Magnificent May

The architectural Artichoke

A family of cabbage white caterpillars

Plot in May

Busy planting: courgettes ;radish ;onions ;spinach ;tomatoes ;lettuce ;carrots; peas ; runner beans ;broad beans ;climbing beans ;dwarf beans ;celery ;celeriac ;parsnips; carrots ; sweet corn ;cauliflower ;cabbage ; broccoli ; beetroot; flowers and a beautiful rambling Rose next to the shed.

The last of the spring onions came out yesterday, variety; Lisbon- wonderful smell and delicate flavour. One to grow again. The purple sprouting broccoli never actually stopped sprouting but the shoots became too woody to eat and the plants finally succumbed to a white powdery mildew which spread to from plant to plant due to planting too close.

This seasons radish are the old fashioned long variety - like Beatrice potter drew in her books- so far they are bigger than an average carrot, flavour a little too hot, but all eaten up since full of antioxidants and home grown.

Dutch iris bulbs coming up -reluctantly - there is more to planting bulbs than digging a hole in ground set like concrete from the dry weather.

Strawberries are snugly nestled in nests of straw and awaiting some rain to fill out.

Problems

The 3 - 4 weeks of wind and lack of rain is taking its toll on the young plants and fruit bushes, especially the sweet corn became an anaemic yellow and lay down in defeat. Consequently had to put a wind break around them and with that cosseting they have greened up a little.

The two free fruit tees from the council have not sprouted, however, the cheapo one from Aldi is flourishing.

There are now over 50 plot holders on the site and almost all have got stuck in, planting, rotavating (pros and cons to this one) erecting sheds, fences and laying paths.

Wild life

Swallows and bats swooping . Some bunnies hopping around and appearing inside fenced plots? Pigeons love baby cauliflowers - back to netting!

Drama on site: The Hitchcock film The Birds was reenacted when a plot holder was chased into his shed by an irate swallow - really.

Off to do a rain dance!