Fools Spring

 

It's sunny and the temperature is at 13C today and 15C is forecast for tomorrow for Surrey in the South East of England, meanwhile in Scotland and up north they have been having snow.  

I have a medical appointment this morning, but I will be going to the allotment this afternoon. Its nice to see a few dry sunny days in the 10 day forecast. 

The Greenfingers Charity

 

The Greenfingers Charity builds on a year of completed gardens as major new hospice projects take shape for 2026

 

The Greenfingers Charity is preparing for a significant year ahead, announcing further details of its hospice garden programme for 2026, following the completion of five new therapeutic gardens across the UK in 2025.

 

Gardens completed in 2025

During 2025, Greenfingers opened five new bespoke hospice gardens, each carefully designed to support children with life-limiting conditions, their families and the professionals who care for them. New gardens were completed at The Nook (East Anglia), Chestnut Tree House (Arundel), Hope House (Shropshire), Acorns (Walsall) and Bluebell Wood (Sheffield).

 

These gardens are already being used as vital outdoor environments where children can experience nature safely, feeling fresh air, colour, texture and seasonal change, often for those whose medical needs limit their access to the outdoors. For families, the gardens provide rare opportunities to be together away from clinical spaces, while hospice staff benefit from restorative areas that support wellbeing.

 

New Greenfingers gardens planned for 2026

Building on this momentum, Greenfingers is now progressing three new garden projects for 2026. Each will be delivered as a bespoke, highly specialist space, shaped around the specific needs of its hospice community.

 

Naomi House and Jack’s Place, Winchester

The new garden planned for Naomi House and Jack’s Place will be Greenfingers’ 75th garden, marking an important milestone in the charity’s work across the UK. Designed by Helen Elks Smith, with early design stages already underway, the project will transform existing lawned areas into a welcoming, inclusive outdoor space for children, siblings, parents and hospice staff alike. Carefully shaped to support both play and quiet reflection, the garden will give families a place to step outside together, to breathe, connect and create precious memories away from the pressures of indoor care.

 

 

This garden will also be the focus of Greenfingers’ 2026 Kilimanjaro fundraising challenge, with trekkers taking on the climb to help fund the creation of this very space. Their efforts will play a direct role in bringing this garden to life, turning extraordinary personal challenges into a lasting legacy for the children and families who will use it for years to come.

 

Little Havens, Essex

The 2026 project at Little Havens will see Greenfingers return to the hospice to deliver a major refresh and redevelopment of the existing Grow Your Own garden. The new design will focus on improving accessibility and sensory engagement, enabling children with complex needs to interact safely with planting, textures and the natural environment. Designed to support everyday hospice life, the garden will provide space for play, therapy and rest, while offering families precious opportunities to spend time outdoors together in a setting that feels calm, supportive and human.

 

Haven House, Woodford Green

At Haven House, Greenfingers will deliver a thoughtfully designed memorial and reflection garden within the hospice grounds. The project will be delivered by Baylis Landscapes, with the space carefully shaped to provide families with a calm, dignified outdoor environment where they can pause, reflect and remember. A central feature of the garden will be a Corten steel memorial tree, supplied by Caltef Designs, alongside screened seating, connected pathways and sensitive planting. Together, these elements will create a space that offers privacy, comfort and a sense of peace, supporting families through some of the most emotionally challenging moments of their lives.

 

 

Neil Sewell, Operations Director at Greenfingers, said: “Every unique Greenfingers garden starts with listening to the hospice teams, to families, and to what children need most in that moment. These are not decorative spaces; they are places where children can experience fresh air, colour and a sense of freedom, sometimes for the only time. As we move into 2026, we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve delivered so far, and deeply aware of how vital continued support is to help us create more of these life-changing gardens.”

