Well, several weeks without any rainfall at all is having a toll on the soil. My clay soil is almost rock solid - especially around the areas that didn't get dug - eg around the brassicas. The photo shows the extent of some of the cracking to the soil.
However, today I achieved a whole 5 hours of hard graft up the allotment - excluding the time spent chatting with Phil my neighbour and drinking coffee. I have taken a major gamble and planted out my runner bean seedlings. I only sowed them 2 weeks ago, but they were already over 6" tall. I have covered them with some clear plastic and mulched them with some grass cuttings, so hopefully they will survive.
Unfortunately the mouse's nest in the compost bin has gone. In it's place are several slow worms. I would imagine that the mouse has found a new house as the bin becomes a sauna in the afternoon when in full sun.
I also planted out the sunflowers and dahlias. I also got the final row of potatoes in - Charlotte. I struggled to dig up the brussels and the early sprouting broccoli, although I have left a couple of the broccoli plants as they are still producing spears. Not exhibition standard, but very edible. I also picked the first of the rhubarb. This is the first year I have tried forcing it and I removed the covers today and picked the biggest shoots. The thinner ones should red up nicely over the next few days.
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