Dig, Mow & Dig again

Today we had to start digging over this patch where the main crop Potatoes will go, so Jo started while I cut the grass! 

I took the photo after we had finished for today and we will return tomorrow to dig more!

So using my trusty petrol Strimmer, I got started cutting the grass path that was rather overgrown! 


Doesn't it look better ?

I made sure I pulled up all the Nettles as they will spread if chopped up, I also pulled up all the Dock as the stalks are very woody and strimmer line won't cut it down! 
Anyway Dock has very long taper roots and needs to be pulled out.

So after trimming the grass, I got digging again then earthed up the early Potatoes again. 
Tomorrow we hope to finish enough so we can plant 3 rows of main crop Potatoes, a few weeks later than usual but the weather conditions haven't been good. 

The Stockbridge Arrow Rhubarb is still producing, even though we have taken over 40lb, it still looks like there is plenty left, it never stops growing! 

We will return tomorrow, Bank Holiday Monday.

Thanks for reading/returning. Jo & Ian

Another sunny Sunday

 So another sunny Sunday, so we got busy again, 1st job, another earting up of the spuds, as they are getting bigger daily.

I cleared the base of this netting and added lots of manure, then planted some Runner Beans that we started off in cells. 
We always grow Runners here as the netting is very strong wire mesh I put up many years ago.

Another harvest of Rhubarb, this time only 10lb picked. 
I put a 10" ruler in the photo for scale, so you can see how long and thick our Stockbridge Arrow & Victoria Rhubarb is!
But see below for a surprise:

Jo worked hard to weed out lots of Calendulas from this bed, but the Sping Onions, Beetroot & Spinach has survived the take-over by the Calendulas.

There are plenty of flowers on the Strawberries, each one can turn into a juicy fat fruit.

The Broad Beans are doing well and most are in flower, just to the back of this patch Jo planted out a few Courgettes & some more flowers.

Sadly all this good weather has made our path a bit overgrown with grass! 
So I'll have to get the strimmer out very soon. But its good for drying weeds, so a bonfire was had too.

And now for that surprise, the biggest single stalk of Victoria Rhubarb weighed 1lb 3oz (530g)!!

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian & Jo

Sunny May Sunday

Finally we got a lovely sunny Sunday. Granted we have had a few, but today was marvelous. 

So I started digging over this patch in the overgrown corner, just a sq mtr done so far!

So while I did digging, Jo weeded all the Strawberry beds again and dont they look good.

There are loads of flowers so we expect a big Strawberry crop again this year, our jam cupboard is looking a bit bare! 

Jo also planted 4 Tomato plants into the Greenhouse.

The Broad Beans are looking good too. 

So to save our eyes, from getting poked, I use those pro-biotic drink bottles to top the canes and in the breeze they make a nice tinkling sound.

Done another earthing up of the Kestrel spuds, the Charlotte I planted last week not showing yet of course.

 Finally the 1st early Pentland Javelin have poked through so I earthed them up too.

Cant get over how lovely the Apple blossom is this year and we can imagine a big crop of Apples.

So as I said a lovely day and we picked 14lb (6.3kg) of Rhubarb, a mix of Stockbridge Arrow & Victoria. 

We had Rhubarb crumble after dinner and with a dollop of vanilla ice cream was lovely.

The pond is teaming with thousands of Tadpoles too.

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian & Jo.

Several days work on one Blog

Last Sunday 29th April:  
We checked our plot and things are growing well and we decided to plan what to do next, as the temperature is set to rise and about time too.

So Jo planted lots of Broad Beans in a block to aid growth and pollination.

The 2nd early Kestrel I planted a few weeks ago are poking through. 
The 1st early Pentland Javelin so far havent & I planted them at the same time.

Sunday 6th May:
As you can see the Charlotte 2nd early spuds are ready to go in.

So I planted all 22 of them in 2 rows, using exactly the same planting method as before.

May Bank Holiday Monday: 
As we have had some very dry days, lots of weeds piled up had dried so I had a bonfire.

