A day off

I had the day off on Monday. H and Miss L were at work or college. I had a lie in and then a leisurely breakfast. I loaded Degsy with brew gear and sarnies as well as the main crop seed potatoes. There were three people down at the lottie. Each had to have a chat. Eventually I got started. I continued with the method I had employed before; trench, manure, seed spud and back fill. I ended up with seven ridges of main crop spuds. I hope that by putting the mains in relatively early they will come to maturity before the blight kicks in.

The weather was really nice. Not too hot and quite warm out of the wind. I had plenty of stops for a brew. The deck chair I have been carrying round in Degsy came into its own. I had filled the bird feeders when I arrived and the birds had found them. Sitting quietly the birds flitted in and out. The Yellowhammers were happy hogging the feeders. The small mob of Goldfinches worried the feeders. Bullfinches and Dunnocks picked over the soil for seeds knocked out of the feeders and soil I had turned over from the spud planting. It was getting monotonous planting spuds but had to push on to finish the job. With the last of the soil shuffling the whole of bed3 is planted up with spuds.

I went round the other beds spot weeding. I cut a couple of planks to build up the front of the compo bin. I then filled the bin with hayledge and straw I had to hand. I tidied up the front of the big muck bin by throwing the muck onto the top of the straw. By Christmas I should have a very full bin of compost.

Whilst I was away I had a delivery of the Asparagus crowns that I had ordered before Christmas. I wasted no time in planting them in the space available in the prepared bed. The Asparagus I bought is a purple variety which is considered more tender than the green types.