Apologies

Let me begin with a big apology to all for the lack of posts on my blog for the last couple of months. I realise that I have broken the first rule of blogging and failed to put up regular posts, but the last two months have been about the busiest I can remember and when it gets like that unfortunately some things fall by the way side. Things aren't a whole lot easier just know, but I will try to put some short posts up here more regularly if I can.

One of the reasons for being so busy is of course that this is the most frantic part of the year for the vegetable gardener, with sowing and planting in full swing. I haven't managed to get as far ahead as I wanted, but I have been able to get a fair bit done, especially over the last two bank holiday weekends. Too much to catch up on in detail, so I won't try that now, but things will get mentioned individually as they progress.

The big news of the last 24 hours was the sharp frost last night. Given the terrible drought that we have been going through (basically no rain since February) and the warmest April on record, it was easy to think that summer was here and there would be no frost this year. No chance! There's always at least one in May. The old saying of "ne'er cast a clout 'till May be out" may sound a bit weird today but the message is just as valid as ever - don't put tender plants out until June unless you are able and prepared to cover them at night when the temperatures drop. All those people who recklessly put out the runner beans and courgettes they optimistically sowed a month ago have now most likely lost the lot. The eager potato plants throwing up tender green foliage in a rush to produce the very first first earlies now lie limp and blackened on the sides of their beautifully constructed mounds. Not mine though - being busy does have some advantages, my spuds only went in a couple of weeks ago and haven't yet broken the surface. More luck than judgement but still a welcome piece of good fortune. The sweetcorn that I sowed earlier than normal this year had grown on so quickly in the warm weather that I was forced to plant it out on Monday, so I was relieved to see that only a few outer leaves had suffered damage and the plants still look generally healthy.

So now I'm keeping an eagle eye on the night-time weather forecast, and of course praying for a lot of rain in May.