Here we go....prepare your engine!

    Here we are into January 2018. I have ordered my seeds from the Real Seed catalogue with a couple of new varieties to try. A new squash, Volskay Grey, a new chili, Alberto Locoto (I resisted the temptation to buy a hotter variety!), a new cucumber, Gergana and just for fun a mixed variety of lettuce which the Real Seed Catalogue calls Morton's Secret Mix.
   The weather continues to be wet. Some more heavy rain and wind along with an almost continuous drizzle. The ground is saturated. Even in my field that is sloping towards the river the water is settled on the service.
   January. Time to decide whether one takes a chance in the poly tunnel. I have prepared a small bed to sow coriander and 18Jour (18Day) radish. I have had good success in the poly tunnel with sowing 18Jour radish early. I need to resist sowing tomatoes too early and to have the patient to wait until the second week of February!
   Fingers crossed the chickens are starting to lay again. Our Limousin and Mrs. Chick (she lays very small eggs) are laying and I discovered eggs in the Ixworth/buff orpington coop. We could be up to four eggs a day! Hopefully the Buffy's will start laying soon as they are coming up to a year old. Total egg production for 2017 was in the region (have to say that as I was away for a few weeks and records were not kept!) of 1356 eggs. That includes broken eggs (not that many really) and duck eggs. 2018 total was 1480 and really that is not a big difference considering we lost three hens in 2017. The female duck did really well. It will be interesting to see how see does in 2018.
   Still pulling, cutting and picking winter vegetable. Carrots, cabbage, sprouts, parsnips, beetroot, leeks. They need to be eaten up to be honest! With the wet weather it is a sorry task digging up parsnips and carrots I can tell you. The critters that hollow out the carrots are back. It is so amusing to pull a carrot to only have the top come off and underneath a neatly hollowed out carrot. Annoying but amusing.
   So here we go then. A new season is starting. Wonder how my over winter peas are gong to do? Umm.