It's wet on 28 March 2008

Another rainy day. See that upturned terracotta pot just in front of Bowler D's corrugated fence? Underneath is a rhubarb plant. We were unaware of the plant's existence until the other day. It must have been there for at least two years; our plot had been lying fallow for 18 months when we took it on. Anyway, we have decided to try our hand at forcing. This, as I understand it, is a form of garden torture as it deprives the plant of most of its light source, thus 'forcing' it to towards the tiniest of light rays, in the process producing early juicy sticks. The pot is not tall enough but it'll have to do for the moment.

Rhubarb and broad beans

T told us he used to run a seafood restaurant on the coast. He also donated this rhubarb. It's gone into the only bed in our 'holding' plot, a narrow strip to the left of our allotment, adjacent to B's plot. In this holding plot, still fairly neglected, we plan to put the veg perennials such as artichokes, asparagus and anything that needs to be housed somewhere temporarily.

We're keeping an eye on what's happening to B's broad beans, planted outdoors at the end of last year. He's got them in three rows, planted 2" deep, 5" apart. He soaked them in paraffin "to keep the mice away".