The spring has been so dry I think gardening time is spent mostly in watering, though it has highlighted the benefits of a good number of water butts and simple irrigation systems.
The new potatoes are coming in thick and fast, the dry spring has at least kept the blight at bay for the moment.
Herbs are also growing well, with watering. Something we started doing last year was chopping herbs when they were at their best and freezing them in little pots or ice cube trays. They were a great bonus for soups and stews during the winter months as they add so much better flavour than dried herbs.
One handy trick to help keep plants safe from pests and add a bit of extra fertilizer is to surround plants like melons, courgettes and cucumbers with sheep's wool, most people with a small flock will happily sell you a fleece, you may even get one for nothing if it's poor quality and matted up. There is no need to wash it. simply surround the plants. I've even tried this around the base of young trees to keep the grass down for a bit. The birds love it as they can steal some to line their nests.
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| Courgette plant all tucked up in fleece blanket |
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