 

Looking ahead – creating gardens that change lives

As Greenfingers looks towards 2026, its focus is firmly on turning ambition into action – creating highly specialist hospice gardens that meet complex needs and change daily life for children and families. These spaces take months of careful design, sensitive construction and long-term commitment to deliver, and they simply cannot happen without continued fundraising and support. Every penny raised plays a vital role, helping to transform bare or underused spaces into safe, welcoming gardens where children can experience the outdoors, families can spend precious time together, and memories can be made when they matter most.

 

To find out more about the Greenfingers Charity, discover how to support its work, or get involved through fundraising, partnerships or volunteering, visit www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk.

You can also follow the charity’s latest updates on Instagram and LinkedIn @GreenfingersCharity, Facebook facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity, and X @GreenfingersCha.

Oakland Gardens - Garland 28 Cell Deep Root Success Kit

Oakland Gardens have sent me the Garland 28 Cell Deep Root Success Kit - Seed Tray & Propagator with 120mm deep cells, and ventilated lid to trial during this growing season. 

I have to say having had a deep root system previously, this one knocks spots off the one I had (I wish I could remember the make and manufacturer), as the plastic modules are better formed and not as micky mouse as my previous unit, where the cells were formed on one piece and didn't last as long as I would have liked, with the plastic of the cells becoming brittle and splitting within two to three years.     

Professional range products are generally cheaper to produce and buy and will typically only last you 2 - 3 seasons of use. Garlands Premium Range products are more expensive to make and to purchase, but many items come with a 10 year guarantee making the premium range better value for money in the long run.

As can be seen in the photo above the Garland 28 Cell Deep Root Success Kit comes with a 10 year guarantee. The product looks and feels robust and durable and likely to last a minimum of 10 years if looked after and stored correctly when not in use. 

This brough a smile to my face, the packaging suggests that "Cells can be easily cleaned & sterilised in a dish washer after use" I am our dishwasher, and if my wife was still alive and we had a fitted dishwasher I would not be allowed to clean my gardening regalia in it at all!. 

There is a warning on the bottom of the section on Tips & Growing Advice that "The clear propagator lid is NOT suitable for a dishwasher.   

• Size Check (assembled): 38cm (15”) Long x 23.5cm (9.25”) Wide x 20cm (8”) High

Key Features

• 🌿 28 Deep Cells (12 cm each): Perfect for plants like beans, sweet peas, and young vegetable plants.

• 🌱 Innovative Split-Cell Design: Easily monitor and remove seedlings without disturbing delicate roots.

• 💧 Superior Drainage & Airflow: Central drainage hole and four side vents per cell for healthy, air-pruned roots.

• 🌤 Adjustable Ventilated Lid: Maintain perfect humidity and airflow for faster germination and root development.

• ♻️ Eco-Friendly Build: Made in the UK from 100 % recycled and recyclable plastic.

I like the fact that the product is produced in the UK and that it's made from 100% recycled and recyclable plastic. IMHO there are too many gardeners who are anti-plastic and I'm always happy to purchase plastic gardening items that are heavy duty, robust and durable, that will last many years. 

Description

Uniquely designed "split cells" allow easy inspection of root development and zero root disturbance when plants are removed for transplanting.

Deep cells (12cm) feature internal ridged sides to encourage healthy downward root development.

Each cell features a central drainage hole and 4 side ventilation slots ensuring excellent drainage and beneficial air pruning of the root system.

Ideal for all plants with deep root systems such as beans and sweet peas but equally good for raising cuttings.

Long life injection moulded plant cells and base tray give years of repeated use.

Cells can be easily cleaned and sterilised in a dishwasher after use.

 

Instructions For Use

The 28 cell in the are pre-assembled ready for use but before using, please check that none of the cells have become disengaged in transit.  

1. Fill the cells with moist sieved compost, You can remove each set of 4 cells from the outer tray and fill them individually or you may prefer to keep all the cells in situ within the outer tray and fill them together. If you do the latter, excess compost will fall into the outer tray and this excess compost should be removed, prior to planting. There is no need to press the the compost down in each cell. Once cells are full, lightly tap the base on a flat surface which will cause the compost in each cell to lightly compact. Add more compost to the cells as required.

