More digging!

Today I had a good session on the plot. First I bought a bag of compost for my new sowings at the Trading Hut (it is good to use fresh compost for seeds) and some plastic for the Special Needs plot greenhouse floor. Then I had a chat with several friends including a neighbour who has had a rough time lately and came down to restart his efforts on his plot.

​Eventually I got to my plot and started clearing the ground inside my greenhouse frame ready to lay a path before I realised I had forgotten my spirit level to help lay the slabs evenly. I will have to finish the job next time.

Then I dug the trench in preparation for digging in my green manure. Being next to the fence line I found some bindweed roots, hence the bucket to drown the roots before composting.

The grass on the left is the green manure, Italian Ryegrass with some Lucerne​ added, but the roots haven't gone down as far as last year when they were deeper than my spade. The top growth is a little sparse but I did cut it with my hand scythe last week and put the cuttings in the compost bin. For the trench I put each spadeful in the wheelbarrow and then remove the top growth and drop it upside down in the bottom of the trench. When I dig the rest the top growth naturally finishes up at the bottom. The barrow load of soil is tipped out at the other end ready to fill in the last trench.

Afterwards I dug out the trenches ready for my Runner and climbing French Beans. The one I have used for a couple of years was full of rich dark soil whereas the new one on the other side has lighter sandy soil. It is impressive what a change occurs when you dig in some compost/leaf mould each year.

​I didn't harvest anything today as we are still eating previous crops but a cauliflower looks ready to burst in the next week or so. Unfortunately as I left I noticed that the Chard is being decimated by the pigeons so I will have to cover it on my next visit.