Weeks 4 and 5 - a fortnight of changes and drama

This past fortnight has had elements of joy, hope, loss and discovery.

look carefully and you shall find a violet.

Outside
Nasturtiums finally arrived and then shot up
But no signs of sweet peas

Inside - OUT
We have coriander looking leaves

We started potting most of the indoor dahlias and arrowroot.

The chilli plant suddenly sprouted and got moved into the ground greenhouse.

Inspired by the lone chilli shoot, stuck the other three sticks from the wahaca 'matchbook' into a pot and placed on the east facing windowsill - here are tips to grow these as chillis deter some pests.

Chinese lanterns started to grow rapidly (see below).

Indoor dahlias and arrowroot was potted and some were kept on the sill and some were moved into the mini-greenhouse.

The move was good - however, overnight two plants got assassinated so cleanly and a slug was discovered in the mini-greenhouse even though it stinks of garlic and marigolds.

Tips given included protecting plants with a ring of sharp sand that slugs hate.

So a bed of sharp sand was made on which the mini-greenhouse now stands, with a couple of garlic cloves stuck in the ground next to it in case these sprout.

So far, seems to be working but it is early days yet.

Note, however, that the bulb is an old dried up one and the origin is Spain - hence, not holding breath.

The blueberry plant got moved outside - it just didn't seem well and most stems are now brown.

Tried opening another camomile tea bag on the old one. According to this video, I made a mistake by watering immediately and not soaking the compost first- and to date, there is still nothing. Plan to start afresh next week.

Week five
Started potting and sowing the remaining dahlias and arrowroots plus some of the nasturtiums that reached for the skies - they were planted apart (originally two to a little container in the seedling tray)

Sharp sand rings were used on each pot.

It became time to use the mini-ground growbox/greenhouse with a vengeance that was already in the garden so the older potted dahlia and arrowroot from the mini-greenhouse got moved in to there along with nasturtiums and chilli

The ones in the house plus the newly potted ones went into the mini-green house.

Additional sowings
New Zealand Yams/Oca (3 of the 5 each in a small pot on the window sill) and a clove of garlic indoors plus more in the garden.

A new bag of camomile tea emptied in a fresh pot but did not water on top.















Sweet peas shot up once all hope had been lost Look closely at the photo below behind the nasturtiums that were potted.

Blueberry plant looks beyond help even standing outside.

And most heartening, a violet opened up in the alpine strawberries pot which is technically the first flower of the batch.

Neem oil is apparently a very smelly but effective repellent - haven't used it but bought a bottle.

Costs:
The main costs were getting pots to repot the sprouted, tall seedlings into.
Visits were made to Wilkinsons and various poundshops
More compost was needed as well (with added John Inness)
The total: 20 quid ( Rough running total: 147)
)

Sharp sand and (just in case for later) weed layer were bought from Homebase
for around 15 quid (running total: 162 )

Since the sprouted seeds seem to be so successful more pots were bought (this time with added propogator tops - they were 2 for a pound each). Also, bought some garlic (rounding up would mean this cost is covered elsewhere)
Running total: 172

Bought some Neem oil from Neals Yard and a spare bottle - probably a huge waste of money - 13 quid

Rough running total: 185