The Bees are finally buzzing...at least one is anyway!

I had the best surprise ever when I went into the Polytunnel yesterday - a Bee! But not just any Bee, this is the first Bee I have seen this year and I have a Pear tree and a Plum tree in there that could seriously do with some pollinating.
Shame the little guy took off from this position though and proceeded to buzz around the plastic

This is where I need the little guy to be

I did try hand pollinating as all my fruit trees are self fertile but I don't think I did a good job of it - much better if Mr Bee does it.

I also managed to get some of the veggies pricked out and potted up individually. It's going to be a fair few weeks before it's safe to plant these guys out though

The original Sweetcorn that I sowed died. I thought I may have been able to save them but it wasn't to be and luckily I made another sowing just in case they didn't make it, so thankfully I have more Sweetcorn on its way.
I have plenty of Cabbage (Greyhound & Golden Acre) and Cauli (All the year round) for the first sowing, I'll make another sowing in a few weeks.
The Tomatoes (Roma, Black Russian & Gardeners delight) all seem to be doing well. The Swede (Invitation), Cucumbers and Courgettes (I must post the varieties) are all romping away in the polytunnel.
I've got French beans growing too but they won't be able to go out for a few weeks neither will the Leeks.
The ground is still quite cold at the moment so I am going to have cover it with plastic to warm it up a bit so that I can get the Parsnips in.
So far I have had absolutely no success with the Celeriac sowings. I've done two seperate sowings and tried one in the heated propagator and one in the polytunnel. The propagator ones grew sporadically then just withered away and the polytunnel ones have yet to show any life at all.

And because all the veggies are growing I needed to make some more veg markers. I didn't want to make completely wooden ones for the veggies though because I needed something that would be quick to make and require nothing more than cutting and nailing, plus I wanted whatever I wrote the veggie name on to be weather proof so here's what I came up with

Granted they're not the most stunning of markers but they were quick, easy and free to make. All I did was cut that wood to the length I wanted, cut up an old milk carton to get the plastic I wanted then folded the plastic over on top and nailed it to the wood

I'll make the more ornamental ones I posted about HERE for the garden plants or plants that are in tubs.

It's Permanent!

Yup I've finally found it!
A permanent marker that is actually permanent!
Doesn't it just annoy you when you buy permanent markers to label all you garden plants and seeds or seedlings only to find that after a few weeks there is nothing left but an indecipherable black smudge? It annoys the heck out of me and so after putting up with it for quite long enough I decided to research reviews on permanent markers and give it one last try.
My new choice of permanent marker? 

Molotow one4all range. 
"The ONE4ALL high solid paint marker series is as unique as versatile. It consists of technologically sophisticated markers in six sizes (1 mm - 15 mm) and a unique acrylic-based hybrid-paint that works on almost every surface. All markers are refillable with ONE4ALL refills and the tips can be exchanged easily. The paint itself can be used with every application tool imaginable. Due to its versatility ONE4ALL opens up endless creative possibilities for artists, writers and streetartists. This marker and paint system is the missing link between spray can, airbrush, marker and paint brush. A highly pigmented multi-talent "Made in Germany" that convinces with an unprecedented color brilliance and opacity – a paint that's capable of everything and covers everything".

I could not be without this marker now (go for the fine nib) it really does do as it claims and the labels that have been left outside for months are as clear and decipherable as the day I wrote them, even on the Milk carton labels I made that nothing else appeared to adhere to.
Plus with so many different colours available you can be as adventurous as you like!
So if you are on the look out for a good permanent marker for your gardening needs, that does the job it claims to do, Molotow is the way to go!