Mark's Veg Plot in May

At this time of year, my plot aways looks busy. It is crowded with pots, seed-trays, mini-greenhouses etc - lots of things in temporary accommodation, being "hardened-off", that's to say being gradually accustomed to outdoor life.

Most years, by the middle of May I have put my frost-tender plants like chillis, tomatoes and cucumbers, outside in their final positions. This year the weather has been very disappointing so far. Apart from that brief spell of glorious weather (miraculously coinciding with the May Day Bank Holiday weekend), we have had precious little of the classic Spring conditions. Today is typical: grey sky, strong breeze, temperature at midday 13C. Not conducive to rapid plant growth!

The Early potatoes in pots have done well inside that plastic coldframe thing, but there is no sign yet of the Pink Fir Apple ones planted in the big black tubs seen in the foreground here:-

Beyond the water-butt seen in the previous photo is this. Lots of potted herbs; chilli plant acclimatising; tomatoes in the big terracotta-coloured pots, and peas climbing up wigwams of canes.

Having been in those pots for several months already, the peas are finally beginning to look as if they feel like climbing. I had never intended to grow peas at all (these are ones originally intended for consumption as peashoots), but if they keep going as well as they are doing now I should get a nice little harvest. Few things are more delicious than home-grown peas eaten straight off the plant, eh?

There are more potatoes in pots behind the very under-utilised gas barbecue (in its black cover). The big pots of herbs like Sage and Lavender are slowly coming to life, with soft green shoots replacing the stark grey twigs. In the foreground is my Baby Salad crate - complete with anti-badger precautions.

Then there is the massive Woodblocx raised bed, currently looking rather sparsely populated (just 3 "Maskotka" tomato plants at present), but soon to play host to cucumbers and sweet peppers. The Build-a-Ball system is seen here loosely supporting a net to keep the wildlife off.

Likewise here we see more Build-a-Ball items and netting covering a bed containing Shallots, brassicas (6 x Tenderstem broccoli and 4 x Brussels Sprout "Brilliant") and Parsley. To the right of the photo is the Asparagus bed. If you look really carefully you might be able to identify one or two spears poking up.

This wider-angle shot shows the Broad Bean bed at the right, covered with the tall netted structure. Beyond that, alongside the fence you can see the fruit trees and the Raspberry canes - already a couple of feet tall.

In the distance are the cane supports ready for the beans, hopefully going in shortly. Here they are from a different angle.

Seen above to the right of the bean-poles is this bed covered in netted hoops:

This bed has Beetroot, Parsnips and Turnips, with two rows of Radishes in between as a catch-crop. The big leafy ones are the Radishes and you have to look very closely to see the others. The germination rate of the Beetroot has been low, and I'm currently thinking about sowing some more.

Finally, there's this - the Strawberries in boxes in the foreground, and the Blueberries in pots behind, with my new Gaillardia and Rudbeckia in the square terracotta pots.

So there we are; a complete tour of the (edible) plot for you! The ornamental bits will have to wait for another day.