Category Archives: Smallholding

An odd swarm call

Posted on May 20, 2024 by james

I received a call about a swarm this afternoon, but it didn’t go quite the way I expected… The caller wanted to know if I had a box he could use to keep a swarm that had arrived in his … Continue reading →

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Oilseed rape flowers are disappearing

Posted on May 20, 2024 by james

And right next to some of my hives, too. Hopefully there’s at least some Spring honey there to be had, though if they’ve eaten it all on the days they couldn’t fly I shouldn’t be entirely surprised. Anyhow, it means … Continue reading →

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No dig diary, 19th May 2024

Posted on May 20, 2024 by james

More sowing in the greenhouse today. Mostly climbing beans and cucurbits — the stuff that needs something bigger than a module tray. Beans mostly seem to take care of themselves, but the last few years I’ve had problems getting cucurbits … Continue reading →

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Memory Lane, 6th June 2023: First mangetout

Posted on May 20, 2024 by james

I’ve never tried this variety before. They’re huge! Some pods are easily 100mm long. We’ll have to see how they go down with the rest of the family.

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So sow!

Posted on May 20, 2024 by james

With my new-found space in the greenhouse, it’s time to catch up on all the sowing that I haven’t done for the last month because of the miserable weather. It’s quite a pile, having gone through my plan and dug … Continue reading →

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It’s a bee day

Posted on May 20, 2024 by james

This morning I inspected the hives in my home apiary. Mostly they’re looking good. I had to add a super to a couple of colonies and a second brood box to another, found a queen and marked her. One colony … Continue reading →

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Memory Lane, 4th June 2023: I am the daddy!

Posted on May 20, 2024 by james

Well, to these little chaps, anyhow. Not a great photo, but they’re the first to hatch of this year’s batch.

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Super frames finally finished

Posted on May 20, 2024 by james

I finally finished making up all my super frames and got them stacked up at the bee shed ready to go. It’s been a bit of a slog getting these done, but I really ought to try to get through … Continue reading →

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No dig diary, 17th May 2024

Posted on May 20, 2024 by james

More planting out today, mostly lettuces and salad onions that I don’t need filling up the greenhouse any more. Time for them to be in the ground outside. Most of the tomatoes, the aubergines and peppers/chiles were potted on, too. … Continue reading →

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Memory Lane, 26th May 2023

Posted on May 16, 2024 by james

A few views of the veggie plot as it stands today.

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