Dealing with Weeds and Leaves

Friday 9th December
Being away for most of the week meant I had missed a visit or two. This morning was lovely and warm but cooled a little as the sky clouded over and a slight breeze arrived. However it was delightful to be on the plot.
Fixing the netting on the side of the brassica tunnel had to wait as once again I did not have all the materials with me but I did manage to sort out my leaf storage. They were in two of my neighbour's builder's bags on loan but I managed to squeeze them all into my single bag by squashing them down a bit and watering them. I covered the top with a piece of old carpet to stop the leaves blowing away but made sure it was dipped in the middle so the rain would collect. A few jabs with my pen knife ensured the water will soak through to help the leaves decompose.

 



​Sorting the leaves this way is so simple so I am getting hold of some more of these bags to use for future leaf mould storage.

I then returned to the task I finished with on my last visit, hoeing of the mass of weeds at the far end of n my plot.
As I started I was horrified to see that the rats, not content with gnawing through my crop of Swedes, had started on my carrots. It did not take long to dig up all the carrots left in the ground!

​You can see how much damage the rats did to my somewhat miniscule swede!

I had planned to leave them in the ground and harvest as I needed them but now I will have to sort out stage for them. Fortunately the crop was not too large so they will all be eaten before Christmas I think. While doing this I also lifted all the overgrown beetroot and will spend tomorrow trying to find a use for them.

That left a nice clear patch to hoe between the chard and the parsnips and soon I was pushing a barrow-load of weeds down to the compost bin.
Finally I lifted a couple of leeks to take home, the first of my crop this autumn.