Beetroot and Cara potatoes

We applied a lesson we learnt last week when we stayed all day and got sunburnt. The lesson was as follows: Start earlier in the day, finish at lunchtime.

We started at 8 a.m., give or take a minute (in my case). Then we really got going:

• Planted 14 late main crop tubers (Cara) in D6
• Transplanted the remaining Little Gems
• Transplanted the remaining nasturtium plants in with the broad beans in A-something and two in with the French beans in wherever
• Transplanted the beetroot in C2, I think (really must take some pictures)
• Discussed a support system for runner beans following a tour of the site

We went home at 1:15 pm.

Later in the day I popped round again to water everything. I sprayed garlic all over the French beans. It was suddenly quite cold. There's rain on the way. It's amazing how the weather forecast is suddenly so utterly fascinating. Hot weather = work. Cold weather = worry. Wet weather = not too much, please. Overcast day = bit of a break.

Weeding, feeding, watering, slugs, deer

Last Saturday:

• Weeded potato bed D2 in preparation for main crop tubers
• Weeded out some nasty big weeds (plantain?)
• Fed the artichoke plants

Yesterday:

• Hot day - all outdoor veg and greenhouse inhabitants required watering twice (by A)
• A tied in the blackberry Fantasia as it was flapping about due to sudden growth

Today, a.m.:

When A was at the communal water butt, she saw a deer. She warned it about Forester B (who shoots them). Then she:

• watered everything
• planted more Little Gems in with the raspberries in C6
• had a deeply depressing conversation with the Ms re slug pellets, derris and ash?
• noted slugs are attacking the beans
• made a mental note to buy shading paint for the greenhouse

Today, p.m.:

I went round to water (again) and weed (again). I had to throw out six of the eight sweetcorn plants due to slug damage to the inner stem. I found the thing in the actual tray and discarded it with uncharacteristic feelings of rage. I was so proud of the fact that all of the seedlings had emerged ...

Sorry, still no pictures ...

Tuesday 6 May

We so totally worked our socks off today:

• planted 16 second early potato tubers (Vivaldi) in D5
• planted another five asparagus crowns (looking very dead but you never know ...) in H6
• transplanted 11 broad bean (Stereo) plants in A5
• transplanted five nasturtium plants next to the broad beans, also in A5
• transplanted two Little Gems in C6, one of the raspberry plots

Confused about D5, H6, X527? So are we. But at least it looks as though we're practising crop rotation! And why the nasturtium next to the broad beans? We're also practising companion planting!

We were most chuffed to harvest the following:

• TWO whole portions of baby kale
• ditto rocket
• ditto mixed salad leaves

And more good news. Chef T gave us a wheelbarrow. Said he found it in his shed. Colour: cheerful green. That means we now have a wheelbarrow each.

Sorry, no pictures - just too busy.

More happenings on 1 May

All eight sunflower seedlings are doing fine;









so is the celery;









this nasturtium is looking good;









ditto the morning glory ...









and the Little Gem lettuces are doing okay for the moment.

Lettuce and cauliflower

In front: lettuce (Little Gem) seedlings, sown on 26 Feb;

at the back: cauliflower (All the Year Round), also sown on 26 Feb.

They're doing okay!