Spring?

Things are warming up now, but it has been very wet, so it has been very difficult to do any digging - the clay has just held the water and is very claggy.
However, I have been able to do a few things.As I said, last week I planted broad beans and potatoes. This weekend I have planted onion sets, parsnip seed, lettuces (in my seed bed) spring onions and beetroot. The parsnips were planted (3 seeds in each) in holes that had been made with a crowbar (a dibber would have done) filled with old compost. When they germinate, hopefully in a month, I will let one plant grow per hole. I've also put a lot of chippings on my paths, which were very wet. There are still some paths to do though! I've also planted some runner bean and climbing french bean seeds at home, which I should be able to plant out in about 6 weeks time, if I've got round to digging the plot over by then!
There are always more things to do of course, including putting boards round a couple of my plots. This will allow me to raise the level somewhat, which should help with drainage, and soil structure.

Planting at last

I've had some broad bean plants in the greenhouse for more than a month now, waiting for the weather to warm up a bit so they could be planted out. Yesterday was the big day! It was only about 6°C but this is such an improvement on the year to date that I took the bull by the horns and planted them under a mesh cloche, which should protect them from a degree or so of frost. I also moved 24 barrows of manure onto one of my plots. This morning I dug it in (with some blood, fish and bone) then planted some potatoes. Again, they had been ready to put in for some time.The next job will be to plant some onion sets, plus parsnip seeds and beetroot seeds - better late than never! In a couple of weeks I will plant some bean and pea seeds (in pots, in the greenhouse) then some sweetcorn seeds in a warm propagator. I have cabbage seedlings coming on and some tomato seedlings which just refuse to grow as it's still too cold. With everything so late this year, it's all a bit of a mass panic! There's lots still to do.