Gardening Diary May

We have been very busy on our vegetable plot. Slowly it is starting to look like a cared for garden, and the things I like best are going up in the morning, to see what if anything has sprouted, and watering in the evening. It is so lovely to be able to get outdoors, and learning something new.

Perhaps I will start with the things that are going well. My broadbeans have come up, and so far look strong and sturdy. Jerusalem artichokes have finally all sprouted, and onions, garlic, radishes and carrots all seem to be coming along. I thinned the radishes and carrots the other day. I hate thinning - it seems such a waste.

Broadbeens - my pride and joy

Radishes might even be ready to pick soon

The peas were getting nibbled round the leaves, and I decided it was something called pea weevil, but I did another planting inbetween the first ones, and that combined with trying to protect them with cloches made from drink bottles, seems to mean that some are surviving. I have had the same problems with our sunflowers, but some of them are still there. I really don't want to use chemicals on this plot, as it has been kept organic for many years. So I think we are just going to have to accept some things don't work out. The other thing that is coming up is this asparagus. We didn't plant it but every few days a shoot appears. My husband then cooks it for me. Would be great to have a row of these next year.

That is my good news, but a few nights ago we had a late frost. When I went up to check in the morning, all my lovely runnerbeans were dead, and even the potatoes look a bit ropey. I think the potatoes may pull through, and I have cut off all the dead leaves, as I read online this conserves the plant's energy. I have to admit I cried. I had been so pleased seeing the runnerbeans come up each day. But my family told me I had to get a grip. We have planted some new beans seeds in pots in the polytunnel, and may go on a trip to a garden centre next week. 

The dead beans - I can hardly bear to post this photo

But in the polytunnel my seeds in pots seem to be coming along - tomatoes, sweetpeas, courgettes, squash, sweetcorn, brocoli, melons, and even the chilli pepper plants, have all sprouted. But because of the frost I am holding off bringing anything out to harden off as long as I can. I also bought some wild strawberry seeds, which haven't yet appeared, but have been surprised that quite a few of these plants have just come up in one of the borders nearer the house. 

I have sort of organised a potting table area. And you can see the grape vine is really doing well now.
 

The other plants that seem to be doing okay are these fruit bushes. I am pretty sure they are blackcurrants, and the gooseberry bushes are producing loads of berries. I may have over pruned the raspberry canes, as the ones I didn't touch look much more happy than those I cut back.

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for May. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.