On feeding the chickens this morning, I was met with a jaw dropping sight. Patch two had been totally massacred by Deer. My spinach had been gnawed within an inch of its life and my runner beans were nothing but leafless stalks.
I had seen them hanging around the top end of the farm recently but didn't think for a second that they could clear the fence into the patch. We'll have to up the height of the existing fence now as once they've had a taste they will surely be back for more. For now I have propped up dozens of 6ft planks against the hip height fence and I shall keep my fingers crossed that it stops them getting through for now. A few old Cd's on string have also done the job in scaring them off ...for now anyway!
Update: 26/07/09
I am pleased to say that the runner beans have come back with a fighting spirit and are doing me proud. Although just a few weeks ago they looked like they could just do with being ripped out, they are now abundant with leaves and blooms with the promise of beanage!
Wednesday 17 June 2009
Carrot Catastophe
Much to my dismay, my carrots have failed me!
I have been watching them get taller and taller over the last few weeks, but of late they have been beginning to produce flower heads. I thought that if I gave them a good pruning that they would put they're energy back into the root rather than the flower and foliage.
I happened to bump into a friend of mine Ben, also a keen gardener, and told him of my problem. He advised me that carrots do this sometimes and that once they have 'gone to seed' (producing flower heads) they are completely useless and will not grow into a full sized carrot, pruned or otherwise. The reason for this can be a number of things but the two most common are lack of water (even for one day) or that they have become too hot in the sun, even for a short amount of time. The best advice he could give me was to pull up all the ones with flower heads and to keep an eye on the others. I can still plant carrot seed right up until the end of July so, as I have had to pull so many, I'm going to plant a load more where the peas had been ... or should I say had bean!
I have been watching them get taller and taller over the last few weeks, but of late they have been beginning to produce flower heads. I thought that if I gave them a good pruning that they would put they're energy back into the root rather than the flower and foliage.
I happened to bump into a friend of mine Ben, also a keen gardener, and told him of my problem. He advised me that carrots do this sometimes and that once they have 'gone to seed' (producing flower heads) they are completely useless and will not grow into a full sized carrot, pruned or otherwise. The reason for this can be a number of things but the two most common are lack of water (even for one day) or that they have become too hot in the sun, even for a short amount of time. The best advice he could give me was to pull up all the ones with flower heads and to keep an eye on the others. I can still plant carrot seed right up until the end of July so, as I have had to pull so many, I'm going to plant a load more where the peas had been ... or should I say had bean!
Friday 12 June 2009
Clucking Good Eggs!!!
I decided some time ago that once I had built up a good surplus of eggs that I would try my hand at selling my wares on a little table at the entrance of the driveway. Last week I found a reasonable sized piece of timber and painted it cream. I needed something catchy and memorable on there as opposed to just 'Free Range Eggs For Sale'. It didn't take me long to come up with the right diction.
I sat at the kitchen table yesterday evening with a large glass of red wine and painted the wording black and red. I was very happy with the end result and hammered the stake of the sign in with a mallet the following morning. I dragged a table to the end of the driveway and busily went about making it look very country.
I decided to put just four boxes of eggs out to see how it went. I didn't want all of them to be pinched so kept a load back just in case. I needn't have as everyone was very honest and I had a clear table by 4:30pm, with the right amount of money to match! Feeling very pleased with myself, I re-stocked the table in time for the potential evening trade and went to feed the chickens their corn and collect the new eggs of the day.
I sat at the kitchen table yesterday evening with a large glass of red wine and painted the wording black and red. I was very happy with the end result and hammered the stake of the sign in with a mallet the following morning. I dragged a table to the end of the driveway and busily went about making it look very country.
I decided to put just four boxes of eggs out to see how it went. I didn't want all of them to be pinched so kept a load back just in case. I needn't have as everyone was very honest and I had a clear table by 4:30pm, with the right amount of money to match! Feeling very pleased with myself, I re-stocked the table in time for the potential evening trade and went to feed the chickens their corn and collect the new eggs of the day.
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