Category Archives: Smallholding

And another!

Posted on June 21, 2021 by james

I’m wondering if there’s a wild colony somewhere around here, as this group had settled well away from my own hives. Unfortunately it was also about ten metres up in a sycamore tree so there was no way I could … Continue reading →

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A second swarm

Posted on June 21, 2021 by james

My daughter woke me this morning to tell me that another swarm had arrived. I’ve no idea where it came from, but the bees were still in the air when I got to a window and were clearly starting to … Continue reading →

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First swarm of the season

Posted on June 21, 2021 by james

On the first warm, dry day for weeks, I had noticed a higher level of activity than normal around the entrance to one of my hives, but I’ve not been opening the hives up when it’s been so cold and … Continue reading →

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No dig diary, 28th May 2021

Posted on May 28, 2021 by james

We’re still eating the lettuces that are growing in the polytunnel, but I’ve had to remove the Webbs Wonderful as they ran straight to seed. I think given that the ones I planted last Autumn rotted inside over the winter … Continue reading →

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No dig diary, 21st May 2021

Posted on May 24, 2021 by james

It’s been a difficult time to find much to do again because of the weather, but my first sowings of carrots really needed thinning and the fleece replacing with mesh so I got on with that. The removed carrots were … Continue reading →

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No dig diary — the plot so far

Posted on May 18, 2021 by james

Just as a bit of a catch-up, here it is. Potatoes in the bed closest, carrots under fleece behind them, with sweetcorn and squashes near the far end of the same bed. Beetroot, spinach, peas for shoots and parsnips in … Continue reading →

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No dig diary, 18th May 2021

Posted on May 18, 2021 by james

Just some quick jobs today. I planted out the remaining peas for pods, which just leaves me with the spare strawberry plants I need to do something with and then I should be completely caught up after the delays due … Continue reading →

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No dig diary, 17th May 2021

Posted on May 18, 2021 by james

Continuing the process of “catch-up” with all the planting out I need to do, today I managed to get all of the flower seedlings that have been waiting for so long in the greenhouse out into the ground. Mostly cornflowers … Continue reading →

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No dig diary, 16th May 2021

Posted on May 18, 2021 by james

It’s been another awkward day here with a mixture of sunshine and heavy showers. Having got wet several times, I found a large parasol and stuck it in the bed I was working on to keep the rain off, though … Continue reading →

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No dig diary, 15th May 2021

Posted on May 18, 2021 by james

It’s not been the easiest of days out in the veg plot today, with frequent, often torrential, rain showers. Overnight the slugs ate half a dozen of the calabrese and cabbages I planted out yesterday 🙁 I’ve replaced them and … Continue reading →

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