04 May - The Plot - Early May Round-Up

The weather has gone downhill a bit over the past week with strong winds, rain and cooler temperatures. Nevertheless, things are progressing out on the plot. Along with a line of direct sown radish which are showing now, I've planted out a small number of White Lisbon spring onions raised in cells with another line direct sown.

A few lettuce have gone out too, a couple of Lollo Rossa (germination rate wasn't that great) and a load of Mazur lettuce, a frilly 'loose leaf' variety. While they have been sat outside for a week to ten days before planting to harden off, I hadn't anticipated the weather to become cold and wet so they might not do as well as hoped. 

One upside of the wet weather is the lack of frost at night. My early potatoes suffered some minor frost damage at the end of April with a number of new leaves blackened by the cold. Fortunately, they seem to be growing on OK now. Last year I was digging Rocket new potatoes the first week of June but comparing pictures with this time last season my potatoes look to be at least a fortnight behind this year. Let's see how they develop over the next four weeks.

Talking of potatoes, my Sarpo Mira main crop are also showing - I've earthed them up again but there are a fair number poking out the top of the ridges.  I mentioned in my last post that the broad bean plants had been attacked by a few kinds of bugs. I had to spay unfortunately but it seems to have done the trick as they have grown noticeably over the past week or so.

The peas have had nets put next to them so they can clamber up. While doing this I remembered why I don't normally grow peas - yes they taste lovely fresh but, you don't get out of them all the effort put in and I'd forgotten what a faff they are. For me, peas are not worth it unless I have a truly bumper crop which, I'm not expecting.

A line of the more unusual Kohl Rabi have gone out under the brassica net. These are the first brassicas to go out, the rest can wait another week or two for a period of warmer weather. Last season my Kohl Rabi failed due to pigeons and ants of all things. This season I've netted them to keep the birds off.

The last update for the plot is the arrival of two new hens. These are Light Sussex and are almost old enough to lay. They are pretty little birds and hopefully they will settle in and start to lay soon.

That's it for now, the next update will be what's happening in the greenhouse.