We went to visit Jingle, Ding and Dong on Saturday – this is AnM having a cuddle.
And J with his Grandad. So sweet! He’s very well behaved for someone so small.
Then on Sunday I spent a long 3-4 hours at the lottie, winning the war against weeds for once! The couch infested root bed has been mulched and cleared, so may be able to sow a few carrots perhaps. The poor asparagus is buggered – it has couch, bindweed and what I think is possibly mare’s tail in the bed – they have evil spreading roots that have to be dug out and asparagus hates having it’s own roots disturbed. Conundrum! Ah well.
The garlic has rust, which apparently is ok as long as it doesn’t spread (need to cut off the leaves when I next go) and as long as the plant survives it. It doesn’t affect the eating. The brassicas (bar the brussells which appear immune) have been struck by flea beetle:
Humph. If they survive, they’ll be ok, but they have been properly hammered by a combo of flea beetle, slugs and birds. I’m considering getting some netting, to at least keep the birds off.
Obligatory progress picture. Look! Minimal weeds! The onion and beetroot bed (second bed from the right, behind the winter onions) is doing really well. Beans and peas doing ok (second bed from top left), had some broadies and mangetout but not enough to dress as salad with yet, and potatoes kinda ok, though a bit small. I planted poached egg plant everywhere to cover bare ground and attract wildlife and once I sow some carrots that will be all eight beds more or less in use.