Jo dug over this patch next to the Broad Beans planted last w/e and planted even more!

Peas started off in toilet roll tubes finally planted. 
They will climb up these frames I made a few years ago, they are simple wood frames with chicken wire stapled on.

The Kestrel 2nd early Spuds after earthing up for the 1st time. 

We will be checking on these regularly and earthing up when needed. 
Also the Pentland Javelin have finally broken through, so will earth up soon.

The Rhubarb is flourishing and we have had 3 harvests so far. 

The first of the Asparagus, we will enjoy these in an omlette or Risotto.


Thanks for reading/returning. Ian & Jo

Potato planting time

Only 2 weeks later than normal, but today, as its warmer, it's time to plant the early potatoes for 2018. 

This year I'm trying Pentland Javelin as a 1st early & Kestrel for 2nd early, as you can see they are ready with short stubby shoots.

I dug a trench, a spade deep, added a few spade fulls of well rotted manure and forked it in.

I then put each tuber 12" (30cm) apart in the base of the trench and back filled with the soil I dug out with a rake, leaving a mound. 

Each trench is 24" (60cm) apart.

So here are the three rows of Pentland Javelin all planted and ridged up. 

We will stagger the planting so all the potatoes arent ready at the same time, Charlotte 2nd early next.

I carried on digging over this patch behind the Garlic that I started last week, so we have have plenty of space ready for planting, 

While I planted spuds, Jo sowed some seeds: Spring Onions, Beetroot & Spinach. 

Under the fleece are some Peas that were in the greenhouse and now need hardening off ready for planting out.

Both the Cox's Orange Pippin apple trees have hundreds of blossom buds, a good sign for a good crop.

Rhubarb update: Getting bigger by the day, in fact we split this one over winter and its growing faster than the rest.

Pond update: We have Tadpoles! Although you cant see them, there are thousands as well as other pondlife, we spotted Beetles, pond skaters & caddisfly too.

So despite a few showers we got lots done, including helping our friend & neighbour Steve fix his shed roof. 

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian & Jo

One week later (after Easter)

One week after Easter and the Rhubarb is getting bigger, not ready yet as it needs to be a lot taller with umbrella like leaves. 

But after a wet miserable week it was lovely and sunny today, feels much more like summer is on its way.

So I finished digging over this patch, where the Spuds will go. 
I took the photo before I dug over that small square bottom left. It certainly caused a massive pile of weeds to burn, mostly Ground Elder and Dock!

I also started digging over this patch next to the fruit cage, I didn't go all the way to the fence, because we have a rather large Horseradish root there and didn't want to disturb it! 

In the foreground is the Garlic we put in recently, now its matured and taller, I removed the netting that was protecting the young shoots from birds etc.

Then I did a spot of weeding/digging on another patch & dug up some Picasso spuds from ones we planted last May, had them for dinner roasted with garlic & rosemary seasoning and were lovely.

So as I said the sun came out and I spent 5 hours digging today and it was worth it. Only stopped a few times for a cuppa & snack.

The forecast looks favourable, so next time we might have put some crops in especially early Potatoes!

No Jo today she's away for a few days visiting family.

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian

Easter weekend on the plot

Good Friday:
Can you see the cheeky Robin? 
It was searching for bugs & worms as I dug over this patch.

A bit more of the patch now dug over and enough done today. 
I will be planting main crop Potatoes here once they have been chitted.

So while I was busy, Jo cleared this raised bed of weeds & topped it off with a barrow full of horse muck!

Easter Sunday:
We returned and did an hour more digging over the poatato patch before lunch and 2 hours after, not much left to do now. But I could tell the soil is still too cold to plant anything, so we will have to wait.

Stockbridge Arrow Rhubarb growing daily now, wont be long before the 1st harvest & a crumble or two.

All those weeds caused quite a pile to burn, but all the rain has made the pile quite damp, so it didnt burn long.

Anyway as it was April 1st, I was no fool and got plenty done and despite an overcast sky it didn't rain. But more rain is forecast for tomorrow.

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian & Jo