Don't Lose The Plot: Frosty But On The Up

Busy but leisurely is how I would describe the past few weeks working down my plots. Frequent overnight frosts have put paid to planting out certain crops, which in previous years would have been hardened off and established by this time of year. My emerging main crop potato plants were affected by frost last Monday night, luckily not enough to cause any permanent damage to them. Our climates, cool weather crops, carrots, beetroot, swede, turnips, spring onions, lettuce, cabbage, broad beans, sown from seed are faring well despite the night time drops in temperature. Working down the plots recently has been pleasant enough in the warm sunshine, although its on with my jacket as soon as any clouds appear as temperatures tend to drop quickly, funny old game. 2 rows of sprout plants were planted out into the lower end of No 4 bed this afternoon, probably the coolest area of my plots. How they fare will be seen by next week after more frosts have been forecast here for this coming weekend.

Lettuce & Spring Onions 5 Bed (30 April 15)

A week ago I decided it was time to sort out the compost heaps situated on N1 Plot. I needed quite a large amount of well rotted compost to add to No 4 bed, mainly due to the fact that numerous attempts at breaking the heavy clay down this season, on this bed, was having little effect. 5 large plastic barrels which have been used as planters for the past 4 years on my L-shaped bed, were emptied of their contents consisting of a mixture of soil and well rotted compost. This mixture was transported by wheelbarrow to No 4 bed and spread over its surface. The barrels then had their bases cut away before being used as compost bins. My compost heaps were turned and stacked to one side of the wooden compost bin area, allowing me to get the bins into position, before re-filling them with the previously stacked compost. More of the well rotted stuff from the compost heaps was also moved to and spread over bed No 4. I currently have 8 large barrels being used as compost bins with more to be added within the next few weeks. I noticed some time ago that compost placed into similar bins seemed to be breaking down to a usable condition, more quickly than heaped compost as well as reaching higher temperatures inside the individual containers. Global warming or container warming?

Broad Beans Bed 5 (30 April 15)

With a couple of rain showers recently helping to kick start germination the roots bed is almost completed with sown seeds and the 2 rows of parsnips sown a while ago at its lower end have germinated well. Outside night temperatures are still too cold to chance planting out, sweetcorn, marrows, squashes and cucumbers which are ready to go, in pots and trays inside my poly tunnel, along with various bean plants. No 4 bed is now breaking down reasonably well since the recent addition of compost. This bed will be planted out next, with more brassicas.