2. If growing from seed, create a hole for each seed. A dibber is a useful tool for this purpose but a finger works too! Plant the seed at the depth recommended by the seed supplier. Back fill the planting holes containing the seed with compost.   

3. If planting cuttings, select healthy stems with at least 6 leaf nodes and cut just above a leaf node. Strip the leaves from the lower half of the stem. It is considered good practice to bury at least half of the cutting, ensuring that the leaf nodes from the lower part of the stem are below the surface. Dipping the base of the cutting in a hormone rooting powder prior to planting is likely to increase the chances of successful rooting.  

4. After planting, water the cells with a fine spray watering can. 

5. For newly planted seeds and small cuttings, place the clear humidity cover on top of the unit. You can regulate the humidity using the dial ventilator. Excess humidity on the inside of the cover is a good indicator that the ventilator should be opened.  

6. Place the unit in an area benefitting from good natural light but be wary of locations receiving strong direct sunshine as this can be damaging to young plants. 

7. Water regularly using a fine mist sprayer ensuring the compost remains moist rather than wet, If the cells do dry out, you can add water to the mase tray to ensure a fast uptake of water.

8. If growing from seed, remove the lid when seeds germinate. For cuttings, the lid can be left in place for longer as prolonged humidity will encourage root development. 

9. Some seedlings such as sweet peas and beans can benefit from "pinching out". This means literally cutting the top the central stem above the topmost leaf node which will further encourage good root development. You can do this only when 3 sets of leaves have developed. This is best achieved using a clean set of gardening snips or can be done by hand. Be careful not to damage thee leaf nodes.  

10. Monitor the root development of the plants by lifting the cells from the tray periodically. You can split the cells if required to inspect root development. Once the roots are visible at the base of the cells, the plants are ready are ready for transplanting. If roots become visible at the base of the cell before the plant's leaf growth has sufficiently developed for transplanting, remove the cells from the base tray which will allow improved air circulation to air prune the roots. The planted cells will stand up independently of the base tray on an even surface. 

11 To remove the plants first disengage the 2 nibs at the top of each set of 4 cells (see Pic 1). Ensure the are positioned to the outside of each slot on the opposite cell moulding. Then gently prise away one half of the cell to fully expose the root system (see Pic 2). Each plant can them be transplanted with zero disturbance to its root structure. Prior to removing the plants from the cells, it is recommended leaving them un-watered for 48 hours as this will ensure that the compost around the root structure is less likely to crumble when the plants are removed.       

Tips and Growing Advice 

Watering 

Over watering can be as damaging as underwatering. Always look to maintain moist rather than wet compost. When using the clear cover , heavy condensation on the inside of the cover is a sign that compost is too wet. If this happens allow the compost to dry by reducing the watering frequency.  

Positioning

Greenhouses provide ideal light conditions, but windowsills can work equally as well. Avoid areas with strong, direct sunshine.  

Temperature 

Most Seeds and cuttings benefit from temperatures of between 19C and 23C. In colder months, consider positioning the unit on a heat pad which can provide gentle, beneficial warmth.   

Re-Using & Storage 

The cell mouldings and base trays should be washed thoroughly with warm soapy water to remove dirt from the surfaces and sterilise for future use. Alternatively, the cell mouldings and the base tray can be cleaned in a dishwasher. when washed at a cycle less than 50C (120F).  The clear propagator lid is NOT suitable for a dishwasher. Store the entire unit away from direct sunlight when not in use to minimise UV damage.     

Incredible discount offer for readers of manvslug.uk 

The nice people at Oakland Gardens have created two special discount codes MVS1 and MVS2 that will get you discounts when buying one or two of the Deep Root Trainer Success Kits.

This is a limited offer and I don't receive any commission as a result of you using these codes.  

I do recommend that you sign up for the Oakland Gardens Newsletter so you receive notifications on news and special offers. 

