April

Here we are in April and the wind and rain from March are a thing of the past.  No rain for three weeks and the garden is again drying out.  It is 25c this last week, which is great given we are all home enduring lockdown, but the gardener in me is crying out for rain.

The plum, pear, peach and cherry blossom are all out and no frost at the moment which is good news.  The small cherry tree by the shed got caught by the last frost so no peaches from it this year.  Here’s hoping for the rest.

With no garden centres  open in France, no plug plants or fertilisers can be bought so for the first time I am growing my own broccoli (purple sprouting and normal), sprouts and kale.  They are all doing well in the greenhouse.  I am also making nettle plant food.  After all I have more than enough nettles.  Cut the nettles (try not to get stung) and fill a bucket with them then add water.  After three weeks you can strain the liquid, dilute 10 times and you have your plant food.  Apparently tomatoes and roses are not that fond of it but it is fine for leafy plants.  Keep away from the house as it becomes very smelly.

Here are some pictures of what is flowering at the moment.  The small white blossom tree is a pear I bought in the autumn and it is flowering its socks off.