"Kae Verens" wrote in message
...
I'm pretty excited. The weather is getting warmer here (Ireland -
Monaghan), and my fingers are getting itchy for handling a spade.

Last year, I had great results from some cucumbers/marrows from a spot
right by my front gate. Most of the back garden stuff didn't work out too
well, but I've worked hard on clearing away any weeds and digging some
raised beds (4x4). I'm hoping thatll dissuade the nettles from coming back,
but I know I'll still have trouble with them this year.

So far, I've planted parsnips, potatoes, rosemary, peas, and broadbeans.
The garlic and rosemary share half a plot each.

I'll be planting lettuce between the garlics as spring heats up (as
suggested by someone a few weeks ago in this newsgroup).

I made a propagator out of an old hamster cage - sort of like an aquarium,
with a grill top. In that, I've sown tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, peppers, and
chili peppers (tabasco). I've never had luck with those kinds of plants, but
maybe this year... here's to hoping!

After work, I'll be planting onions, and more potatoes. I'm hoping
there'll be enough light for me to continue my digging.

I'm building the raised beds by simply digging pathways and throwing the
soil on top of the adjacent plots. Next year, I may build proper walls for
the plots, and ut down bricks for the pathways, as I noticed the pathways
get pretty muddy when it rains.

Looking forward to a more sustainable year,
Kae

Good for you Kae. You're obviously getting better weather than we are in
southern UK. My front garden which never gets any sun until April because of
surrounding houses still has traces of last weeks snow on it! I went to the
allotment at the weekend, but could only do a bit of marking out and general
tidying before a heavy sleet shower sent me running for home :-((

I think it will be at least a couple of weeks yet before I get the first
early praties in. May be able to start some seeds off in the GH if it gets
milder this week as forecast.

I would keep your eyes on skips locally for any slabs being chucked out, use
them for your paths if you get lucky.

Anyway, good luck.

Steve