Spring has sprung but there are still reminders of winter

I've been busy at work so not posted an update on what I did at the weekend. Well here goes.

Saturday 1st April

Sewed some carrots (Early Nantes 2) and parsnips (Gladiator) and covered with netting. Cats managed to get through the netting and use the bed as a toilet so have now recovered bed with fleece (it's still a bit chilly at night anyway).

Sewed catmint in a pot and nasturtiums, cabbage and parsley in rootrainers and put on windowsill. No signs of life yet but it's only been a few days.

Checked on greenhouse - lettuce starting to come through.

Sunday 2nd April

Went to garden centre to buy more compost for spuds and potting and came back with loads more plants of course. Here's a list:

Strawberry (Cambridge Favourite) - these came in a strawberry pot so were good value, have put in the greenhouse

Thyme (Common and Golden), Rosemary, Oregano, Parsley - am growing some from seed but wanted some I could use now and also just in case mine don't do so well

Lobelia (Waterfall White Sparkle) - two plug plants currently in the greenhouse

Fuscia (Winston Churchill) - two plug plants, have put in greenhouse

Argyranthemum (Madeira Santana) - two plug plants, also in greenhouse

Fritillaria Maxima - in a pot - Christine chose this one but it'll be me who ends up watering it!

Chrysanthemum (Carnival Red) - again Christine chose these

Delphinium (Galahad) - chosen by Christine too

Can't believe how many of these were chosen by Christine. She said she's starting to get into the gardening thing a bit more also she still needs some convincing. A few more trips to the garden centre should do it!

I planted all these in the garden on Sunday afternoon, apart from the Lobelia, Argyrantheum and Fuscia, which are too small to go out yet. I also planted the rest of my Duke of York spuds so will be starting on the 2nd earlies (Charlotte) next. Will prob get some polypots for these though as I've run out of old compost bags.

Monday 3rd April

Checked the garden and greenhouse. Everything I planted is doing okay and the spinach has now started to germinate.

On the windowsill, I'm having some tomato problems. The ones I transplanted last week are pretty much dead and some of the ones I left in the tray are now starting to look a bit worse for wear. However, I still have some healthy looking specimens and some more are starting to germinate in another tray. I'm a bit worried though that I seem to be able to germinate them fine but not grow them on. Am going to sew my last batch in some pots I have where you can just plant the pot out after. The pots are biodegradable and are an alternative to peat pots, which are not good for the environment. I think the less I have to move the seedlings the better. Also, thinking of buying some plug plants just in case to make sure I get a crop.

My peppers, on the other hand are doing very well. A couple of my seedlings have second leaves coming on and I have more that have started to germinate. They were ages coming but seem quite strong when they arrive. Maybe they worked better than the tomatoes because they were sewn straight into pots so aren't sharing their space as much.

Herb-wise, my basil, thyme and dill are all growing. The basil is looking great but the dill is a bit leggy - might need to do something about that.

The weather forecast for Sunday night is for snowy showers so I hope my plants are all right. Bit disappointed as I thought we were now into spring but apparently it's going to get colder again in the next few days. It seems there are still reminders of winter out there...