The garden is blooming all over as the sun is warming up, but after a little bit a frosty period the winds are bringing in ‘Feel Like’ temps that are hitting freezing daily even during the daylight hours!

This last week I have noticed a big drop in the amount of Bees, which were abundant the week before last. I need them now as my Apple trees are coming into bloom!

As an update, my ‘Reborn patch’ is now with Shallots, Red & White Onions growing really well and the first signs of of a 2nd year of Asparagus. With the salad bed, really getting on and actually providing a small amount of lettuce and Radish’s for last nights tea!

Their is Parsnips coming through in abundance and they will need thinning but I will wait until a overcast day, as I have just read an article in ‘Kitchen Garden’ that the sap if gotten onto the skin reacts with the sun and causes skin burns which can be very painful, so be warned.

Beetroot are showing but are very hit and miss good job I will be making a 2nd sowing this week, my Carrots are terrible not an inkling of sprouting and have come to the decision to resow the week after next! This not a problem I jam just having it seems the carrots have not liked the cold over the last few weeks even though the days have had a good amount of sunshine.

In the fruit bed the Bramley has started flowering and the Green Gooseberry is setting fruit well, this is even better news when you consider it is only a year old. The Tayberry is also fruiting but I am worried about the cold wind as it seems to be causing some damage to the leaves as it is doing to the Pear tree. Both the Blueberry & Blackberry are with fruit but as they are again only yearlings I do not foresee any massive amounts of fruit! The Strawberries are flowering but i have noticed some leave damage and found the culprit a little green caterpillar which eventually will turn into a little Cabbage Butterfly!

I now have a Greenhouse with plenty of Red Cabbages, Red Cauliflower, Broccoli, Kale in 2 forms, Celeriac, Brussels , Runner Beans, Courgettes, 3 types of Tomatoes, Chillis, Aubergines, Peppers and loads of herbs, ready for their move to the outside world.

I have done alot of the outside jobs including tidying and making the access to the compost bins more accessible including laying some block paving for the first time.

The raised beds are getting a design makeover in that I am making the hoops larger so that i can allow the Vegetables more height before I need to remove the netting this will hopefully give them more protection and for longer!