European Tribune - Comments - Wednesday Open Thread

Watch out for clouds, they'll drain you and you'll end up pushing it

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 12:13:11 PM EST
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Clear blue sky right now so I hopefully do not need to worry on that front!

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 12:28:29 PM EST
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On the other hand you might get that extra charge, I've only just managed to plug everything back in after torential rain, hail, Lightning and thunder.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 01:06:50 PM EST
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Still clear blue skies but I discovered that my sporty trousers were soaked by my towel which I forgot to remove from my bag after badminton. Since I am wearing a skirt I felt it unwise to cycle home and walked instead. Which was lovely, I walked up the river and admired the bluebells.

Still a clear blue sky with gorgeous light.

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by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 02:54:52 PM EST
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It's like someone flipped a switch and suddenly it's summer.

It's going to take a few days to catch up.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 04:17:14 PM EST
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It's finally turning spring/summer here. First time I had the chance to teach a yoga class in the new room with sunshine. Thats very nice. In the old place we had to close the shutters for privacy, but in the new place noone can look in. And the later classes might even enjoy the sunset through a huge window.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 02:11:23 PM EST
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Yes, same here: I've been working at the kitchen table with the French doors open looking out over the garden. Much nicer than the sliding doors they replace.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 02:14:21 PM EST
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How is your garden progressing? I just bought herbs for my balcony today. This will be my main focus this year, but will also add a few flower, for color. Well, besides my roses of course.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 02:21:37 PM EST
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My friend has grown some chili plants from seed and gave one pot to me since there is not enough light in her flat for them to grow properly. I'm very pleased with it, I've never had any plants that have herbs or food potential.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 02:57:21 PM EST
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That sounds nice. I received a tomatoe plant last year. Of course on the balcony it was not as fruitful as it would have been in a garden. 4 small tomatoes but they were delicious and a real treat. :-)

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 03:12:10 PM EST
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I'm going to edge into self-sufficiency slowly by growing some garlic.

Can you drop a garlic bulb in the ground and expect it to grow, or does it need more work than that?

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 04:18:16 PM EST
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Long time ago when I had a garden I used to plant garlic between the roses to keep the aphids away. It was enough to just plant them, I never really payed much attention to them, but they grew and multiplied anyway. :-)

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 04:30:15 PM EST
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Garlic repels aphids? I did not know that. Cool.

by lychee on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 04:36:39 PM EST
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If the soil is a medium to heavy loam, it's not too hard to grow.

Where I am, the soil is too sandy. Garlic will grow, but pitifully small.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 04:45:30 PM EST
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I'll swap you some sticky clay for some of that sandy soil. Should average out nicely.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 04:47:21 PM EST
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Re: Wednesday Open Thread (4.00 / 5)

Done. The clay content here is well below 10%.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 04:50:19 PM EST
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I'll e-mail a couple of tons to you.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 04:53:37 PM EST
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Should work.

Want any water voles with the sand? I've got a load I'd like to get rid of.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 04:55:19 PM EST
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Sound like they'll entertain the dogs. Cleo is bored.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 04:56:16 PM EST
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They're entertaining me. These critters, though they're only riparian in the British Isles (Ratty in The Wind in the Willows) live a subterranean life across a swathe of Europe from, roughly, the Pyrenees to the Alps and on through Austria to, I think, parts of Hungary. They burrow like crazy, they reproduce similarly. They like wet soil and so have great fun under drip feed irrigation lines. Last year their burrows bonsai'd about half our summer plants, tomatoes, aubergines, peppers. No drip feed this year.

Oh, they are vectors of tapeworm and bubonic plague. Adds to the fun.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 05:05:58 PM EST
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I think you're supposed to split up the head and plant the individual cloves...

by Sassafras on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 06:12:28 PM EST
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Ah...yes, you are...

And, traditionally, you're supposed to have planted it in December.

Have you considered starting with cress?

by Sassafras on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 06:16:44 PM EST
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I'm pretty much self-sufficient with garlic grown in various corners of my parents garden, and I use a lot.

But you have to remember to harvest it cos if you miss a bulb, it will reproduce so mightily the next year that it won't be much use. Kinda like chives to spring onions.

Best to plant in early spring rather than now as you've missed a lot of the growing/rooting season but if you hurry you''ll get a late crop okay.

I know it's hard, but re-plant your best cloves, not your worst.

Garlic stores well if it's kept dry, but once early spring starts it will shoot regardless so stick it in the freezer. It's not as good as fresh, but doens't harm the flavour too badly.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 06:37:50 AM EST
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I think something ate all of mine. Or it rotted. In well-drained raised beds in the sunniest part of the garden.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 07:12:43 AM EST
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Re: Wednesday Open Thread (4.00 / 5)

Badly neglected. The fruit trees and so on are fine, though I need to beat back the dandelions a bit. The annuals are way behind: I have the tender stuff - tomatoes, chillis, melons, stuff like that - at seedling stage in the greenhouse and they need transplanting. All the other stuff - beans, peas, lettuce, corn, etc - all needed to be planted already and aren't. They'll just have to run late and maybe crop under protection at the end of the season.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 03:18:14 PM EST
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Re: Wednesday Open Thread (4.00 / 5)

Oh, and the garden is full of yellow flowers from brassicas and land cress run to seed. Pretty enough in an overgrown sort of way and the bees seem to like them but I don't think they'll win any gardening prizes.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 03:30:03 PM EST
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I woulda thought you'd be using dandelions in salad. More bitter than rocket, but interesting.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 06:39:17 AM EST
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