15 March 2009 - You say potato, I say potato

Lots to report on the plot. We made an early start on Sunday as it was so beautiful and spring-like which makes all the difference. We were so busy that we forgot to take pictures, apart from this one which Jan took for us.

Firstly, the bank. N continued to prepare the right hand side of the bank for the following: asparagus, rhubarb and first early potatoes (Arran Pilot which were so good last year). Asparagus and rhubarb both need permanent beds which we prepared with lots of good compost. Asparagus needs a trench which you then splay the little asparagus crowns on (already each producing a spear) then you slowly earth it up as the crowns grow. Unfortunately we cannot eat anything from either of these two crops in their first year. Hopefully they won't be inundated by weeds. At the moment it is the calm before the storm on the Western Front.

The 20 first earlies were planted into two parallel trenches with nice mounds put on afterwards, with only the original potato fertiliser. We didn't manure or compost the trenches otherwise but we are hopeful. We put a cover over them in case of frost. And there will be plenty of space for the second earlies to go in too.

Pagoda - signs of leeklings and broccoli seedlings - first lot sown doing well under bottles. No sign yet of the red cabbage or summer sprouting broccoli. Signs of life too with the summer raspberries which of course were dormant last year.

Bed 7 (new raised carrot bed) - N sowed two more lots of carrots, different sorts (will add names) and added more glass.

Bed 1 - shallots are beginning to do their thing and overwintering onions have survived so far. No sign of parsnips or other onins yet. Harvested some chard and spinach.

Bed 3 - purple sprouting stuff looking like something is continue to happen as reported last week. When does it start to sprout? When does it look like it does on the packet?? Are we mad to continue to hope?

Bed 2 - garlic continuing to thrive, no sign yet of onions.

There was a skip available on site (2 weeks a year now) so we dragged all our old decaying carpet up there as there is now a ban on using it.

Jan and Pat kindly donated us some lovely logs which will be next winter's firewood. The purchase of a chainsaw was mentioned. We may soon be taking delivery of a greenhouse which could go on the patch recently vacated by J & P - but of course will have to check with the authorities.

We pondered whether to sow the peas and mangetout but in the end felt it might be a little too early and covered their intended home instead, to warm the soil. Back at the ranch, much sowing was done - 4 types of tomatoes (I continue to hope that I will manage to crack the Tomato Code), aubergine, chilli and sweet peppers, marigolds and basil. In our garden salad bed, we sowed radish, lettuce, spinach and more chard.

It is exciting to think that we have expanded our repertoire this year with parsnips, mangetout, asparagus and rhubarb. The only thing that worries us is whether Bunny likes asparagus in which case a little fort will have to be made on the bank (where there is of course no protection from Bunny). Potatoes are safe. And possibly rhubarb as well (the leaves are poisonous). We also harvested some kale which is still going strong and even going into extra production. Soon however it will have to go to make room for the next lot of crops in Bed 5. Plus la change, plus la meme chose.