You can see the marks of its frontal digging tines. I'm still feeding it fish pellets which it obviously likes

Saw flowering daffodils on the 23rd. Crazy.

A careful look at these scratch marks seems strangely like the word "FISH". [Only joking! 😉]

The Moldovian Effect perhaps? 

The recent chill seems to have sent it into hibernation at last.

My daffs have been out for weeks (paper whites that is).

On a south facing windowsill.

Inside.

I'll bring in my tender gingers and cannas in a few minutes.  I covered them to prevent them getting saturated a few weeks ago. The olive will stay outside for now. Minus 5 C or below might be an issue. 

I’ve continued to harvest around 20-  30 cape gooseberries every week, thanks to deploying my electric heater during night-time frosts. That’s from a single cape gooseberry plant in a large 50 cm pot which is amazing.

And they’re delicious. Highly recommend.

The secret to a longer life may lie in gardening as opposed to more exercise, according to Harvard scientists who believe they have found the formula to extend your longevity. Laura Donnelly, our Health Editor, has analysed the findings to show you what a perfect weekly routine looks like, and it’s surprisingly achievable.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/21/varied-exercise-is-more-important-than-the-amount/?WT.mc_id=e_DM801246&WT.tsrc=email&etype=Edi_FTE_New_Reg&utmsource=email&utm_medium=Edi_FTE_New_Reg20260121&utm_campaign=DM801246 

Anyway, it's February which I like, because I get to start a few seeds off. I'll be starting my annual night-scented phlox this weekend, as well as some sweet peas.

More interestingly, I've bought some palm seeds off the internet - two hardy varieties in the UK - the Chilean wine palm and the Canary Island date palm. I've looked at a few guides online, so I'll see if those seeds germinate. Apparently it can take three to six months for the seeds to even germinate, never mind go into active growth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jubaea 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_canariensis 

The annual night-scented phlox (thank you) did really well last year and scented the garden in the evenings. I think staggering sowings is a good idea. It does look a bit scruffy though, flopping all over the place, so if I grow it again I'll keep the pots more hidden.

have you tried making Amelanchier jam? I keep promising myself that I'll do so one of these days - there's a tree in the common parts of this estate and no-one else seems interested.

A great idea. But and it's a big but, the fruits are a/the favourite of the blackbirds. As soon as they ripen, the birds move onto the branches all day eating them. The blackbirds are already in mating mode and once they raise a brood that's four or five hungry mouths. And last year there were several broods.

I planted a crab apple last year which fruited and had a bumper crop. I left them on the tree all winter hoping the blackbirds would clear them as the books suggest would happen. Nope. They rotted on the tree and I had to hand-pick them last week. I wonder if they will work with crab apple gin? 

https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/news/make-your-own-crab-apple-gin-liqueur 

My fig still has some little fruits that I'm hoping will grow into the first crop this summer. The second crop comes from wood that hasn't even grown yet. The fig is in a pot to control the roots which is a key to lots of figs. 50 plus last year.

I regret not planting a quince when we moves here 9 years ago. A much neglected/undervalued and really delicious fruit for puddings and preserves. We had one at our last place and should have been smart enough to get one going asap. 

https://www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/quince/grow-your-own 

I’m considering planting a peach tree, Avalon Pride, which is resistant to peach leaf curl.

I already have two peach trees  Peregrine and Redhaven and I highly recommend growing them in the southern UK. However, fleece protection is usually required for a couple of nights in April, which can spoil the fun a bit.

Last year, at my allotment, I had hundreds of peaches from the two trees. It was by far the best year for peaches, largely thanks to a warm April.

A large tomato glasshouse off Manor Road in Milford on Sea Hampshire. Sold for housing. Access to Milford On Sea in summer is a nightmare with more houses just adding to the Bedlam. (Got Bedlam in again). Peaches tried but the leaf curl a problem.

Quinces. A commercial ornamental garden I built with designer help from a friend at a museum in Christchurch started my interest in these amazing plants. Meeches Prolific was the variety she suggested that we planted. Beautiful trees.  The designer later emigrated with her hubby to Australia where she’s made a name for herself in the Gardens of Oz I think you could call it. And the museums industry. A lot of interesting history in Australia going back thousands of years to keep her busy.

The market gardening nurseries have succumbed to competition from Africa (where they don't need expensive energy to heat greenhouses and air freight is now so cheap) and from Holland (where the government subsidise heating costs for greenhouses), not to mention the cash received by owners from developers.

Never mind, Farage has stated his aim of making Britain self-sufficient in food. A noble aim, but it wasn't possible even in the 1940s with rationing, and now the population is some 30% greater with much good farmland built on.

Not sure people are aware, but peaches are easy to grow in the UK. Not on a commercial scale, perhaps, but for a small allotment plot holder, no problem at all.

I also love jam made from quinces. You grate the fruit and prepare it as normal. However, I’ve found it quite difficult to keep the fruit healthy when growing it myself. It’s often easier and cheaper to buy commercially grown quinces from a Middle Eastern shop, if you have one nearby.

Edit both of you. Agree.

I've not done ours yet, but it will be a similar story. WRT moss, get to love Tardigrades! Or mosses.

https://mosssafari.com/2024/01/21/wonderful-water-bears-and-where-to-find-them/ 

Experts across the country would then be able to "examine and give us a definitive answer" if those discovered by the public are Narcissus 'Mrs R.O Backhouse'. 'Mrs R.O Backhouse' was named after plant breeder and horticulturist Sarah Backhouse, who created the first true pink daffodil. The RHS, in partnership with the conservation charity Plant Heritage, are also looking for two other rare daffodils - the white double flowered 'Mrs William Copeland' and orange and yellow double flower 'Sussex Bonfire'.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2140pnx46o 

I'm sure I read this story last year too.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/c0e43x4jjzno 

Figs are already forming fruit, which is clearly visible on the branches now. I had fleece over my peach trees and patio heaters blowing on my apricot tree to protect it from frost.

If gas prices continue to rise, this may no longer be viable.