Sunday, 11 May 2014

How time flies when the sun shines...

...Well almost, in my head it's been sunny, despite the frequent downpours we've been experiencing recently. Since getting back from my hols (we had a fab time!) I've been outside most weekends planting seeds and getting the veg patches ready for the summer. Over the past few weeks I've planted courgette, patty-pan and winter squash, as well as some pots of new, experimental greens - 'Buckshorn Plantain', sorrel and land cress. I'm hoping that they'll make a nice change from the cut and come again lettuce that I plant each year; although I still have a tub of that on standby, just in-case.

I've given in and weeded the no-dig raised beds as they were being overtaken by wild grasses and dandelions. I've used the space to plant onions, carrots, root parsley and leaf beet. There's no sign of growth yet but I'll be keeping my eyes peeled over the next few weeks. However, the dwarf peas, broad beans and mangetout are growing well, so the plan is to harden them off this week and plant them out next weekend.

It doesn't feel like summer yet with all the dull weather we're having and things seem pretty slow in the garden. Hopefully the sun will come out to play soon and all my tiny seeds and seedlings will have a growth spurt. However, one thing that is thriving at the moment is the rhubarb - it's huge! It must be the combination of the rain and all the lovely fertilizer that results from it being planted close to the chicken run. I've taken two huge 'cuttings' from it already and used them to make this numerous portions of this rather delicious rhubarb and ginger crumble and there's plenty more growing, yum!




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