First potatoes!

I know, I was going to keep quiet and be good, gets lots of revising done before my exams. But you've got to have some breaks, haven't you?

So, I went to have a look at what could be added to Saturday dinner (which was pork which I pot roasted in the slow cooker all day - fabulous). I knew there would be plenty of broad beans - and on checking the no-dig potatoes, I found 4 beautiful new potatoes just right for dinner.

Plot to plate in about 12 minutes.....wonderful!

Exams and the art of revision

In common with lots of school children, university students and fellow RHS students, I have exams coming up in the next couple of weeks.

So, time for revision.

I'm going through all my notes, making up flash cards so that my long-suffering husband can test me.....then I'm combing through the syllabus, in order to panic about things that I don't think we've covered (which probably just means my notes are inadequate).....then I'm looking at past papers, in order to panic about seemingly impossible questions.....

Somehow, it all needs to be in my brain, ready to be regurgitated within 2 weeks. So forgive me if I go rather quiet again. Once the exams/celebrations/hangovers are behind me, I'll be back!

The June veg beds

Although I am worried that I'm a bit behind this year, this is how the veg beds are looking so far. This is the bed which has had kale and purple sprouting broccoli in all winter. I've cleared most of it, and started off the 'Roots' - a few carrots (although we don't really have the soil for carrots), beetroot (some sown direct, but most started off in modules), and my first attempt at parsnips. I love parsnips, so if these work, there will be more next year. The plastic bags are on the soil to try to keep some moisture in.Next comes the bed for the early potatoes, and a few mains. At the end is a large clump of chives, which I somehow didn't get around to splitting earlier. The potatoes are 'earthed up' with straw so this is a no-dig way to grow them.

Beyond them is the allium bed - garlic, onions and shallots. The garlic are showing signs of rust, but it is too early to lift them. I can't remove all the 'rusted' leaves (there are too many) so I am crossing my fingers that it doesn't spread. The chives have it too, but I'm about to cut them down anyway.

This year I have a second legume bed, for peas and broad beans. I'm growing a tall heritage pea (Purple Podded), plus a 'normal' one and two types of broad beans, the first of which we've already enjoyed.

In addition, there are two beds for brassicas (with lettuce for intercropping) and the main bean bed, which I've yet to plant. The sweetcorn and courgettes are going out next weekend, then everything will at last be planted......

A tale of three poppies

When I say 'poppy', which of these do you think of?
This one- Papaver somniferum?

Or this one - big, blousy Papaver orientalis (this is 'Beauty of Livermere')?

Or perhaps this - the 'Californian Poppy', Eschscholzia 'Summer Pastels'Very different plants, with different habits, but all commonly known as 'poppies' - and all happily growing in my borders at the moment.

Where did May go?

I need to start with a big apology to all who are following this blog, as I have done nothing to update it over the past month. I'll try to catch up in the next few days.

Most of May has been taken up with a lot of work on the second garden which I'm trying to rescue from the weeds. It's been very hard work, but the reward is that the main flower bed now contains lovely plants, not (many) weeds and it is a pleasure to look at. There's more to do, but the part that is visible from the house is now clear and beautiful.

All that means that my own garden has been somewhat neglected. It's a good job that I wasn't trying to create another 'picking patch' this year. The biennials and perennials which I sowed last year are now good strong plants. I'll post some pictures later, but I am delighted by the sweet williams, and the sweet rocket has also been wonderful.

The vegetables have also suffered a bit. Looking at the records from last year, I can see that I am somewhat behind with things like the sweet peas. However, I don't think anything has been seriously compromised, and I think that the end of June will see most things where they should be.

Pictures to follow - and thanks for your patience.

A great start to Spring

It's that time again. The greenhouse is groaning with things that need to be potted off, potted on, pricked out or hardened off.

This year I have managed to get a bit more organised, so there hasn't been quite so much preparation of beds to do. The broad beans are out and growing away well, so are the tall heritage peas 'Purple Podded'. I am growing these up a metal mesh, the idea being that I can simply burn off the hulm at the end of the season.

Last weekend the main crop potatoes were all put in - I grow these in the 'no dig' manner, so they are covered in straw...which the birds absolutely love to kick around! Still, it's worth it for the ease of harvesting and the cleanliness of that harvest.

We've been very lucky with the weather over the last few weeks. If Summer is as bright and warm as the Spring has been so far, I shall be very happy indeed.

Do you find weeding therapeutic?

I have just completed two days of hard, hard work, down on my knees weeding flowerbeds. In one case, all was relatively clear anyway, but in the other I am having to battle large amounts of ground elder which have woven their way amongst the roots of established plants, making the job tricky and requiring lots of concentration.

But it is also a very calming thing to do. Weeding as therapy - do you think it could catch on?