26th - 29th May

26^th May

I took the cauliflowers and calabrese to the allotment to plant out after work. I also took a roll of weed suppressing membrane which had been opened but I thought only for a small strip to line a container (something I forgot with all following container fillings!). I couldn’t understand then, why it covered less than half a section, then looking around I remembered that I had already used most of it for the onion section. So it was only the calabrese that I planted, 20 of them. After digging out some newly rampaging bindweed I cut the holes 8 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart so that now I have a neat little section all watered in and protected. I left the cauliflower tray there as it is protected and gave it a good watering too. I don’t really want to keep moving trays of plants about in the car if I can help it. I’ll return with more membrane later on.

27^th May

I had thought that a hot dry summer was on the way after the weekend, but today it was raining most of the day, so no allotmenteering or any progress with the jobs at home which at present run to a fine little list: sow more sunflowers; sow sprouting broccoli and more basil; sharpen shears and axe; plant out sweet peas at the allotment; pot up rocket, leeks, sprouts, laurentia, lemon balm; plant out cauliflowers and sweet corn, spread the manure and collect some more; sort out the netting for the larger brassica enclosure and the strawberries. After that lot is done it will be time to get more membrane out and plant out the squashes and peppers!

29^th May

While I was at work, my family were on a jolly to the beach, but they joined me back home to relax in the garden in the sunshine whilst I sowed my last seeds for this year for the vegetable patch – 20 seeds each of the purple sprouting broccoli varieties rudolph and claret. I also sowed about 10 more sunflower seeds. I finally got round to potting up the lemon balm seedlings which are proper miniature plants now, and the laurentias into yoghurt pots. The laurentias have holly-like leaves but they are soft and not prickly, and unlike nicotianas which I had thought they were similar to judging by the pictures on the packets.