The weather forecasters promised showers and Saturday afternoon and pro-longed periods of rain for Sunday. I got busy on Saturday morning and dug all but three foot [1m] of the potato bed. I had to leave on time as H and I were invited to a BBQ starting at 5pm. The rain during the week had penetrated the soil to at least a foot depth. This made digging nice and easy as the soil just shook off the roots of the weeds. Between 10 and 3 I dug over an area of bed 24ft [8m] long, the bed bring 16ft [4m] wide and to a depth of 12inches [300mm]. I was even able to loosen the bottom of each trench as well. By 3pm, as well as having a previous engagement, the rain set in.
We had a good night at Steve's, they even liked my Nettle wine. Steve bent my arm to get me to bring over some of my air dried Ham. Everyone liked it and plans are afoot to cure some Hams ready for Christmas. Being the UK and a BBQ all organised, the weather did not co-operate so the BBQ was run under an Golfing umbrella. Steve steadfastly manning the BBQ in his summer togs, Tee shirt, Shorts and a sun hat which eventually gave up the unequal task of keeping rain off his head. Even so Burgers, Snags and a selection of Mackerel from an early season sea fishing trip rolled off the BBQ and in time honoured fashion the rain gave way to sunshine once the food was cooked and eaten.
The early start I had promised myself for Sunday did not happen. So it was no surprise to find that by 11am the rain that had been promised set in. At first I ignored it but when it got to the stage where the rain had penetrated to my under pants and the soil was sticking to my boots it was time to give up. However I had managed to chop down the Comfrey, mash it up and plant five rows of the main crop potato, Cara. The Comfrey was put in to the bottom of the trench before planting the seed potatoes. I ran out after three row so need used the horse manure that I recently sourced. Comfrey is a very interesting plant Lawrence D Hills championed it's use and was instrumental in bring organic gardening to the public attention in a time where agro-chemicals were seen as they way forward. To pursue his vision Mr Hills set up the Henry Doubleday Research Association. Mr Hills book was the first gardening book I read that was concerned with growing vegetables rather then flowers and garden design. I still apply is principles today.
Once I had secomed to the rain I took a walk round my plot and examined everything. I had spoted neat round holes about 1 inch [25mm] in diameter in the Broad Bean rows. Initially I though this was the action of the rain compacting the soil into the holes made for the beans. Closer inspection showed the growing tips of the broad beans discarded by the side of the hole. It could only be mice. The greedy beggar had eaten almost every bean in both rows, almost 40 seeds. Disappointed I resolved to raise some more broad beans at home to replace those that had been lost. I looked at the pea trenches but I can not determine if the mice have been at those as well. It seems that there is always something, scaly, slimy or furry that whats to eat my veg before I get a chance to! The recently planted Brassicas are infested with an aphid or fly. I am going to refer to chemicals to kill the beasties even if it going against my principles. However I can not do anything until it stops raining.
