The chickens have escaped!

I’ve been madly busy at work, then went away and had a bout of flu followed by bronchitis… so it had been a while since I walked over to the veg patch. And when I did, I was greeted by a jungle of weeds, all the straw paths had sprouted and boasted luscious clumps of wheatgrass, whilst an actual carpet of buttercups had spread across the beds!

Why is it that weeds grow so virulently and rapidly in an inexorable assault on any patch of ground you try to cultivate – and yet the veg that you want to grow seem to have the most tentative grip on life and you only have to look at a lettuce seedling for it to crumple and die? If only we could eat dock and buttercups, our lives would be sorted!

Thankfully, hiding at the back of the veg-patch is a row of rhubarb, almost swamped by grass but clearly unbothered by it. Growing perennial veg is wonderful, once they’re established they just keep coming back and very little effort is needed. I love rhubarb, and the colour of the stalks is just amazing!

I’ve managed to pull out enough weeds to plant some lettuces, brussel sprouts, celery and stonehead cabbages. There is still some chard growing, plenty of herbs, rocket and hundreds of strawberries. Over the next couple of weeks I need to finish weeding and dig over all the beds in preparation of the great day (15th May) when all veg can be planted outside without fear of frost.