Muggy May

Surprisingly humid May weather, we had a good deal of rain last night and the sun has been peeping out from between the clouds this afternoon while I attended to the plot. My very first strawberry has gone red, I didn't pick it yet as it's still a bit unripe on the other side.

Things are growing on well #68, not too many bare patches left and I still have broccoli, cabbages and tomatoes to plant out.

The peas are coming on well so I put out some canes with string pulled across them to give the plants something to hold on to.

The potatoes are looking good. In the bottom right there was a plant that didn't come up so I planted another potato there which is just beginning to come through.

The tomatoes are coming along nicely, still a bit small yet but I hope to plant them out by the end of the month. I went through the greenhouse to see how things were fairing. I've planted out a few more french beans, they're much bigger than the ones which I planted out earlier. I also put three germinated sunflowers in the soil beside my shed, let's see how tall they get.

I had taken this tray out of the greenhouse the other week because I thought nothing was happening with it. Then today I could see little shoots which are unmistakably asparagus plants. I've got no idea where I shall plant them out and it'll be at least another two years before I have any spears to eat.

I collected some herbs before I went home, the thyme is in flower and the lavender has a lot of buds on it.

Wet & windy

A rare sunny spell on Bank Holiday Monday as it has mostly been showers and quite a stiff breeze. I'm slightly concerned about the shed, it creaks a lot when the wind blows and the roof moves quite a bit I'm going to have to look at how it's fixed on and perhaps improve it. This was just a gusty day in spring, I'm sure a winter storm would send the roof flying.
Between showers I did a bit of planting. I bought some kobocha seeds online, a type of hybrid winter squash, I planted them in 3 inch pots and put them in the greenhouse. It really is warmer in there and some of the seeds I planted last week were beginning to stir which is remarkable. I also bought some asparagus and globe artichoke seeds online, I planted the artichoke seeds direct into the ground near the top of the plot on what was the old path, the ground isn't the best here but lets see what happens. The asparagus I'll be planting later in the month but this is a bit of a long term plan as it'll be a couple of years before I get to eat any!
I've given up on the early carrots I planted so I've sown a new row and hope that now it's warmer they'll do better, I also put in a row of turnips.
Here are the broad beans (and a few weeds).