Plot April 2005

The broad beans are still growing, the nets seem to have protected them by breaking up snow flakes through the winter. The cage ends are half each of the base of a papsan bamboo settee. Spring planting has started, potatoes are in the ground. carrots and cauliflowers are under fleece under the table frames. When the fleece is removed I will put fleece or nets over the table frames to protect against white-fly and pigeons. A small fence has been made for sweet peas and climbing edible peas. The new potting shed is built. The tulips are out. The yellow ones are a nice show but I bought black ones!
We bought a grass trimmer extremely cheaply, the Pro-craft 12V trimmer, the handle broke 5 mins out of the box, the company don`t answer my emails anymore. It runs for about twenty minutes and is just for doing the paths and lawn with.

This year I halved the amount of runner beans I planted to avoid last years huge over-production. I replaced the planting on one side of the fence with climbing peas. Unfortunately slugs killed the seedlings and I had to replant several times with no success. I was given some plants that continue to grow and produce a few beans. Fortunately I gave some beans to my right-hand plot neighbour who has successfully produced a surplus that he is now sharing. The sweet-peas were also repeatedly killed off by pests, probably slugs, but after several plantings I was able to get a mix of flowers. Now I have the potting shed next year I plan to plant out seedlings and use beer traps. I also plan to move the bean fence to a more open area of the plot.

A Duel of Delight and Desperation