Must start blogging reg-u-lar

I've been finding time here and there to potter on my plot but none for updating my blog. No good for my record keeping for future years.

Things are looking pretty good in these early days. I'll put some piccies up soon if the predicted rain holds off long enough this weekend. Currently, the following crops are growing:

• broad beans (and I have had a few handfuls of those for my tummy and even my husband who doesn't tend to eat greens ate some)
• leeks
• onions
• potatoes
• mange tout
• parsnips
• celeriac
• horseradish
• dwarf beans (only just germinated - from old seeds so poor success rate but not surprising)
• cabbage
• calabrese
• brussel sprouts
• strawberries
• tomatoes
• dwarf sunflowers
• courgettes
• sweetcorn 

I sowed parsnips in early June and the germination was very good. However, just after thinking that I really should put some slug pellets down on that patch at the weekend, they got munched. Grrrr. Serves me right for procrastinating. I sowed more and they pretty much all came up so a lot of thinning was required. And organic slug pellets. Lots of them. Only 2 celeriac survived the onslaught too.

(For my records:) The heatwave we have had for the past 3-4 weeks is set to end with rain tomorrow. During that time I've generally been watering the plot every two days and all looks good. I've fed the beds with chicken pellets a couple of times.

I have a new friend - a small toad who has taken up residence in my potato patch. I think it likes the pools of water left in the trenches after I've drenched the haulms. It jumps out when I start watering that patch so I guess it doesn't want to get its head wet. Just its feet. I saw another toad near the broad beans yesterday evening. There are lots of butterflies around and friendly birds who have no qualms standing right next to me while I dig.

I've not done much digging in recent weeks because it has been too hot. Several days with midday temperatures of 28-32 degrees centigrade. Too much.

I don't think I'll get much opportunity to dig for a couple of weeks but when I do get some time, I'll remove the next bit of carpet and keep going. In the meantime, I'll write a long list of everything I want to grow next year.