It has changed from dark rainy days to hot sunny ones in the blink of an eye. I decided to set off early to do some weeding at the allotment. Cycling there over Hampstead heath, I couldn't believe how in the last week the leaves have really filled in the gaps between the branches. Astounding greens everywhere, the beech leaves defining what is meant by spring green and the luscious grass, such an intense green that if I saw it in a photograph I would think it a quirk of the photographic process.
I arrived to find the fleece tunnels squashed and twisted by the fox (again), though thankfully no damage to the seedlings beneath. I straightened them up, trying to bend the wire back into arches and then pushed the fleece over to one side so the seedlings could benefit from a bit of fresh air, with the wire arches there to afford them a bit of protection from frolicking foxes. (any ideas for deterring foxes from rolling on seedlings are welcome).
The seedlings are growing well, the calendula is coming up thick and fast, as are the salad greens, the marigolds are much slower, though there are a few, enough to give hope that they are just slow, rather than not planning on germinating at all. Around them chickweed was spreading at an astounding speed, threatening to choke the smaller seedlings. I borrowed Allan's phoenix hoe from the shed and raked between the rows. Then I took a larger hoe to the rest of the plot and hoped the sun would do its job on the up rooted weeds.
The beans I planted with Nancy and Rose, have started to push through the soil, the more eager of them throwing out their first heart shaped leaves. Jane is bringing our hazel beanpoles to borough market this weekend so they should have something to clamber up just in time.
The potatoes are up (all six of them), as are several rogue ones left over in the soil from last year. Elsewhere on the plot the flag irises in the pond were looking magnificent, an army of green swords raised in celebration to the lovely spring day.
