Kitchen Garden Forum

Our cuckoo has arrived! It was heard early this morning at the edge of the moor. It's a bit later than in recent years but almost to the day when it came in 1908 which was on 29 April. No, I wasn't around to record THAT arrival, but I have a list of the summer migrants' arrival in this area in that year.

Monika. - how lovely to see you back again. You,ve been greatly missed. Welcome back!

Soil as dry as a bone here. Definitely need a night of gentle steady rain.

Is it too early to risk planting out my climbing beans do you think. I sowed them a little too early expecting my usual "first sow" germination failure but they,ve all sprouted. They're getting a bit too tall and spindly to risk leaving unplanted much longer.

Nice surprise today. My OH who in his gardening ignorance now I'm mobility challenged, dug up all my lupin plant for the compost heap last autumn thinking they were dead cam home today bearing three pots of different coloured lupins this morning as penance! His gardening status has been redeemed !!

Primrose. I do love a groveler.

No Cuckoo here yet….last year I only heard it for a few days, then it stopped….I can’t ever remember a year without one, so I hope one returns.
On a bright note, the Swallows appeared today….

As it is the last day of the month I thought it was worth having a look at the Rocket potatoes planted in the polytunnel on 1st February just to say I had dug them in April. Quite pleased with 2½lbs off the first root. They went well with some steak for our Golden Wedding meal.

Congratulations on the Golden Wedding Anniversary and the new potatoes, Geoff….notice I got them in order of importance…

Hi Monika, thankyou, I'll see if it is still available. I've heard that mothballs may also work!

Geoff - Golden Wedding congratulations Always nice to hear some good news amongst all the bad and sad stuff around us at the moment. Hope you cracked a nice bottle of something to celebrate.

They look nice potatoes !