Weeds and grass

    Well I finally decided that I needed to attack the weeds and grass on my bulb bank. The bulbs are starting to grow and the bank was thick with weeds and grass despite me having had a go at it a while back. So this last week has mostly been spent doing that...clearing the spring bulb bank. This is one of problems of having a garden in the country side. One is surrounding by weeds and grass so it is continuous effort keeping weeds down. I have a "weed bank" where I take quite literally barrow loads of weeds and pile them up to compost down. It must now been some thirty feet long by three to four feet high. Of course this is several years of accumulation but every year a significant amount is added.

   So, what else? An area of ground was cleared, forked, weeded, raked and planted up with Germidour and Elephant garlic and over winter broad beans sown. This year I found my favourite broad bean which I grew in the UK, D'Aguadulce. Germidour is not the usual garlic I grow. In previous years I have planted the variety Violet. BF-15 potatoes dug, cabbage cut. Yes, I still have BF-15 potatoes in the ground and there are still quite a few to lift. No point in lifting them to store as they are second earlies and will not store well. Finally took down the cucumber netting and frame and tidied up the large Hugelkultur bed. Started to remove the haricot vert plants and gather any dried pods which I have plans to turn into baked beans! Couple of Scotch Bonnet chilli's picked along with several ones call Hot Stuff. Now we will see if they make my eldest grandson's eyes water!! Yes the usual task of mowing grass undertaken. Seems to never stop growing!

   Chickens are being chickens and the little (some not so little!) blighters are not laying at all now. Coops cleaned out. I am fighting a battle with rats of which there has been a population explosion. 

Bulb bank clearance end of day 1

Bulb bank clearance