Bean digging

Lovely warm day 16-17c.
The rest of the legume bed is now dug and weeded. I'll put up the runner/french bean A frame next.

The herbs have all germinated and the marigolds are showing and will go in across the plot when ready as a pest deterrent. I must really clear the nettles at the back of the plot as a) they are great on the compost heap and b) they are already flowering and don't want any more seeds on the plot.

The onions are all starting the sprout well gave them a drink as it's been quite dry.

The fox has wrecked the newly erected mini poly-tunnel cloche on plot 1. His laziness is clearly a act in front of humans.

Only crows about today and one dunnock.

Under the cloche

Put the potatoes in today in today. It's one of my favourite jobs. 11 King Edward Tubers, 6 Desiree, 6 Rocket (2nd early) and 10 Maris Peer (2nd early). They've only taken up 2/3 of the bed so I've put some Cos (Little Gem) and Red Salad Bowl lettuce seed in direct in the remainder. Each type are under both a cloche (old water cooler bottle, top right) and also the sawed-off lid. The lid is just while they germinate, then I'll remove it. I'm going to compare those growing under cover and those exposed and see which is the more spectacular failure.

I also planted out 9 broad bean plants and about 14 pea plants. The latter in a henge of twigs. I am sure the wood pigeons will devour these, although I have low hopes that my Heath Robinson string concoction (top left pic) will deter them somewhat. A net would have been preferable but I neglected to take it with me.
A few of each of the alliums are starting to spout. I am sure it was quicker last time.

The ducks passed overhead (I'm convinced it's the same ones), this time there were three. Fox was about lounging on someone's compost bin. He then hobbled off. Looks pretty lame. I wish he'd eat the cats.