Another 6 hours and lots done again!

We arrived around 9:30 on Sunday, because we had lots to do, first job cutting the grass path!

But before I started up my petrol strimmer, I pulled up all the Nettles & Mares Tails as any that I chop up, each tiny piece, can grow again, adding to our weed problem ! 

But after a quick cut it looks a lot better, I carried on until lunchtime and managed to trim all the paths. 

I cleared around all the raised beds too & infront of the greenhouse so we could put some outdoor Tomatoes there.

I also earthed up all the Potatoes again, Pentland Javelin, Foremost, Charlotte & Picasso, even the Cara I put in a few weeks ago have come through.

Jo planted Borecole, Kale & Pak-Choi here, so we protected the young plants with an extra wide netting tunnel. 
I made another cane wig-wam (without netting) for some Borlotti Beans that Jo planted, 1 per cane.

Jo also planted more Squashes, 1 Butternut & 2 Patti-Pan (yellow scallop).

As most of the Strawberries are in flower we made sure they were netted as birds will scoff any ripe fruit before we get to them!

After lunch, using the strimmer again, I tidied up the fruit cage, at least its a lot neater and we can get around more easily.

So now the path is finished, but will need another cut soon, as all the sun we have had has caused everything to grow fast, including the weeds!

We left around 3pm, shattered but happy we got so much done.

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian & Jo 

Just a quick visit

Built another Pea wig-wam, the cardboard disc, helps get the structure even & stops weeds growing as the centre is difficult to reach when the Peas are fully grown and full of pods to pick.

The rain & sun has helped the Potatoes they are looking good & luckily no frost damage.

So while I was busy, Jo dug a bit more of this patch and planted 2 more Courgettes

The greenhouse: 
The Tomatoes & Cucumbers are doing well, Jo planted another Tomato in the corner.

The Pond: 
Can you see the Tadpoles in the shallow end warming in the sun ? There are 2 frogs keeping guard too, you cant see much of them except the tip of a nose now and again, breaking the surface of the water.
Its difficult getting a photo due to reflections etc. 

More Rhubarb, its getting to be a regular crop at the moment. 
6.5lb this time, 12lb so far this year! Plus about 10lb we donated to a local spring fair, it all sold, 4 stalks for £1.

Anyway, yes just a quick visit, had to leave at 2pm. Shame as its been a lovely sunny day today, long may it last.

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian & Jo

Another 6 hours done on our plot

No we didn't start with a tea break and home made cake.  

Thought this would make a good title page, in fact we had this break later in the afternoon, after we had done all the hard work, read on........

The last of the chitted spuds, 'Cara' main crop, ready to go in.

Not the straightest trench, but it will do, I planted 36 spuds, 4 rows, 9 in each. Each row 30" apart, each spud 15" between in the bottom of trench then back filled with the soil dug out.

Yes another bonfire, but we have so many weeds that we have dug up & some rotten wood, so better to burn it and return the ash to the soil.

In this patch that Jo cleared, she planted some more Beetroot in a block, behind that 2 wigwams covered in netting and about 20 Peas planted around each.

Jo planted 2 Cougettes & a Squash in this patch, we both cleared this earlier and it was full of ground elder, nettles and horsetail, so it all went on the bonfire!

With all the rain & sun we have had, everything is growing fast, the Broad Beans have almost doubled in size !

So yes, another 6 hours, but a very satisfying 6 hours, we got lots done, even cleared a patch we though we might not get to use this year.

And finally, the 4 rows of Cara spuds planted, I realised its about 3 weeks earlier this year as I found one of my laminated labels from last year with the date on.

Thanks for reading/retrurning. Ian & Jo