Ladybird larvae helper

 

At last I have some help trying to keep the bean plants free from blackfly.

White rot?

Unfortunately I think we have got white rot in the garlic bed.

There are a few plants affected.

I plan to salvage what I can and destroy the others on the fire pit.  On the affected bed I shall also light a fire to try to kill any remaining fungus.  We won't be able to grow garlic or onions on this bed again.  

Well at least for 15 years!

 

Wren's Nest

After making a new storage area a wren moved in so we couldn't use it for a while.  There were three babies.

No Dig Bed for Brussels

 After covering the unsuccessful raspberry area which had become unmanageable we are beginning to peel  back the plastic to make some new beds.

The first bed is for the brussels sprouts.  We had lots of foliage last year but not really any brussels.  We know a lot more about wind rock now!

The covered ground was fairly weed free I dug out any roots I could see.

Covered the area with cardboard then wet it.  I then used our compost to make the raised bed.

There is a bad patch of weather on its way so I'll wait until winds have stopped to plant the brussels.

Early mist

 It is really beautiful over in the allotment first thing in the morning.

Chives

 Lots of bee activity on the chives.  The comfrey flowers have only just started to open.

New Compost Heap

 I have made a better effort with compost this year.  The pieces are smaller and there is a wider variety of things in it, including larma poo.

Comfrey

 The comfrey is just beginning to flower.  Hopefully we'll get the two cuts in for the compost heap.  Our focus is on soil improvement this year.

Cabbage collars

 Using cardboard around the cabbage has worked well in deterring cabbage root fly and slugs.

Rhubarb and garlic

The rhubarb is doing well.  I really need to separate them, the crowns also need splitting.  We don't really need two plants at all.

Garlic seems to be enjoying the company of the self sown orach spinach.

Sowing between metal

 Sowing between metal poles has proved to be very successful in deterring slug from getting to the newly germinated seedling.  I have even managed to grow a whole row of lettuces without them getting eaten.

Protection against dogs!

 This is something I didn't think I'd need to do this year.  However, some allotment owners are bringing their dogs off lead.  I've had several new plants trampled.

Another way is with string.

Wild poppies - something I didn’t know

I saw the wild poppies in flower early in the morning yesterday and by the time I went back to water in the evening they had shed their petals. I didn't realise that a different set of flowers opens the next day.