Grow Your Own Magazine

SueA · #71 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 02:30 PM

We have just had a terrific thunderstorm here this morning right on top of the house with sheet lightning that lit up the sky red & then white! The house was literally shaking & as I was in the shower at the time I thought I'd better get out in case the lightning struck & I was found naked in the rubble! The garden will have to wait a couple of days as the forecast says it should get better at the end of the week - hopefully.

dexterdoglancashire · #72 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 07:30 PM

same here in Preston - at around 0730am - on my way to work - never seen anything like it! better weather thurs and friday so I believe! DDL

Mrs Dobby · #73 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 08:11 PM

Same storm here at 730am this morning, poor Bella was soo frightened she was literally shaking with fear! I had to stay home late to sort her out before going into work (fortunately I am the boss, and I'm not on the rota for today as I was supposed to be doing a stocktake at anothr branch, but it was cancelled at the last minute!)

Not impressed with the nights drawing in soo quickly, we were off yesterday and hence down at the plot, spent 3 hours sorting out a base of paving slabs for the greenhouse to sit on, then 4 hours trying to build it back up, it were dark before we'd finished the front, back and sides! Had to leave the roof and glazing until this weekend, so hope the weather is going to be reasonable!

Alison · #74 (**permalink**) 14-10-2006, 04:07 PM

Lovely again today - cleared the greenhouse out this morning and have left all the vents etc open now so that it drys and airs properly. Can't believe it's sunny today at the weekend and yesterday when I was at work it was thick fog - normally I'm stuck in the office when it's nice and spend the weekend dashing in and out between the rain! Off out again now and fingers crossed it's nice again tomorrow.

dexterdoglancashire · #75 (**permalink**) 14-10-2006, 04:18 PM

Same here Alison - got some free pony poo then dug over one section of my back garden and put the poo on it! hopefully the weather is as good as this tomorrow!

DDL

Mrs Dobby · #76 (**permalink**) 15-10-2006, 12:04 PM

Was gorg here too! We were working in short sleeves on cleaning down the greenhouse frame and finishing the assembly, off back down there in a min to clean and fit as much glass as we have, looks lovely outside! Wonder if I can catch the sun again today! I did yesterday, and in October!!!!!

HappyMouffe · #77 (**permalink**) 15-10-2006, 02:55 PM

Warm enough in Cheshire today to be in T-shirt (but digging is hot work), but very dingy grey sky. Apparently it's going to get a lot colder by the end of the week, though.

dinky_doo · #78 (**permalink**) 15-10-2006, 04:13 PM

it started off warm in preston but has gone a little overcast now
hope it dont rain

dexterdoglancashire · #79 (**permalink**) 15-10-2006, 05:25 PM

Lovely day here in Lostock Hall. Been out digging this pm in t-shirt. Was a bit overcast but now lovely sunshine!

DDL

martini · #80 (**permalink**) 15-10-2006, 06:01 PM

Lovely weather yesterday and today - in fact the OH and me managed to get the shed up despite the instructions from hell

Mrs Dobby · #81 (**permalink**) 15-10-2006, 07:37 PM

Lovely again today here too! Was working in tshirts too, trying to get the greenhouse glazed, only drawback is cleaning all the glass with jeyes diluted in cold water, brr!

dexterdoglancashire · #82 (**permalink**) 15-10-2006, 07:41 PM

Cleaned all my tools by washing them in hot, soapy water before cleaning them using the "nick the grief" method - no probs! Had a super day in the autumn sunshine!

DDL

Alison · #83 (**permalink**) 15-10-2006, 08:28 PM

Not very good at finding things by searching - always get side tracked into a different thread. Anyway, what's Nick's cleaning method? I'm guessing it saves time and effort so am very interested!

