Plot 30

Section of Witkiem broad beans sowed during 2021.   This larger than usual patch contains maybe one or two plants that managed to survive a harsh overwintering; otherwise all others you see were planted in the Spring of 2021.   24 April 2021. 8 May 2021 Newest plantings starting to poke through as seen to the left of the photograph: 6 June 2021 Blackfly! Spent quite a bit of time physically removing these blighters using keen observation and thumbnail. Otherwise they are doing fine: 25 June 2021 Some fine crops appearing, in spite of the blackfly: 6 July 2021 Some beans, harvested from their thick, leathery skins and washed ready for freezing and/or eating.  As seen from earlier photos, there are loads more to come.

Coming straight after the two rows of "Exhibition" parsnip described in an earlier posting, here are two rows of "Brora" parsnip, planted 18 April 2021: Followed by two more rows of the "Helenor" variety, planted 24 April 2021:   Update 5 June 2021: Showing the two rows of 'Brora' followed by the two rows of 'Exhibition': 25 June 2021 Now covered in mesh to ward off bird attacks.  Pretty sure it was birds in that too many of the plants were getting stripped right back to the skeleton - not sure insects alone could have done this.  The swede rows appear to be making a comeback, though now in need of thinning and some transplanting: Has undergone some ruthless thinning-out processes today (9 July 2021) will post updates as and when. Hopefully a better outcome than 2020, whereby most of swedes succumbed to some kind of club root.

Two rows of "Exhibition" parsnip purchased from Dobies, planted 19 April 2021, planted straight after the rows of potatoes:

 24 April 2021 Some Borlotti Bean seeds saved form last year which I've set off in a seed tray with a heating pad underneath.  Regrettably I do not remember the make of seed that was saved. 15 seeds sowed in total of which at least over half are looking promising. 1 May 2021 4 strong plants then transplanted to the greenhouse 9 May 2021 Here are the bean seedlings planted outside a week or so later, occupying the 4 bamboo canes shown.  Some spare lemonade cut-offs used to protect the smaller seedlings from any icy blasts that may occur, which did happen this time last year between 12-14 May 2020 , where the night-time temperatures got down to between 2 to 4 degrees Celsius, which when combined with a consistent breeze served to zap a number of plants.  Thankfully the short-term weather outlook for this time this year promises to be somewhat milder. (Note the transplanted Musselburgh leek to the right, which I have retained this year for the purpose of obtaining another set of seeds

Here is the large clump of elephant garlic saved over from last year (photo taken 17 October 2020) that was left in the ground and later pulled up and separated ready for planting on Halloween (31 October 2020): Here they are, all six, at the bottom of the plot, photo taken 24 April 2021: 5 June 2021 Some rows containing the ordinary garlic and elephant garlic: 25 June 2021 Garlic (the smaller version, the not the elephant variety) ready to be harvested and drying out in the greenhouse 23 July 2021 And one of the final products, braided and ready for storage in the garage: 29 December 2021 Here is the one remaining elephant garlic that was left in the ground that is now starting to sprout again: A total of four bulbs plus one corm which have been split up and transplanted again, giving potentially five new plants:

Two rows of "Exhibition" planted 17 April 2021:

So far (as of 10 April 2021): 4 x rows of Charlotte,  2 x Sarpo Mira seeds (saved from last year): 2 x Desiree 2 x Cara Making this year to be ten rows in total, one row equalling approximately half the width of the plot. One of the Charlotte rows: The same row of Charlotte with extra bone meal and fertiliser added.   I've also coddled these in a layer of compost, given that the weather is taking its time to get warm this year... And some rows of Sarpo Mira (2) seeds saved over from last year.   Seem to struggle chitting these, so I've thrown them in before it gets too late.  We'll see.  Watch this space.   Updates to follow... 24 April 2021  - still waiting for something to appear... 25 June 2021 The full set of potatoes planted last April.  All have appeared.  Probably wait until some time in July before I start harvesting.  The line of string still visible at the bottom right of the photograph. Let the harvest start (4 July 2021) of the first row of Charlotte's plant