03 May 2012 – At Allotment Plot at MERL the Soil was wet. Ella Montt earthed-up the Potatoes as EB watched from the reading room window. Frost was still a danger and could be for a while. Last growing year (2011) frost came late. The soil was a necessary protection for the Potato plants and any forming tubers.
Ella Mott replanted some of the Peas, because wild life was feasting on the tender germinating shoots as they emerged from the soil. Ella Mott continued to construct a support system for the Pea plants that will succeed in growth beyond seedling state. Whilst Peas grow they extend tendrils to grab on to what they can, if there is no object to support the plants they collapse. If the Pea plants have collapsed in to a mass of plant material, it makes it harder for insect life to gain easy access to Pea flowers for fertilization. This results in less Pea pods. The plants at the bottom of the mass closer to the soil are more likely to rot in wet weather. Peas are easier to harvest if the plant has a support system.
Next to the Peas the replanted Broad Beans were growing healthily. Rocket Esmee was flowering and going to seed. A slug or snail had stripped the leaves of the Comfrey that was trying to grow in the Brick Composter; only the skeletal remains of the plant were left. At that moment the temperature and conditions felt right for the time of year. Active bird life could be heard in the trees and bushes surrounding the garden.
6th May 2012, in the morning at the fixed up Green House Ella Montt planted more Squash and Tomato seeds. It was late in the year to be planting Tomato seeds, but other seedlings had died in the extremes of hot and cold weather, so replacements were needed.
On the same day, at Allotment Plot 326, Ella Montt dug a section of soil. The soil was moist and heavy. Ella Montt planted vegetable seeds. The Garlic was growing well, the Onions not so much so. Some Potato foliage was emerging out of the soil.
Seeds planted: Parsnip Halblange White; Leek Giant Winter; Carrot Rothschild; Turnip Golden Ball; Spinach Perpetual Leaf Beet.
Harvest: A mixture of Chard and Spinach = 4oz = 120g.
10th May 2012, torrential rain stopped Ella Montt from going to the Plot. On 11th May at Allotment Plot at MERL, Ella Montt removed some of the self-seeded companion planting Pot Marigolds, because there was an abundance of them. The removed seedlings were to be taken to another location and replanted. May 11th was day of beauty, a breeze moved the clouds around the blue sky and sunlight warmed the soil.
The Broad Beans growth continued to look green and healthy. The Peas growth was more sporadic. Last night Ella Montt had witnessed the legendary authority on vegan organic growing (Tolhurst) speak on biodiversity and under-sewing crops with green manure plants; the act of which helps to suppress weeds whilst improving the quality of the soil.
Harvest: Rocket Wild and Esmee = 4oz = 120g.
24th May 2012 – It was a warm day. The soil was drying in to a concrete like structure. The Vegetables were growing. The Peas, the Broad Beans, the Potatoes, the Onions and the Garlic, they were all growing. An uncertainty drifted and hung in the air, the danger of frost had surly passed? The replanted Broad Beans were starting to flower. A few black fly were on the plants, but it did not seem like it would be a problem.
