PLANTING OUT ‘GREENS’ A big job for this time of year is planting out members of the cabbage family. They include Brussels sprouts, purple sprouting broccoli, kale and, of coarse, cabbages themselves. Technically, these so-called ’greens’ are known as Brassicas and they‘ll feed the family this coming winter. A lot of folk baulk at the [...]
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Posts Tagged ‘kale’
DIRTY NAILS BLOG by Joe Hashman PLANTING OUT ‘GREENS’
Friday, May 28th, 201013 January 2010 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman SHOOTERS LANE IN SNOW, RARE DELIGHT
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010SHOOTERS LANE IN SNOW Half-way betwixt the High Street and Leyton Lane. All you can hear is the gurgle of water in some underground drain, tweets and scolds of blackbird and great tit, and the pitter-patter of falling snow: not flakes, but fresh-fall melts in mini avalanches from the tunnel of twigs and branches. Stand [...]
Read More »7 November 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman LOOKING AT THE RIVER, HARVESTING RADISHES AT 5PM
Saturday, November 7th, 2009LOOKING AT THE RIVER It’s a bright and chilly November morning. I’m back in Salisbury, on the footbridge which crosses the river fifty yards downstream of The King’s Head Inn. The island where I watched coots on eggs in early summer is a decaying mess of brown leaves and two pink plastic bags. I can [...]
Read More »3 November 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman TIME TO PICK SOME KALE
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009At lunchtime flocks of spadgers rise a-twittering from betwixt the rows of raspberries and beetroot to hide amongst hawthorn trees. My slipping stumble along the path prompts their flight. I stand and look and think that they must be peeking back at me. In the Abbey School playground, children’s voices loud and clear. A jet [...]
Read More »15 October 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman THURSDAY EVENING 5.56
Thursday, October 15th, 2009It’s pleasant to get on the plot for an hour after a long day at work. The exersize of turning soil stretches and stimulates the body, encourages internal heat and blood to flow. It’s not been cold cold today but by lunchtime I was struggling to warm up. I’d been delivering, had a meeting, popped [...]
Read More »21 July 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman SOYA BEAN DEVELOPMENTS, LOVELY FARM SMELLS
Tuesday, July 21st, 200921 July 2009 SOYA BEAN DEVELOPMENTS I’ve never taken an umbrella out into the garden with my wake up cup of tea before, but I did this morning. More rain! There have been complaints about the recent weather from various quarters, including gardener friends, but not from I. Sure, I am harbouring concerns about a [...]
Read More »23 June 2009: DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman TENDING LEEKS, GARDEN MOTHS COUNT
Tuesday, June 23rd, 200923 June 2009 TENDING LEEKS Someone had a fire this afternoon. I caught it in my nostrils, between the long grass and nettles, just inside the gate. They were three-strong, putting up bean poles and chatting when I went down the central path to tend my leeks. I puddled five rows I’d dibbed in on [...]
Read More »2 April 2009: DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman HOUSE PLANTS AND THE CABBAGE WATER
Thursday, April 2nd, 20092 April 2009 HOUSE PLANTS AND THE CABBAGE WATER Here’s a tip for those who want to waste nothing that comes off the plot – drink the water which you cook ‘greens’ in. Contrary to popular belief it’s delicious. For an extra treat why not put a spoonful of powdered vegetable bouillon in a cup [...]
Read More »22 March 2009: DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman HEELING-IN KALE
Sunday, March 22nd, 200922 March 2009 HEELING-IN KALE Despite being stripped completely bare last winter by ravenous pigeons the kale has pulled through and is producing handsome portions for the springtime dinner table. I must admit that it is a relief. We depend on this tough-as-old-boots member of the cabbage tribe to help us through the hungry gap [...]
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