May 5th 2020

Here is a good picture of my plot in the first few days of arriving after the whole plot became mine. Prior to this I'd been sharing the plot with Owen, and I had been working the beds on the left hand side for about six months. Now some pictures of what it looks like today.

Strawberries front right, herbs to left, behind is kholrabi with sugar snap peas further back.Swiss chard back left.

 Sage from seed. A minor miracle!

My coriander this year for the first time ever, looks like the stuff you buy in the shops. Sewn into a deep bed (they don't like being moved) in the shady area at the back of the green house. Loads of water.

Trying green manures this year. This is red clover. I expect I'll dig it in, in a couple of months time. The soil has had little organic matter added to it over the years so green manure is another way of improving structure and nutrient levels. I am also trying Fodder radish to improve a compacted area alongside a pathway.

Strawberry beds....just been freshened up with dilute sulphur of potash and compost. I'll cover with pine needles as well soon.

Here is the herb bed, chives, lemon balm, rocket and hyssop. There is an echinacea bottom left corner that has survivied the winter. That will be moved to the flower bed soon to make way for parsley.

This I am proud of...the insect net I fashioned to fit on my raised bed. At the moment it is serving more as shade than anything else. Three types of radish, two of rocket and two beetroot varieties just germinated. I'm looking to find the best for early salad ingredients and a quick turnover rather than using it as a general seed bed.