I’m really pleased with how this looks now, so I patted myself on the back & planted out some RUNNER BEANS (reg next plot) & CLIMBING FRENCH BEANS (barlotti jody).Not so impressive were the SPRING ONION (white lisbon), ONION (hi keeper) & SHALLOT (banana) seedlings, the planting out of which I have totally overlooked for some reason. I found room for all in the roots beds, once I’d given these a good weeding – a job rather overdue – & I’ll have to wait to see if they come to anything.
Rhubarb Brian came by to see what I was up to. “I’ve built a cold frame this morning”, he beamed. I did rather wonder what he was planning to put in it at this time of year – you’d cook anything in there at the moment, I would have thought.
We talk about the other plotholders down at the bottom end (dubbed ‘the Badger Sett’, as returning allotmenteer Christine told me later – groan!), & the Show in August before he left me to my weeding. Christine came by with a handful of sweetpeas & a dreadful cold, so she couldn’t appreciate the wonderful scent. She admired the PEAS (stevens) – there are dozens of purple pods on them all ready to fill out.Another small job that I’ve meaning to get round to is to look up which of the various tomato varieties are cordon (& therefore need the sideshoots pinching out) & which are bush (which can be left to their own devices). Armed with a note of which is which along with a marker pen, I marked the appropriate cane-toppers with B for bush with a marker pen for future ref.
With the seedlings watered in I dug up a second POTATO (lady crystl) plant – this one has enough for three meals, the last one had enough for two – & some rhubarb for my next-door neighbours, & a few RADISH (french breakfast 3) for tea.
Before heading off I had a wander down to the bottom end – Rhubarb Brian showed me the cold frame whilst Mrs Brian picked gooseberries (not a hint of mildew, I couldn’t help noticing!). I also had a look round Christine’s then on to the bottom & John Badger’s plot, where I ran into this rather handsome fellow…
Peas are looking fantastic. How tall are they and when did you sow them? (sheesh, I am going to be so busy next Spring!)
ReplyDeleteIs that Jack-in-the-Green on that shed door? I have a little one on the outside wall of the house facing the back garden. Helps to have a Green Spirit on your side!
ReplyDeleteAll my peas are climbers this year, Bilbo - they're at about 5-6' tall at the moment. They were sown 9 March in 3" pots, sprouted a week later and were planted out 4 April. I'll report on taste when the pods swell, and you can let me know if you'd like some for next year...
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if it is the Green Man, Flum - he has a strange carving on the top of his head (doesn't show up well in the pic), so it might be a totem. I'll certainly ask JB when I see him.