Sunlight.

 

The plot during a brief burst of weak sun between showers. The potatoes are showing through a little, plenty of flowers on the strawberries, some beans sown under the cloches to try and get an early start. 

Tying up the broad beans.

The broad beans are a bit battered by the wind and rain. I've put in a couple of canes and tied string around the plants a few inches above the ground. I'll add a higher string when they've grown a little.

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, (and Tarragon and Oregano)

Progress so far

Potatoes showing through, as are the mange tout and early peas. Bean poles up and cloches in place to warm the soil to sow some rashly early seeds. Far broad beans were under the fleece cloche and are weeks ahead of the row that was uncovered; this may not be the warmth but the protection from the wind. There are a few gaps which I've resown.Flowers on the strawberries, a bit early, we had a frost on Friday. Parsnips, carrots (three different colours) and herbs sown, coriander is just through.

Everything else dug out ready to sow. This is about as tidy as it ever gets, once the warmth and spring rain hit, it will be a mess of annual weeds as usual.

Early signs of spring

First signs of spring. First early potatoes, strawberries, mange tout, over-wintering onions and broad beans. 

New Flag

New flag, all ready for the Jubilympics.

Bean Trench

Digging out the bean trench. There is about a spade depth of top soil, then heavy clay subsoil. I broke this up as far as possible to try and improve the drainage.

The trench was lined with two bin bags of shredded paper, part filled with kitchen waste and semi-rotted compost, then back filled with the original soil.This will settle back close to ground level so I've marked it with a couple of pegs. By the time peas and beans are sowed and planted in May, it should be a rich reservoir of moist plant food.