I didn’t manage to make it to the allotment to do any work last week until the weekend. Our new bedroom furniture was being built and so someone needed to be at home whilst that was being done. Martyn managed to get an afternoon in to do some strimming and we also paid an evening visit to check on things and do a bit of filming.
After the fiasco when we updated the bathroom we were a little apprehensive about the work on the bedroom but everything went smoothly. The company was really efficient and the installer made a really good job. Everything went exactly to plan – phew!
During our first full afternoon on the plot at the weekend, we mainly concentrated on some weeding.
Our first lot of peas had been hiding under enviromesh and we had thought that germination was very poor. Once the mesh was removed and the bed weeded, things weren’t as bad as we had expected. There was one bare patch but I am now wondering whether weevils could have been nibbling newly emerging shoots. There was evidence of some weevil damage and usually plants grow through the damage but if the assault had been on the new shoots as they emerged then these could have been wiped out completely.
Onions and shallots were weeded.
The rows of carrots were also tidied up. As with the peas, there was one bare patch in the rows of seedlings but this time the culprits had left tell-tale evidence. The silvery trails pointed the finger squarely at the slug and snail population. A few more seeds were sown to plug the gaps.
Only a few of the parsnips that were sown a few weeks ago had appeared and so I have resown these. The ground is still so dry and it is possible that the parsnip seeds just haven’t had enough moisture to encourage germination. We still haven’t had any significant rain, so we have tried to keep things watered but the surface of the soil soon dries out. Incredibly just a short distance from us there have been heavy showers.
One lot of ‘weeds’ that we didn’t pull out was a patch of self sown cerinthe. We haven’t grown any of these for a while but they regularly appear in different parts of the plot. The seedlings growing amongst the onions had to go.
As well as weeding, we planted out a bed of leeks. These have been covered with enviromesh as last year our leeks were attacked by, what we think were, allium leaf miners. We hope that the mesh will protect the leeks from being attacked again this year
A few lettuces were planted. These were protected under wire mesh. This should deter the pigeons but unfortunately, it won’t keep the plants safe from munching molluscs.
More tomatoes have been planted, this time outdoors in a raised bed in the garden. These should avoid blight which doesn’t seem to have found the garden. Now I wish that I hadn’t said that.
It’s a lean time on the plot as far as harvesting goes but we did come away from the allotment with some sticks of Raspberry Red rhubarb and a few sweet peas. The sweet pea seeds were gathered from last year’s plants. As we were a bit late deciding to collect them, most of the pods were empty. The few seeds left were on one plant and so we have ended up with just one colour. We planted some new seeds this year so we should have a variety later.
In the garden the roses are looking and smelling beautiful.
Despite it being a very full week, we still managed to pay our regular visit to Nostell. Ruby loves it there, and we didn’t want her to miss out. The meadows are now being left to grow with paths mown through the grass which at the moment is full of buttercups.
From a distance the buttercups form a yellow carpet.
The yellow theme is echoed on the lake by the yellow flag irises.
We were delighted to see that the resident swans were showing off their new family. This year they have raised six cygnets. Two more than last year.
How could anyone describe the cute fluffy bundles as ugly ducklings?
The heron and cormorant are still in residence, but hopefully the parents will keep the cygnets safe. The male is especially alert if anyone gets too close to his family.
Hedgerows are now covered with hawthorn flowers, otherwise known as May blossom. There is a saying “Cast not a clout ’til May is out”. Some think the saying refers to the month of May and others to the flowering of the May blossom. There have certainly been some days last week when we were casting clouts, or layers of clothing, but then we were sometimes hurrying to layer up again.
Last week whilst I was confined to the house, I used more of our onions to make a batch of cheese and onion tarts.
One of our meals was a vegetable crumble. This used some of our frozen squash, parsnip, sweet corn and peas.
As usual details of varieties sown are listed here.
Until next week, stay safe and well
This week I’m linking to Dave’s Harvest Monday post over at Our Happy Acres.
Good to know you’ve had good builders in, they can be hit or miss! Loved the roses. Nostell is looking lovely, I do like the wild areas they leave. I don’t get the ugly duckling thing either! Great capture of the heron.xxx
It was just one guy, Dina he built the fitted furniture and he was very good. My sister was equally lucky with the crew that changed her kitchen worktops. We were rather anxious after having so much trouble with the bathroom refurbishment. It’s lovely seeing the meadows at Nostell change over the summer months.
Glad to hear that your home improvements have been going smoothly Sue We have been grounded too by some major tree surgery taking place. Luckily the work was completed ahead of schedule before today’s unpleasant strong winds. 😀 Lovely to see the baby cygnets and proud parents.
It’s been windy here too, Anna certainly not tree pruning weather.
The weeds are doing so well! Glad to see that you have plenty of seedlings once the weeds are cleared, unfortunately we are finding that the weeds are doing better than some of our sowings – oh well, there’s still time to re-sow… again!
Cerinthe are so pretty, I didn’t realise that they would self-sow.
Aww, those cygnets are so sweet and your Ruby of course 🙂
I think that the weeds appreciate all the watering that I am having to do, Belinda.
You are crazy busy. The garden is really doing well. I’m really trying to imitate your data driven gardening style. I worked hard to label my various breeds of carrot and the varieties of lettuce. Already I see what is germinating early, late and not at all. I feel more productive, though I don’t think I will ever reach your efficiency. Thank you for the inspiration.
The efficient data recording is Martyn’s work not mine Bonnie. I think it’s a leftover from his civil engineering days.
How lovely to have sweet peas so early.
I thin it is a system that we will be repeating Margaret
You alliums and peas look good! I’m not growing either this year, except for a few perennial type onions. Wind has been hard on seedlings here, more than bugs.
We have suffered from wind and bug damage, Dave
Nostell is looking beautiful, as is lovely Ruby. Bertie is all fluffy at the moment, it’s the groomer’s for him on Wednesday which he loathes. I have to carry him half of the way there. You’ve been busy down at the plot. Snails are the bane of my life here, they can completely destroy a row of seedlings. I’ve had very poor French bean germination for some reason. The snails are also trying to eat the dahlias as fast as they grow, which they do every year. It’s a battle!
Ruby is being groomed on Thursday, CJ. She’s not keen but likes the groomer and at least she is done on home territory. The dry conditions don’t deter the snail population do the?