The fence

Up at the crack of dawn and got two fence posts in. Wanted to sink the posts 24" but the ground was having none of it, so the first two went in at 19" (the others slightly shallower). Rammed broken bricks round the base of the post and backfilled with those very useful stones/pieces of tarmac that I'd carefully saved when digging over the beds.

Backfilled the top 4" or so with earth and had a good old stamping session. They seem reasonably solid but I guess the winter gales will prove how sturdy they really are !

Had to wait for the OH to raise himself and nailed on the first metal sheet. Used a punch to make a 4 hole triangle at the top, middle and bottom before actually nailing on. First section complete and rather fantastic if I say so myself.

Measured the distance for the second section, dug hole for third post, carried sheet over, misjudged the distance, had to stick in 4th post (leaving a couple of inch gap between first and second sheets ......... dammit. How come when I measured the first two on my own I got it right ? Hey ho. Will fill the gap at some stage with a piece of pallet or something.

Levelled second sheet with the top of the first, leaving a dirty big gap at the bottom ! Will fill with bricks and other assorted bits of rubbish ! Third sheet was slightly smaller than the first two but filled the final gap just fine.

Mr Sec turned up later in the afternoon and took him a good 10 mins to notice the fence ! No wonder he's never been able to see his weeds lol.

OH at this stage went for a kip in the shed, obviously suffering from the excesses of the night before ..... serves him right. That left me to carry on digging over the brassica bed and finally got in 6 cabbage of some description (kindly donated by lottee unknown on Plot 13) and 5 swede donated by Handy Man John two plots up (such a nice fella, full of stories and advice and SUCH a nice greenhouse extension to his shed that I've watched him build since I've had my lottie).

He says that I've got to water the swede (or suede as he calls them - there's a subtle difference in pronunciation) every day for a few days. As they had immediately drooped almost as soon as I got them in the ground I can see the reason why. I planted both through a membrane as I'm sick of seeing a million tiny weeds grow around my babies. Out of sight, out of mind.

I tried swede last year on the plot, but were overcrowded and rotted. These 5 are very well spaced so I'm hoping for something vaguely edible from them. In the absence of any felt for root fly collars for the cabbage, I cut 4 thickness squares of weed suppressant and placed them round the stems instead held down by more useful stones. I've also got to take some netting up to keep out the evil Cabbage white. I can see myself hunting for some carpet squares in preparation for next year. Handy Man John uses BOTH felt and carpet so I doubt my thin things will do the job but I can hope. At least yet another bed is planted, leaving only one to be dug now and then that's me lottie full and I can draw up the final plan, so I know where put stuff next year.

My sown in situ beetroot is actually thriving. I'm so proud. Everything else on the plot was transplanted but these little babies are actually growing. Yee haaa. I can see transplanted beet that I could actually pull now, if I wanted baby ones. I am mightily impressed with that.

Supersprout's Gigantes have reached the tops of the trellises in some places so I'll be pinching out tonight. The climbing beans seem to be struggling a bit. I think Mr Snail and his pals have been having brunch. Two sunflowers have also suffered. No signs of Sluggy, but plenty of snails which have carefully been launched into Mr Sec's weed patch.

Some of the salad leaves and spring onions under the cloches have germinated but despite putting down a layer of newspaper under the compost, so have a million and one other things. The radishes sown under the tee pee are showing in their nice neat rows so I can tell the difference and weed around them. Good idea that ! Anything not in the row is a weed. Broadcast sowing is now out !

One of the squash is travelling at speed, the other one doesn't seem to want to know. Onions are struggling on. Rainbow chard is still with us but not doing much. Lost one of the broad beans but the other four are growing, despite looking a bit feeble. Need to hoe the leek bed but am scared I'll be pushing the earth into the holes (some of which have already been filled due to the heavy rain).

Going on a pallet collecting mission now for the other boundary fence. Got sufficient posts for the job.

Must try and get down to Ayr to pick up a couple of car loads of WRM in preparation for the winter and simply have to get the raised bed edging done. But all in all am very pleased with the progress made in the short time I've been a proud lottie owner.