First Proper Harvest of the Year

Jamie dug through the patch where the carrots will go this year - with a hand trowel - the ants nest was in the corner of the plot... This is what it looks like when you disturb a red ants' nest!

Panicking to clear their eggs away

It was a fine but windy weekend so I enjoyed being in the greenhouse (I'm calling it that now) to get out of the rather chilly breeze. We need to open the vents each day because it gets so hot in there, but it doesn't make much difference to nighttime temperatures which have been down to minus figures (so, I don't think we'll be sleeping in there anytime soon!)

Nice window view

I got a lot of seeds sown over the two days:

• Cornell's Bush Delicata squash
• Defender Courgette
• Russian Giant sunflowers
• Rainbow Chard
• Purple-podded peas (mangetout)
• Asparagus Pea

The majority are sown into modules or pots with just the lettuce seeds and fennel sown into a tray at the moment. I've sown more than we want as hopefully there will be plenty for sharing and providing for events, etc. but have seeds left over in case they get frosted or slug-nibbled. (Say it quietly: the slugs haven't discovered the greenhouse yet)
Most of the seeds I sowed a couple of weeks ago have sprouted... no sign of celery yet though.

Florence Fennel - Rondo

Boltardy Beetroot

Lettuce - Tom Thumb and Little Gem

And, we harvested our first rhubarb of the year! This variety is Raspberry Red and it was delish, with plenty of sugar and custard - yum.