tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8869161.post-1149367638721587032006-06-03T21:28:00.000+01:002006-06-11T22:51:33.323+01:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">Today was an absolute scorcher. I spent the longest time so far this year down on the plot - most of the morning as well as going back with the family in the evening. Everything is growing pretty well, although I have lost all my "Jack Be Little" pumpkin plants and three of my six courgette plants to slugs. That was very sad to see when I arrived on the plot this morning. The slugs have also had a go at the first row of my potatoes, which I have never seen before on my plot - they must have been hungry. Luckily one of my neighbouring plot holders offered me one of her spare pumpkin plants - it will produce full sized fruit, but at least we'll have something for Halloween!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I spent the morning tidying up a bit, and planted out my leeks and brussel sprouts (at last!) and three butternut squash plants. I then sank pop bottles (with the bases cut off) nozzle-down next to all my sweetcorn plants, the squash plants, as well as the remaining courgettes. The idea is that by filling the bottles with water it will get right down to the roots of the plants, instead of just sprinkling it on the surface where most of it will evaporate in this weather. We'll see whether it works.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In the afternoon Anne, baby Sam and I went back to the plot and tidied up a bit further, mowed the grass, sorted out the area around the shed a bit and planted some new marigolds in the flower bed. I also covered the brussel sprouts with netting to keep the pigeons and butterflies at bay, and liberally sprinkled slug pellets all around the crops that had already taken a bashing. I do try not to use any nasty chemicals on the plot, but there are so many slugs about that something needs to be done, and pellets are it (I don't have the time or the stomach to wander about with a torch at night picking them off one by one). I do use pellets that claim to incorporate something that deters other wildlife from eating them, which I hope is true.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Anyway, we rounded off a really nice (if tiring) day with a BBQ on the plot, the first one we've had for ages. Yum.</span>Clive Scogginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13663937645338086752noreply@blogger.com