
The plan today was to start preparing for winter. I wanted to empty the oldest leaf mould bin so I have space for this year's leaves so I had to sort out the now empty potato patch ready to spread the leaf mould from the year before last. (After two years the leaves have broken down into a lovely brown crumbly leaf mould and can help our sandy soil retain a bit more moisture.) But before I could spread it I had to smooth out the ridges left after digging out the last of the potatoes.
However, on arrival I found a dead rat on the path halfway down the plot.
Hopefully it was the one I chased along the track and into a neighbour's plot on my last visit. Presumably someone's rat poison is working as I have not got any set out. Having scooped it up on my spade I decided to dispose of it next to my plum tree as that is where I won't dig it up accidentally and where it can do some good for the tree.
I was also able to cut a clutch of yellow courgettes and one round courgette. I found two vegetable spaghetti squashes that had broken free of the vine.
I chose to pull up the largest fennel as I can't wait to taste my first homegrown as I love the mild aniseed flavour.