Weather Watching

Not looking promising for a visit to the allotment tomorrow, working around what I have planned for the week the best days appear to be Monday to Wednesday. 

Tuesday I have an appointment with my diabetic Nurse, so an afternoon visit may be possible and my stair lift is getting serviced on Wednesday so it really depends on when they come during the day to service it.   

Saturday Morning

 

With Bed 16A being completed on Tuesday 17th Feb, and with rain every day since I looked at Plot 1 and decided where to attack first.

It looks as if Basil and his mates have been roaming around the allotment and knocking over things again! I sent this photo to my girls and they thought it must have been more than one fox. 

 

They sent back this ChatGPT AI created image. They look much cuter and smaller than the two that we have living on the allotment site. 

I was presented with two possible options. One was to start excavation of the humus material from bed 14 & 14A and decanting into the 30L pots with handles or ....

To clear one of the narrow beds that were built on the boarder of Plot 1 and Plot 2, Marked H1 & H2 on the plan. I decided to work on H1 and as can be seen there was a step and difference in level between the two plots 1 & 1A as indicated by the different levels of the path either side of the H1 Bed in the photo above.

I've always thought if the plots were ever to be split again, then the H1 Beds would form the end of Plot 1A  

I started clearing the solar tents and the watering spikes and pulling up the bind weed and other weeds around an in the bed. 

Laying the 2.4m (8 foot) scaffold board on top of the framing it shows that I will need to cut boards the total width of the H1 bed and I will also need to remove the metal banding at one end of the 2.4m boards so I can drill and screw the scaffold boards together to make the frames for the raised beds.  

Hardiness Zones Explained

 

Click on the UK Hardiness Zone Map above for a great article by Nelly who works in the She Grows Veg marketing department that explains the subject so well.   

Oakland Gardens 160 Cell Plug Trays Offer

 

Click image for link to Oakland Gardens web site 

These 160 cell plug trays are premium seed starter trays designed for maximum capacity and plant health. With deep cells and a built-in drainage system, they support strong root development and efficient propagation. Reusable and constructed from sturdy plastic, they’re ideal for growers needing reliability and volume in one tray.

Features & Benefits:

• High Capacity Layout: Supports planting a large number of seedlings in a compact footprint

• Deep Cell Design: Gives roots room to establish before potting on

• Dual-Level Drainage: Maintains airflow beneath the plug tray to reduce water accumulation

• Robust Construction: Made from quality re-usable PVC plastic, built for repeated use

• Supportive Tray Channels: Designed to prevent water pooling and improve irrigation efficiency

Specifications:

• Tray Size: 53 cm × 31 cm

• Cell Depth: 5.5 cm

• Number of Cells: 160

• Material: Durable PVC

• Design: Channels to reduce water accumulation

Why This Tray Works for You:

This 160 cell plug tray is especially useful when you need to start many seedlings at once without sacrificing root health. Its deeper cell structure gives seedlings room to grow before transplanting, while the drainage and airflow features help minimize root stress. Strong, efficient, and dependable — a go-to tray for serious propagators.

How To Care For Blueberries

 

Informative graphic from Allotment Life For Beginners UK Posted by Keith Wheeler

I had my 6 monthly PET Scan at St Georges today in two very cold shipping container constructed outbuildings connected by a bridge on the ring road, that goes around the hospital. 

It's hard to keep still whilst they scan you when you are shaking with cold. 4C Today but felt like -1C according to my phone and body.  

Home and warm and I could finally eat and catch up with breakfast and my morning medication about 11 ish and then as when I was having radiotherapy back in November 2023, an afternoon nap was in order.    

The fact I was cold this morning and have been informed to use factor 50+ Sun Block following my cancer treatment and now I'm on Methotrexate medication that warns "Avoid exposure of skin to direct sunlight, sunlamps or tanning beds" I thought I would look for some long sleeved T-shirts.

