Greenhouse goodness

Everything is doing well from seed - even the leeks (in the foreground), although they've got a long way to go.

Check out the rocket in the trays!  Need to put this in the ground I think, although I'm sure the slugs are peering through the glass and licking their lips (ugh!) and waiting for me to move them outside.

Tomatoes are coming on great although the plants in Dore More nursery today looked very tempting at 3 times the size of mine.  Stil, I'll stick with the seeds this year and see how it goes.  Wonder when you actually transfer to the grow-bags - soon I think.

Slugs claim the 'first beans'

I'm not sure how we got away with this last year, but the slugs have taken a real liking to the broad beans.  The scarecrow was completely useless in guarding the crop.

Lucky I've got some more ready to plant with the 'wave strategy' I'm using this year.

May have to put up some better defenses for the second wave - can I go to slug pellets?  I'm not sure rreally although I could have a go at the Organic variety.  I presume they don't kill the birds like the non-organic sort.

Here's a pic of the ravaged crop.

First beans in

Seedlings coming along nicely in the greenhouse so I thought I'd get a few in the ground as we're away for the weekend.  Broad Beans Aquadulce from the Real Seed Company.

Being guarded by the scarecrow.

The scarecrow gets a facelift

One of the good things about visitors to the allotment is that you get some extra help now and again.  Particularly useful when the scarecrow needs a bit if a facelift and especially good when the original scarecrow-builder is visiting.

A facelift for Rosie courtesy of Elisa.

Greenhouse antics

Starting to get quite a few things started in the greenhouse. Tomatoes, broad beans, leeks, rocket, borlotti beans and some sweet peas.  

Decided to have a to at planting in waves so that they don't al come at once.  8 broad beans started and then 3 weeks later another 8.  Cunning eh?

Final Batch of Potatoes

Only went for a wander and met someone who was planting potatoes and I remembered that I had a few left to do. So I got the rest in; Main crop Maris Pipers and some Anya, the funny looking ones that apparently were 'created' specifically for Sainsburys.  2 rows just north of the garlic - didn't take a photo because, after all, it is just soil at the moment. 

(Actually I took a lot of phots of 'just soil' last year, and few this - maybe there comes a point in this Allotment game where you're not super excited at merely planting things...)

Crop rotated potatoes

Potatoes are in and 'rotated' to bed number 1.  

2 rows of Maris Bard- 'First Earlies' and then 3 rows of Nicola - '2nd Earlies'.  Some main crop, and Anya still to get in but I'll do that later the week.