Rain stained notes

I’m trying to decipher my notes. They are rain-stained and smudged, but I think I have remembered what I planted. Yes, today my birthday, I actually had to garden in the rain. Well gentle splatters, but it’s wet and it’s wonderful.

We finally have spring here in London, and I thought it was a great idea to celebrate turning 42 (so middle aged) by planting potatoes. I was worried that there would be no space in the small car park as this is the first days of good weather since Autumn. But there were a few spaces left when I arrived at midday. I needed a wheelbarrow to get all my supplies out of the car – the chitted potatoes and the burgeoning broad bean plants and the tools.

My first task was to take off the fleece that is protecting the potato bed, and start measuring out the rows. Measure out, place the string that holds the line straight, lay out the planks to stand on, attach the knee pads, get out the trowel, and get down to digging the small trench. A few ominous signs of slugs I fear. I’m loathe to use slug pellets but I will have to accept small holes in my tubers if I don’t use chemicals. More slugs at the top of the plot, few at the bottom and quite a few weeds that have escaped my careful weeding the month before. But the routine was quickly established. Dig, put weeds and severed slugs into a bag, keep the line of the trench straight, and then place the tubers in their required space. The spacing can get erratic when you are four rows down and rather hungry, but I tried my best. Then fill in the trench, mound it up a bit, write out the label, and place a piece of string over the row to mark the spot. Stand back, admire and move on to the next.

By the end of the day (and the beginning of the rain) I had done six rows. Add that to the two rows of Lady Christl I had done earlier in the week, and the bed is almost full. Just a few more Charlottes and some Pink Fir ones to go.

I have had the broad beans out on the roof terrace at home for a few months, and they were getting frankly monstrous in their cut down plastic water bottle containers. The roots were trying to escape through the caps. And they were going curly. I never have straight broad beans. So even though the clouds were massing overhead, I knew I had to get them in. But it started to rain and I rushed the whole process. Goodness knows how wonky they will be when I go back the next time. I didn’t even mark out a straight row; just dug and chucked them in. Two and a half rows of very luscious green shoots. They look rather forlorn in such a sea of brown soil. And they may all fail, but I hope they take. The soil is lovely and moist and at that bed, weed free.

Rino, my Italian neighbour came over on his way to the shop. He tried to explain to me that he was off to get some fertiliser for his plants. I think that was what he said. And when I answered ‘chicken pellets’ I didn’t get a confused look so that may have been the drift of our ‘conversation’. I realise now that I have forgotten to scatter the very pellets I was championing over some of my potato mounds. Must remember next time I take off the fleece.

Next came another Italian named Gabriel who was, I think, in search of the more winsome Jana, my co-plot holder. Lots of late middle aged Italian men cruise past in search of her (did I mention she is blonde and Czech and rather glam?) He had to be satisfied with me – covered in mud, covered up, and eager to keep working. But he did take the time out to tell me that I was Way Too Early with my potatoes – mid April being the preferred time to get the tubers in. But I did show him my horticultural fleece to cover the whole bed which seemed to placate him. And when he had gone away I thought, well it’s only two and a half weeks until Mid April, so I may just squeak in. Fingers crossed there is no frost.

I have noticed that although I am only a short walk away from the front entrance, their rhubarb is up and romping away, while mine is just a few inches high. The shelter from the fence nearby? Is it a frost pocket? I guess I will find out.

I will wait a week or so before I put in the rest of the potatoes – I will have to fix up the lower bed anyway before it’s ready for potatoes. And by then it may be time to start the carrots. They will need a complicated fleece barrier all the way around them to deter carrot fly. All this work will naturally be wasted as the entire crop will entirely be devoured by slugs in the soil. But I soldier on. And in a very public gaze. Quite a busy boulevard of Italian experts going past my beds having a very good inspection and sharp intake of breath.

Vegetable: Potato Lady Christ (4) Foremost (4)
How many?: 1 row (8 tubers)
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: Bed 1

Vegetable: Potato Foremost (8)
How many?: 1 row (8 tubers)
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: Bed 1

Vegetable: Potato Foremost (8)
How many?: 1 row (8 tubers)
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: Bed 1

Vegetable: Potato Nicola (5)
How many?: 1 row (5 tubers)
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: Bed 1

Vegetable: Potato Nicola (5) Charlotte (1)
How many?: 1 row (6 tubers)
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: Bed 1

Vegetable: Potato Charlotte (6)
How many?: 1 row (6 tubers)
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: Bed 1

Vegetable: Broad Bean Aquadulce Claudia
How many?: 1 row (6 plants)
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: Bed 4

Vegetable: Broad Bean Aquadulce Claudia
How many?: 1 row (6 plants)
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: Bed 4

Vegetable: Broad Bean Aquadulce Claudia
How many?: 2 plants
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: Bed 4