Why, hello there!It’s been a whole 2 months since I last
posted here, although it feels like it was only yesterday that I started to
show you how the then new no-dig vegetable garden was coming along.Well since my last entry it has
established itself well with seven of the eight beds full to the brim with
goodies; I’ve even started to enjoy the fruits of my labour, including the Red Currants above which have had their best year yet.
When I set out on
creating the beds back in March I was a little bit dubious if they would work
well on what was basically a field or if they would crop well in their first
year.I had started to create a
no-dig system on the rather weedy allotment back in Wales prior to moving and
this yielded mixed results, largely due to the amount of perennial weeds that
had already established themselves.Here, however, it’s been a great success.The start of the season was cool and dry and this allowed
the beds to settle slightly and weaken the turf and weeds below.The surface of the beds stayed very
dry, which I think had more to do with the weather rather than the manure and
compost used but since things have warmed up and we’ve had a good amount of
rain it’s really started to settle and the plants are certainly enjoying it.There’s been some re-growth of grass in
places and weeds have regrown largely on the Allium bed but they’re fairly easy
to manage and a bit of hand weeding and the reapplication of mulch has helped
to weaken them further.
Most plants that have
been planted out in to the beds or started from seed have done very well on the
new beds so far.The only issue
I’ve had is with Parsnips but I think this may be more of a seed viability
issue as opposed to a no-dig issue?Time will tell and I’ll have to see how parsnips get on in 2016.The Squashes, Beets and Turnips, in
particular, seem to be doing very well on the new beds however and the Beans
will be ready to crop very soon too.
On one of the beds I’m
experimenting with Oca as part of a first year Oca breeding initiative with the
Guild of Oca Breeders.I’m sure you’re familiar with this crop and I’m hoping that
I’ll be able to contribute to its future as a garden staple.The tubers were planted earlier in the
year and are now beginning to find their feet in the virgin ground.I’m hopeful that we’ll get a few blooms
and be able to save some seed from these plants too.If you have the space to help out with the initiative
there’s more information on the website to help you join in.
In other news, the
garden is still waiting to be designed and planted.Livestock, work and the vegetable garden have taken
priority.I imagine this may turn
out to be more of an Autumn project now, along with the masses of hedging that
also needs attention.The front
garden, however, is starting to look good.The Opium Poppies have been the stars of the show lately,
flowering in shades of red, purple and pink but others are just emerging to
steal the show.Right now, I’m
loving the Achillea ‘Teracotta’ that I planted last year.
On the livestock
front, we’ve added a new Hebridean Ram to the flock.Brutus, along with a friend George, will meet our small
flock of six ladies later in the year and I’m hoping for some beautiful strong
lambs come the spring.
