April showers and sunshine

Woolly hats and layers were back on today as conditions were damp and chilly – April showers later with short patches of sun.   Tattie planting continues. Today it was Heritage variety, Arran Victory. This potato was developed after the First World War and rumoured to be a favourite of Heston Blumenthal, floury and tasty – great for mash and good for baking. Snuggled into the next row were Rooster which is another floury variety and a good all-rounder though especially good for roasting.

The strawberries got a sprinkle of manure before a covering of fleece to keep the warmth in and bring the plants on. We netted the honeyberries as fruit is already beginning to form.

We lifted the last of the cabbages as these are beginning to go to seed, and weeded the bed, which later this year will host peas and beans

Some team weeding in the rhubarb bed though we’re leaving some alkanet for the Plot Maintenance Workshop in early May.  Flat Worm Watch is back. We found 6 under pavers. These were swiftly dispatched.

Harvesting today: rhubarb, cabbage, purple sprouting broccoli and chard.

Jobs for next week: sow carrots, parsnips and beetroot; possibly dig up the kale and purple sprouting broccoli plants and plant more tatties; cut the grass if dry; weed; check for flatworms.