The time of year for hard physical labour and hope
A mud bath. My hands are filthy, my trousers are utterly mud covered and not much of me is clean. That’s what happens when you garden during a monsoon. Mick was doing his rhubarb, the other Irishman bellowed with laughter as we plodded our way in the rain to the plots. But it was worth it. The birds are already haunting the place and I had lovely weeding to do. Did the broad bean plot, even planted two rows. Cheeky I know as they will probably be devoured by mice or drown. But it was so tempting after I had done the whole bed and raked it over. Water laps the ground about 6 inches below the surface.
I sorted the edges and laid down planks down the side to try and halt the couch grass invasion. Did more weeding of the future potato bed. Laid down black cloth on the top part of the bed – there’s too much gravel underneath to work it properly (something I inherited from my previous plotholder. It must have been a pathway once). If I do only peas and broad beans there should be enough room. And I want it tidier. But naturally I haven’t even drawn up my veg map yet. It’s funny; last year I spent hours and hours dreaming up the design of the beds and where everything will go. This year it’s just launch in and rotate the crops.
I pruned the apple trees to the best of my ability. And believe me I have no ability whatsoever. Book learning is all very well but getting poked in the eye with long whippy apple branches while reaching in to prune the obvious nasties is no fun. I don’t have a ladder so can’t reduce the height of the things. One suffers from wind rock – but is rather easy to manage, but the other one is huge. And wormy. So I haven’t launched myself into rescuing it.
Top on my rescue list however were all the seeds. I brought the sorry mess home in a plastic bag and had a sort out. Not too many casualties really. Except I need to buy more peas, broad beans and carrots. Carrots, pah! Will I try again? Yes. This is the time of year for hard physical labour and hope.