First job was to attach guttering to the shed, and point the downspout at the new water butt. Not a total success - following tests with a watering can it looks like the brackets need spacers behind them as most of the water over-shoots the gutter.
Made a start on clearing the ditch. Just about everybody who has come over for a chat has mentioned that it is my responsibility to keep the ditch clear, so I thought it was time to do something before the nettles, bindweed and brambles took over. About 2/3 done, the rest can wait for another day.
Then, on to the fun stuff...
Two apple trees planted as cordons, leaving space for a third in the row. They are Egremont Russet - late fruiting and a good keeper, and James Grieve - mid-season fruiting but doesn't keep so not one often seen in the shops. The plan is to add an early variety to provide a long season of fresh apples.
When in Wilkinsons on Saturday morning, I picked up red- and a black-currant bushes. Unspecified variety, but for £1 each it's worth a try!
Lots of weeding; the pieces of Couch Grass rhizome missed while digging are all sprouting, Bindweed is exploding into life, and the very unwelcome Marestail is sending shoots up. All under control for the moment.
Both Catriona and Desiree potatoes are showing leaves now. The Feltham First peas have stalled after a sustained attack by something that left bite marks all around the leaves - Flea Beetle according to one of the other allotmenteers. Sowed some Jaguar pea seeds which will hopefully miss the breeding cycle of the beetles.
