Sweetcorn Planted

Today I planted my mini sweetcorn plants, in block formation 5 plants wide and 4 deep. I believe this is not strictly necessary for mini corn, as the cobs are picked when at a suitable size prior to pollination. But it does look neat doesn't it?

I have another 40 mini corn seeds planted in pots in the greenhouse. They are just beginning to sprout now, so it will be interesting to see if I retain the 100% germination rate! Either way there is plenty of space in that bed for them.

I also have about 25 normal sized sweetcorn germinating in the greenhouse now.

Beans Are Go

Ive been delaying planting my beans because of some frost predictions for the past few nights. This gave me a chance to finish the bed preparations by adding the last of my homemade compost to the trench and getting the frame in place.....

Meanwhile back at the ranch the beans have begun twisting around each other, so I've been untangling them every morning! Its really time they went to the plot!

Early Blight

Met Eireann posted a blight warning for last week, due to the hot humid conditions. I wasn't expecting it for another few months yet! I sprayed my earlies with Bordeaux Mix just in case. The other plotholders didn't do it and seemed to have survived ok, so I'm not at all worried about it.

Leeks

I finally got the last of the onion bed finished. I added 2 rows of musselburgh leeks, spaced them 6" apart in rows 12" apart. This gave me about 23 plants per row. I gave them a good watering to get settled in. Its my first time growing leeks, and I'm looking forward to seeing them grow!

The shallots in the foreground are doing well, and the sets planted a few weeks ago have put on a few inches of growth.

I still have a tray of mussleburgh, and another of Lyon 2 Prizetaker leeks growing at home. They were sown a few weeks later than the others when space was available. That should give me another row of each to fill the bed nicely

Maincrops

The plot was rotovated and I finally got the maincrop potatoes in the ground! Its been a long time coming, so heres hoping they catch up!

I almost have the rest of the onion bed ready to take the leeks. The plan is to have them in by Thursday.

I stuck some pea "Hurst Green Shaft" into root trainers today, and the first of the Runner bean "Scarlet Emperor" have germinated in their toilet roll centres. The climbing beans are hardening off in the mini growhouse, ill sow another batch next week. The bed for the peas and beans is almost there, so Ill setup the cane supports by the weekend all going well.

First Strawberries

With the good weather comes the work! The last week or so has been really busy. But the rewards are starting now - the first of the strawberries ripened in the greenhouse and were quickly eaten. So quick I didnt even get to take a pic! But there is more on the way!

Update:

On the Allotment:

I planted the 9 caulis (all the year around) and 8 of the Brussels Sprouts that I bought in Lidl a few weeks ago. Ive already lost 2 caulis to the wind, but the remainder seem to be ok so far. Ill try get them netted asap as I have seen the white butterflies wandering around this week.

I also fell behind on the digging, only getting half the bed for the maincrop potatoes dug. Dunno if it will be worth planting them at this stage but ill give it a shot.....

As soon as they are in, its straight back to digging the next bed. Thats for the beans and peas.

In the Greenhouse:

The night temps in the greenhouse are all over the place. The last few days of April into the start of may were around 15'C (with the heater) but the last few nights have been 5 or 6 'C (with heater)! Everything seems to be still growing ok though.

I planted the 3 remaining Gardeners Delight tomatoes into a Growbag.

The fruit is setting on the first truss of the moneymaker toms now. The third and fourth trusses are forming nicely.

I potted on the 2 strongest aubergines into terracota pots. I also moved the chilis and mini bell peppers on into bigger pots. That'll be it until they move to their final homes.

The brassicas are doing well. Third time lucky, as my 2 previous sowings failed. Ive moved them into 3" pots to grow on while I get more of the allotment ready.

In the Garden:

Planted the dozen brocoli I bought in lidl a few weeks back. Bought them as insurance against the failure of my own grown from seed!