Captain's Log etc...

Fruit day today.  While I was off on a mission to secure a fresh stock of compost, herself and a willing helper cleaned round the soft fruit bushes and gave them a necessary pruning.

Once they were exposed to the light of day, it was clear how successful a previous mulching had been.  We'd laid down cardboard and put old thatch on top.  Some perennial weeds had perforated this barrier, but after a couple of years, their foothold was minimal where it mattered although round the edges of the soft fruit area they'd been more successful.

Cleaned-up around the soft fruit

Incidentally, we use certified organic compost from a German company.  We usually buy a mix that contains  green peat.  As I understand it, this is not sphagnum moss peat, but a clever substitute not from sensitive bogs.  It's available in both potting and a finer seeding versions.  This year, we're also trying their peat-free mix.  We'll report on our findings.

Down in the big tunnel things are stirring.  I was delighted to see the first sprouts from the Red Duke of Yorks have poked up from the bed.  Wakey wakey!

There is also a great deal of Red Orache it self-seeds and is a minor nuisance, but it's quite nice to add to a salad when the leaves are young.  I'll re-pot some and hoe the rest in.

Red Duke of York - First Early

We went away for the weekend.  We don't manage to do this very often, but as the season is in its infancy and we had a house-sitter, we took off.

Monday afternoon when we got back saw us making inspection of the tunnels.  There was some damage to a few of the chilli seedlings in the small tunnel.  I suspect little slugs had been nibbling, but I am prepared to blame any small creature.  It's too early for earwigs - and I know they do a bit of damage - but I am not convinced woodlice are free from guilt.

For the most part, everything was fine and I noted that it wouldn't be long before chillies would require potting-on.

One thing I did notice was that the large, Irish Prean peas had started to germinate.  They've been pushed to the surface of their Rootrainers.

Irish Preans