By the way, weather good here today. Now have a much tidier garden and a much fuller compost bin! Greenhouse looks very empty too, have cleared out the summer stuff but not put the tender plants in yet - if it's anything like normal I'll have to make a mad dash into the garden with a torch between my teeth after seeing a frost warning on the weather!

andrewo · #84 (**permalink**) 19-10-2006, 06:48 PM

Weather her on the Mid-Pennines was fine for the last two days, hazy sunshine but warm. Today, I blame the neighbour, who said, "The weather's nice this week", it is raining, cloudy and cold - I even had to wear a woolly hat.

dexterdoglancashire · #85 (**permalink**) 19-10-2006, 06:52 PM

Hi Alison! sorry, only just read your thread! Nicks suggestion is a bucket (largest you can find) put some sand in it (I'd say about 1/2 a bucket) mix in some (clean!) engine oil, then work your garden tools in it - I rubbed the mixture onto mine - both the large and the hand ones. It works a treat!

DDL

Alison · #86 (**permalink**) 19-10-2006, 08:23 PM

Think I remember Alan Titchmarsh saying something on Gardeners' World once but never tried it - am a bit bad at looking after my tools, mean well but am always very tired by the time I'm finished and it's usually going dark, no excuse though, must try this weekend.

Mrs Dobby · #87 (**permalink**) 30-10-2006, 08:20 PM

Was a lovely day today down the plot, little wind, warm (I had to strip down to my tshirt!) and dry, wonder how much longer this weather can hold out! I can remember being in scarf and mits at this time of year before now! Just hope the weather stays like this for the rest of the week so we can use our hols to get the plot dug over!

Alison · #88 (**permalink**) 30-10-2006, 09:40 PM

The last weather forecast I saw gave it clear and bright in the day but getting pretty cold at night by the end of the week. Envy you being able to be outside today as I was cooped up in an office where we can't even open the windows for fear of upsetting the climate control - either that or it's to stop us throwing ourselves out when things get bad!

Mrs Dobby · #89 (**permalink**) 31-10-2006, 10:22 AM

Lol Alison, that reminds me of that Monty Pythion sketch! 'Come on wilkins, you can do it!' ;D

It was lovely yesterday, doesnt look quite so good this morning tho, woke up to strong winds, overcast and wet! Think we may spend the day searching out the cheapest weed control fabric and then preparing for Halloween, put the clearing biggest bed competition on hold till tomorrow!

martini · #90 (**permalink**) 31-10-2006, 05:54 PM

Mrs D - Argos are selling some weed control fabric in their clearance sale. I could only get one near me but if you do a search on the Argos shops in your area they might have some left. It was quite good value 2.4m x 20m for £10 instead of £20. The code is 042/2482.

Mrs Dobby · #91 (**permalink**) 31-10-2006, 06:23 PM

Thanks for that Pauline, will check them out asap!

SueA · #92 (**permalink**) 02-11-2006, 04:56 PM

Had the first frost here last night, it went down to minus 2 & the gritters had been out. Supposed to be going down to minus 5 around here tonight so wrap up all your delicates! I rushed out yesterday & put up my plastic growbag greenhouse & shoved a load of pot plants in there, don't think it will be good enough for when it's really cold but it will do for now.

Mrs Dobby · #93 (**permalink**) 02-11-2006, 06:45 PM

Beautiful day today after the frost last night! Dry, clear skies and still, a little cold, but wrapped up well and spent almost 7 hours on the plot today! Just a shame the cold seems to make your back ache more than usual when double digging! Forecast is for a harsh frost tonight and another day like today for tomorrow! Looking good for some more digging in the morning!

Mrs Dobby · #94 (**permalink**) 04-11-2006, 08:15 PM

Overcast and cold with a chilly moderate wind, not as nice down on the plot as of late, but good to keep you cool when double digging I suppose!

Forecast is for a slightly warmer day tomorrow, with sunny intervals and moderate winds, next forecast rain is for Wednesday, the day I go back to work after my hols, so looks like no excuses to use for not spending all our time down the plot until then!