A Look Around The Farm in Early May

Thank goodness for lockdown because things are getting busy down here on the farm.

Peas are doing well, I have crushed up some extra strong mints and put some peppermint tea bags down because this is said to deter the mice which did a lot of damage last year.

The Broad Beans are doing well…

And the potatoes…

I am growing these in pots because last year I lost the entire crop to wireworm.  These have popped up in the garden, left in the ground from last year and I am going to let them grow to see if they are still there…

There is a lot of work to do in the green house of course…

And although the farm is mostly arable there is a chicken to look after…

I have got a couple of helpers from Eastern Europe, one from Poland and the other from Latvia but I don’t know I will manage next year after Boris’ Barmy Brexit…

The Good Life – Courgette Fritters

One of my favourite dishes in Greece is courgette fritters so how good it is to be able to recreate this tasty meal in Lincolnshire from home grown produce complete with lettuce, radish and spring onion. Feta Cheese and Olives from ALDI.

Today in the Garden – The Shed Project

Kim continues her project to brighten up the garden shed.

The Early July Garden

Soft Sun, Gentle Breeze, Mercury Rising.  A perfect Summer day to be in the garden in England.  No better place to be.  How lucky I am…

Click on an image to scroll through the Gallery…

 

The Good Life – Compensation

Yesterday, I shared with you the disappointing story of the lost potato crop.

Today I have better news.  This is a pea and bean harvest that we will eat later with a roast turkey dinner…

The Not Such Good Life – Potato Woes

Everything was going really well in the vegetable garden until it became clear that anything that we grow to eat something else as its eye on as well and is determined to get in first.

Blackfly on the Broad Beans were easily dealt with and a mouse nibbling off the pea shoots was efficiently dispatched but you just can’t see what is going on underground and almost our entire crop of potatoes has been destroyed by a critter that I had never heard of before – the wireworm.

I began the harvest just about a week ago and noticed curious holes in the tubers which under further investigation led to maggoty creatures inside and brown rot.  Everything destroyed and I know how the Irish felt now in the potato blight and famine of the 1840s.  Kim has had to go to the supermarket to get alternative supplies.  I was looking forward to at least a month of home grown produce but it is not to be.

Now I am worried about the beetroot and the carrots.

This is the total crop that I was able to salvage, not a great return on three months work…

Hopefully nothing is going to take a liking to the runner beans but at least they are above ground and I can see what is going on.