I've bought a couple with my "manvslug.uk" domain on and will see how good they are before buying more as come Spring / Summer when I'm no longer wearing a fleece I will need them to keep my arms covered when on the allotment working.

Filling Raised Bed 16A

As the weather forecast last night today has been dry, not massively warm only 7C outside on the plot, and once again I was up early enough to get to the allotment for 9am and I worked at filling the top framework of raised bed 16A

The photographs show what I filled the raise bed with, and again I took a 10 minute break every hour and came away from the allotment around 1pm.

First a layer of Magic Cardboard to delineate between the branches and woodchips that I filled the bottom layer with yesterday and what I'm filling the top section with today. I had a tug full of rainwater and poured it over the cardboard. 

Next was a layer of leaves from my Leaf Bin

Leaves from the leaf Bin

A sprinkle of dried coffee grounds from Starbucks that my sister collects for me.

Ground Coffee beans added

Carrot Foliage from the Snowmen carrots that were harvested last week

Carrot Foliage spread over the bed, I don't have a lot of greens to add because of the time of year. Later in the year I would add grass clippings. 

Square Flower Bucket of spent compost and loo rolls added, from last years failures to grow. 

Two square flower buckets of soil decanted and weeded of mares tail roots that were missed when the buckets were filled, and weed that have grown since.

The Oakland Gardens 30L Pots with handles were emptied of the humus that was excavated from the footprint of the raised bed, and again the soil was combed through to remove any mares tail roots

Raised Bed 16A topped up to approx. 10mm off the top of the scaffold board framework

Then a dusting of spent coffee grounds to put the slugs and snails off from making the raised bed their home.

I didn't have time to sort out hoops and debris netting and I still need to make additional raised bed frames up, so to keep the foxes off the raised beds and digging my work out (as they have done previously) 

I've covered Bed 16A with 3 scaffold boards and the upside down garden tray.

Pet Scan tomorrow at St Georges Hospital and possibly seeing little man Thursday, as the weather forecast is snow and heavy rain in Surrey, so the allotment will have to do without me for a couple of days.

Those 3 scaffold boards stacked on Bed 16 need the bands removed from the ends.

What's Tomorrow Going To Be Like?

 

Now that's what I have been looking for, hopefully I will get Bed 16A completed tomorrow.  

Bed 16A Decanting Humus IV

The weather didn't turn out as predicted today, this morning was sunny 7C a little windy and more importantly, the rain expected at 11 didn't arrive until 2pm.

As I was awake at 5:30, I breakfasted, washed, dressed, medicated and was out of the front door just before 9am, arriving at the allotment just after 9am.

I immediately got to work excavating the last of the humus material from the footprint of raised bed 16A, my anticipation was that I may get the excavated material backfilled with woodchip in the dry 2 hours predicted.

First barrow load of woodchip

Woodchip consolidated by foot traffic, i.e. me shuffling backwards and forwards over the area so 115kg and size 11 trainers. 

Another wheel barrow load of woodchips from the car park

Again spread and consolidated

I was working for 50 minutes and taking 10 minute breaks for a drink and a short rest, I managed to screw the base if 16A to 16.

Then filled the lower frame with branches from the ash tree that was pollarded in Autumn last year, then adding two more wheel barrow loads of woodchip into the first level raised bed scaffold board framework.

The branches were cut up and spread around a little more and then covered with another wheel barrow load of woodchips.

Another two wheel barrow loads added to the base raised bed frame

A final (for today) wheel barrow load of woodchips added and spread evenly. Andy started to also get wheel barrow loads of woodchip to top up one of his paths on his allotment. He commented on just how heavy the woodchips were because they have been rained on everyday since Christmas. 

I got Andy from plot 12 to give me a hand to lift the raised bed 16A frame off the boards on bed 16 and place it on the top of the bed 16A base framework.

It was 12:45 and becoming overcast. I did not cover up the bed again as now it is half full of branches and woodchips I would like the woodchips to settle and consolidate and any rain will help that process. 

I made my way home for lunch.