Broad bean comparison

Although, as previously noted, the broad beans sown under cloches grew much more quickly than the expose seed, they got too leggy and soft. They are very droopy and I'd imagine a severe cold snap would turn them to mush. The exposed plants, though less than half the size are much more robust looking, even though we have had prolonged frosts and snow lying for weeks on end.

I will fill in the expected gaps shortly and sow two more rows behind the current rows. Don't think I'll bother using cloches over them again, as it makes what is quite a hardy plant, weak.

All Hail

Second growth (post-cutting) cabbages doing well, should provide some nice spring greens in a week or two.



Arrival concurrent with intense hail, lasting about thirty minutes. Luckily it bounded off of me and so I decided to stay. Climbing beans area dug over (spuds last year, lovely soil) and the root veg plot. The latter will need another attack as it's not been cleared before, I grew maize in it last but left the ground 'rough'.

Cleared the the detritus from the path cutting, getting as much soil of the sods as possible and weeding underneath. The paths will need trimming with a lawn-edger but the bulk of it is now done. I also weeded part of the current cabbage bed.

All in all four hours hard labour; net result is today, bending over slightly this morning, I pulled my back, so no digging for a week or two, though the weather forecast is rotten for next week.

Sowed a tray of leek seed last night, covered. Hope to get 50-60 plants to put out in April/May.