My first day off of the year meant I could get on with making the mix to go in the pipes. You’ll remember I’ve now got 16 black soil pipes around 4′ long buried in one of my raised beds. Half will be for growing long parsnips and the other half carrots.
To fill 8 pipes with the mix for parnsips took 25 gallons which I made in batches in the cement mixer.
I then filled the pipes a foot or so at a time and soaked the mix to make sure it was nice and moist all the way up the pipe. They’ll now be left to settle before sowing in a few days time.
And it’s Emily’s 2nd birthday today so Rach has made a chocolate hedgehog cake. So no more gardening it’s party time!
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21 comments
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February 17, 2011 at 1:41 pm
Rob
Hi Damo,
Hope all is well.
Happy Birthday to Emily, hope she has a lovely day.
Catch up soon.
February 17, 2011 at 5:58 pm
Damo
Cheers Rob, she is very tired out now. We must get together soon.
February 17, 2011 at 1:49 pm
Richard (Vegblogger)
If I send a doggie bag, can I have a bit of cake, please?
February 17, 2011 at 5:59 pm
Damo
Haha you’ll be lucky with my family, not much left!!
February 17, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Richard (Vegblogger)
Do you mean ’25 gallons’???
February 17, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Damo
Good question, measurements were never my strong point – God knows how I got a science degree! I measured out the mix using a standard bucket which was marked as 14 litres capacity, roughly 3 gallons. Each mix was 10 gallon, a cement mixer full, which filled about 3 and a half pipes.
February 17, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Sue
Have a lovely party and Happy Birthday Emily
February 17, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Damo
Thanks Sue we had a great time.
February 17, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Janet/Plantaliscious
Cake looks rather more delicious than your “special mix” – good luck, hope all the effort is worthwhile. Don’t forget to grow some stuff just to eat too
February 17, 2011 at 6:10 pm
Damo
It’ll all be eaten! This only takes up a fraction of the space I have. As I’m growing for a specific date there’s a flurry of activity now but after that it’ll be the usual veg growing.
February 17, 2011 at 7:04 pm
mc55
flipping heck that chocolate cake looks marvellous x
February 17, 2011 at 7:05 pm
Damo
Thanks it was lovely!
February 17, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Mark Willis
Happy Birthday Emily! Chocolate is nicer than parsnips (well, in Birthday cakes anyway…) At least you didn’t use the Food Processor for making your special mix, Damo.
February 17, 2011 at 7:52 pm
Damo
Thanks Mark, I have designs on the coffee grinder though although it’s only me that uses it anyway for spices and I’m sure if I wash it out we won’t taste the calcified seaweed!
February 18, 2011 at 11:19 am
Jo
Happy birthday to Emily. The cake is wonderful, I bet there isn’t much left now. What date are you aiming for with your carrots and parsnips?
February 18, 2011 at 11:23 am
Damo
Hi Jo, thanks and yes it’s all gone! Mid-August is the date for them, I’ll be sowing the parsnips on Sunday with carrots to follow in a week or two then stump carrots 3rd week of March approx.
February 18, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Mo
Great cake! But if I was Rach I’d be upset at the pic being right under the pic of the cement mixer! Without reading it looks as if the mix was poured to make the cake!
February 18, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Damo
Thanks Mo. Haha yes just realised that!!
February 18, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Carrie
hedghog cake is the best!! Next time could you use the cement mixer to make a huge one so we can all have a slice????
Happy Birthday Emily!!!
February 18, 2011 at 10:26 pm
Damo
Thanks Carrie, there’s definitely better uses for the cement mixer than making a compost mix for veg, that’s a good idea!!
January 20, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Medwyns order arrives « Two Chances Veg Plot Blog
[...] in the next couple of weeks I’ll be mixing and getting the pipes in ready for sowing mid-February. Whilst most sensible veg growers take it [...]