Spuds planted at last

My inability to find time to plant my main crop potatoes [Cara] has weighed heavily on me. The Sunday of the Bank Holiday weekend was my self imposed deadline. I reserved the whole day to planting. The area that was to be my potaote plot is the last area of my plot that has not been cultivated. I had dug out and cut back the worst of the dock when I took the plot on. When I had the second flush of dock I weedkillered them and covered the area with black plastic. That was 18 months ago. I rolled up the plastic and examined the soil. There was not race of any big docks in fact no trace of any vegetation. I dug a trench one spit deep, dropped in half a barrow load of manure and then the seed potatoes. The seeds potatoes had chitted to perfection whilst being carried about in my van for the last few weeks. Having set the seed spuds I raked the soil back into the trench breaking up the bigger clods as I went along. I set the rows about 18inches apart. This is closer than you would normally plant main crops but my intention is to use the spuds to break up the soil for next year. My plan is to do the first earth up from the soil between the rows in the normal way then to "earth up" the second time using a thick layer of straw. The straw with breakdown over the few months it is in place and act as a mulch to boot. At harvest I will dig in the straw in which will add humus and bulk for next years root crops.

The Cabbage family plants and Sweet corn are growing away and looking magnificent except you can not see them under the fleece. I will take the fleece off the Sweet Corn but will have to leave it on the Cabbages unless I am happy to feed the Pigeons. The Peas are going well but I must get the pea sticks out for them to climb. The swede and turnips have germinated and are progressing. However there is trouble in the garden at home.

The Greenhouse is full and work at the allotment has meant that I have not potted up those plants that need it. How the spuds are in I should be able the plant the other items that have been held up, namely the sunflowers, gerkins, pumpkins and various flowers.

My big win this past week has been the erection of the posts, wires and the wind netting round the plot. It had made a big difference to the look of the site but also the amount of wind shade. I am one eye bolt short to finish the left side but I get that this evening from Massey's. Massey's is an old fashioned ironmongers, a good stock and knowledgable staff. Once the side is complete I can put the netting over the top. This netting is quite open. I do not ant to stop the little birds getting into the plot but I do want to keep out the bigger once that cause me trouble, Pigeon, Corvids of all sorts, Geese, Pheasant, Quail and Partridge. when the netting is over a can take the fleece off the Cabbage bed which will, hopefully allow the plants plenty of head room. At the moment I feel the fleece which is often blown down on to the cabbages might be damaging them if not discouraging the upward movement.