I got the chance to spend this morning on the plot, a welcome chance as I shall be busy with the working party tomorrow morning when I normally get quite a bit done.
Compost & Leafmould
I started by transferring the bags of leaves left from last autumn into the bin now that those I put in there had packed down. There must have been 20-30 bags but they just packed in, thank goodness, as I need to clear the space for those I will be collecting from all my friends around Highcliffe.
The next step will be to dig out the (hopefully) leafmould from the other bin that I filled the year before last. It will be good for the old potato patch which will be growing my 'Other' crops (sweet corn, fennel, chard, etc.)
I then dug out some of my compost and spread it over my new asparagus bed. (There is already some compost under my newly planted strawberries.) I am very pleased with the compost, black, crumbly and sweet smelling! It is the first time I've got it as good as this, so I'll be adding a modicum of soil and compost accelerator when I transfer from the first bin into the final one.
Peas
My late sowing of peas have reached the top of the wire mesh I set up for it to climb. More important, it has got to the top of the protective netting, so I have devised a system for increasing the width and height using two runs of butterfly netting supported by canes and string. Hopefully they will produce before it gets too cold!
I enjoyed a small helping of the last picking of peas at dinner this evening.
Whitefly
My war against the whitefly continues. There are still clouds of them whenever I disturb the brassicas, but I think they are not as thick as before. I sprayed with a chemical this time but I chose the one that says I can eat the crop the same day. Presumably that means it will not persist - does that mean the whitefly can dodge it by flying off and returning a little while later?
Harvest
While spraying the brassicas I came across a decent size cauliflower - just before I sprayed it. Cut it and looking forward to having it for dinner tomorrow.
I also came across yet more courgettes. I think the yellow one has stopped producing but the two green courgette plants are still giving me a steady crop. I brought home 3 small courgettes and one 'Courg-arrow' (Courgette/marrow). We may try a new recipe from a TV programme for Courgette gougons. (Courgette 'chips' in bread crumbs and grilled.)
A good morning's work but still lots to do!
Compost & Leafmould
I started by transferring the bags of leaves left from last autumn into the bin now that those I put in there had packed down. There must have been 20-30 bags but they just packed in, thank goodness, as I need to clear the space for those I will be collecting from all my friends around Highcliffe.
The next step will be to dig out the (hopefully) leafmould from the other bin that I filled the year before last. It will be good for the old potato patch which will be growing my 'Other' crops (sweet corn, fennel, chard, etc.)
I then dug out some of my compost and spread it over my new asparagus bed. (There is already some compost under my newly planted strawberries.) I am very pleased with the compost, black, crumbly and sweet smelling! It is the first time I've got it as good as this, so I'll be adding a modicum of soil and compost accelerator when I transfer from the first bin into the final one.
Peas
My late sowing of peas have reached the top of the wire mesh I set up for it to climb. More important, it has got to the top of the protective netting, so I have devised a system for increasing the width and height using two runs of butterfly netting supported by canes and string. Hopefully they will produce before it gets too cold!
I enjoyed a small helping of the last picking of peas at dinner this evening.
Whitefly
My war against the whitefly continues. There are still clouds of them whenever I disturb the brassicas, but I think they are not as thick as before. I sprayed with a chemical this time but I chose the one that says I can eat the crop the same day. Presumably that means it will not persist - does that mean the whitefly can dodge it by flying off and returning a little while later?
Harvest
While spraying the brassicas I came across a decent size cauliflower - just before I sprayed it. Cut it and looking forward to having it for dinner tomorrow.
I also came across yet more courgettes. I think the yellow one has stopped producing but the two green courgette plants are still giving me a steady crop. I brought home 3 small courgettes and one 'Courg-arrow' (Courgette/marrow). We may try a new recipe from a TV programme for Courgette gougons. (Courgette 'chips' in bread crumbs and grilled.)
A good morning's work but still lots to do!
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