One extreme to another

    What can I say? The weather, always a big factor in the garden, has gone from heat and drought to cold, heavy rain, hail, thunder and well, just very wet! The rain is welcome and will help to rescue my winter veg I am sure, particularly the swede which was really looking like it was on its last legs. The poly tunnel has been a disappointmen this year I can only think that it really needs a good clear out, clean and as it were resetting. Oh well another job to do before next spring. I have decided to return to planting strawberries. To that end I am experimenting with "no dig". This a bed made on top off soil that has not been dug in any way. The photo shows the start of my no dig bed. Layer of cardboard, layer of nettles, layer of horse manure topped off with old potting compost. Into this I will plant Mara des Bois strawberries. I am sure I grew these a few years ago and I remember as being a very nice strawberry. 

First no dig bed 

  
  Looking back at the log this week there does not seem to have been much done! I have picked mixed tomatoes and the tomato crop is proving to be reasonable although not the best I have ever had. I gathered moss curled parsley and coriander seed from the poly tunnel and I am now well set up for those varities. The squash crop has been harvested again reasonable but not massive. I am sure they will do us just fine. The Giant Pacific pumpkin is still out there and will remain so until the plant dies completely. It is destined for the grand children to carve for holloween.

New kids on the block

  On the chicken front it looks like egg production is picking up! The photo shows the three new hens that have joined Mr. Chicks flock. They are now over sixteen weeks old and should start laying soon. No more losses to Mr. Fox thank goodness. There are four more chicks to reach maturity, one is a cockerel and will more than likely head for the freezer The other hens will join the current flocks.