Plant swap and subsequent planting

The EHS Plant Swap has been and gone and was pretty successful.  Our hosts were very welcoming and the rain held off. Sadly I didn't get quite what I was looking for (brussel sprouts, courgettes, ...) but I did pick up one or two nice things.  The vegetable patch looked great.

Back at the allotment I spent some time on Monday (apart from weeding) filling in the gaps where my peas had failed to germinate (Lancet ... Onward was fine) and putting some leek seed in.

Plant swap party tomorrow

Wednesday was so wet that I couldn't get a skip delivered, so Thursday there was no skip ... so I could work in the allotment with a clear conscience.  I just did weeding, but there were and still are plenty of weeds.  I needed to clear some space for the results of tomorrow's plant swap.

Today we were back at the building plot attacking the villa again.  The front wall has gone now - they delivered the skip this morning.  Just the huge back wall to go, which will be attacked tomorrow morning.

Tomorow afternoon is the EHS Plant Swap Party.  I'll be taking pumpkins, chili peppers, black-eyed suzy, nasturtia and a couple of sun flowers.  I'll be looking for anything in the way of vegetables, really.  No herbs this year - last year's plant swap mint is not wanting to leave.

Avengers in 3D was fun.  The pea risotto in the fridge was a bit old, but still tasty.  And my foot hurts where I almost whacked it with the axe today.

Lady Di back for another crop

I saved plenty of seeds from last year's prize-winning Lady Di runner beans and kept them in the shed over winter.  This March I started them off in the cold frame and got 100% germination.  There was enough rain to re-saturate south England at the weekend, but I went out to the allotment in any case and, among other things, got the beans planted in their final location.

The carpet on the right (bright pink on the other side) is helping to keep the pumpkin/squash area weed free until I get a chance to plant the seedlings.  For now, they'll have to cope in the cold frame a little longer.

The peas are planted (first row).  I have gone for a 50-50 mix of Onward and Kelvedon Wonder.  If that row works out okay I will put in a second row in around three week's time.  Perhaps I'll try some Lancet.