Seedlings galore!

This is one of about ten outdoor cucumber seeds (Marketmore) I have successfully germinated. I shall have to give some to allotment neighbours as I have too many. I now have to think up a way of making a frame for them to grow up.One possibility is an old wooden frame (that had glass in it but it smashed) which is about 4ft x 3ft. But it may not be big enough.

My greenhouse shelving is groaning with seedlings. I tend to sow in modules and then plant out once the little things have a chance against the bugs and slugs.

It seems to work well. Today I planted out some red cabbage seedlings next to the potatoes that are looking very good. Here is a picture of their cousins the Savoys that are ready to go out to. Just have to decide where now. I have to remember not to plant them where there were cabbages last year (I had loads so that doen't leave much option!)

I also have leeks, more mangetout (the second or third sowing to make sure of consistent crop and not too many gluts), Borlotti beans (not up yet) climbing french bean (yellow and called Meraviglia di Venezia or Marvel of Venice) ordinary french bean.

I also have tomatoes (Cuor di Bue or Oxheart) that look good and coriander. With other herbs like basil I don't sow I just buy a big pot from a supermarket and spilt the plants up into separate pots - you can make 12 out of 1 that way and it lasts all summer - then I freeze as pesto.

I will plant more radish this week. And continue the digging frenzy which has been made very hard (literally) by the lack of rain for almost 2 weeks. The ground is like concrete. I held off watering till today but finally succumbed because everything was looking SO dry.

I weeded my asparagus patch - the spears are now two feet tall. I haven't harvested any as there is only one spear per plant and I don't want to wreck my chances of a bumper crop next year.

I will go up again this afternoon later on and sow courgette seed. I have sent off for more uchiki pumpkin seeds as the seed I saved from last year may be a result of cross pollination and not come true and I may end up with some mutant day of the triffid type squash.

New Shoots

This morning was one of those still, damp grey days that are actually quite pleasant. Sound seems to be intensified; the birdsong was crystal clear over the hum of traffic from the southern bypass which is the other side of the embankment next to the allotment.I dug over a section of ground to make a new bed - I am changing the way the beds face and digging up the compacted earth under the carpet that I used as paths to give it a breather. I spread mushroom compost over the area and then sprinkled some chicken manure on top of that.I checked my seedlings in the cold frame - they seem to be doing quite well.

But nowhere near as well as P's. He's 87 and can touch his toes! He lives near the allotments and has been coming up here for 40 odd years. He has a greenhouse and shed at home and I popped in for a chat and a cup of tea on the way back to my place. He has more than 1,500 seedlings in plugs ready to go - mostly brassicas and lettuce of various types. Amazing! We all benefit as he is very generous and gives some of them away. Anyway his are benefiting from the warm weather and high humidity in his glasshouse and have come on at a terrific rate.
P gave me some early white sprouting broccoli.

I blanched a handful, cooked it with crispy pancetta a small glug (approx 1tbsp) of red wine vinegar to deglaze the pan. And then mixed it in with spaghetti and fried breadcrumbs. I used about a desertspoon of olive oil with a little chilli oil added. It was fantastic.