[sfred]

The plan is a good plan.