Didn't We Have A Lovely Time ...

Being August Bank Holiday yesterday, it was predictably grey & cool, but that didn't stop me going to a garden centre with mum. I was after some brassica seedlings as I have sown mine far too early & more or less all the seedlings have failed in one way or another.

The trip to Dobbies didn't start well - the coffee was great, but no, they don't do toasted teacakes. Extraordinary!

No matter, we had a browse through the books, clothes, seeds, pet section & sundries before finding the plant section. 'Not very well signed, is it?' said mum, wanderling around trying to find the climbers, '& I can't see anyone to ask.'

I found the vegetable seedlings, though - but at £4.99 for a tray of just six spring cabbage, it would be cheaper to buy the finished article in Tesco, so I thought better of it. A chap to my left was browsing & turned his nose up too, saying 'I think I'll go to the farm a couple of miles up the road to get mine,' the location of which I quizzed him about further.

After a turn round the food section & separate clothes store, off we went - mum having found a clematis to her satisfaction (a pot version which doesn't grow more than 3-4' high - perfect for an ironwork mini pergola that she has) - to find the farm a couple of miles away, which sadly didn't turn out to have any brassica seedlings in stock.

However, we popped into Homebase on the way back - & they came up trumps with a tray of ten cauliflower & a tray of ten curly kale for £1.99 each. Brilliant!

Back at the Hill the netting was whizzed to one side & the seedling planted out in no time at all, then I spent forever picking caterpillars off the brussels sprouts & cabbage - note to self with regard to smaller mesh netting for next year...