SFG looking a little more cared for

After rather disastrous germination from the previous attempt I’ve weeded, cut off the beans at ground level (leaving roots in the soil to help fix nitrogen), dressed the surface with fish, blood and bone and re-planned for the end of the summer and partially into the winter.

I’ve tried to maintain a rotation so that I’m not growing the same crops in the same places.

 
The rocket, chard, leeks and lettuce were grown from seed in other parts of the allotment. The runner beans were from last year’s seed, grown inside in compost and the carrots were from a free packet of ‘Autumn King’ national Trust seeds (see last blog entry). This time I’ve sown them very thinly in rows and I’ll cover with fleece to deter the carrot fly. Again I have protected seedlings against slugs with fine gravel.
 
The previous crop of rocket did not survive so I’m planting under home-made plastic cloches to see if this keeps the flee beetle away. The photo below shows the rocket and chard.

The leeks below were first trimmed, top and bottom, then planted in a hole, about 10cm /4” deep (made by a broom handle) which was then filled with water. I’ll drop a little fish blood and bone in each hole when they’ve established.

Some may think I’m late with planting runner beans. We have had broad beans; are currently eating French beans so these runners will hopefully fill the gap at the end of the season. I put the four sticks in first, tie them at the top, and then ‘puddle in’ the bean plants.

The pictures below show the SFG looking a little more cared for. Now all that’s needed is weather, neither too hot nor too dry!

PS 17th Aug: Since I wrote this on the 15th, all 5 lettuce have been eaten to the ground by slugs! Maybe there were gaps in the gravel as the beans and chard survived. I have replanted and put lots of coffee grounds around them and just hope that works.