Early July and so many Weeds

Well, we are back from our two week holiday in France. We stayed at a campsite called "Le Pin Parasol" in the Vendee, not far from Aizenay. Jolly nice it was too, would highly recommend it to any campers out there.

This morning we ventured upto the allotment and wow, so many weeds. Of course I didn't take my camera as it is full of holiday pictures to be downloaded. Our Potato Tyres are 3 high now and one has a single spud growing up through, but not the other one. Not sure what has happened there - could possibly be too high for them or they just need more water, anyway the weeds were growing very nicely thank you.

The sweetcorn, we couldn't see for weeds, but my lovely assistant, Michael cleared that and they are now weed free and able to grow. The Leeks and parsnips are to be weeded as we cannot see either of these as the weeds are higher than our veg. At least it is easy to clear, thank goodness.

I picked the last of the broadbeans and they were surprisingly weed free and I dug over the bed so it is ready for something else to go in. Not sure what at the moment, so back to the seed catalogues - bliss.

I weeded the runner beans, sweetpeas and savoy cabbage as they are all in one bed. I have lost 3 savoy cabbages which means I have 5 left but I have noticed that the red cabbage seeds that died in their trays, 3 are still surviving so I think I will plant them where the savoys were. Don't know what happened to them as they are covered so I didn't think the pidgeons could get to them - hey ho!

Some of my Swiss Chard has bolted and my carrots have been hit by the dreaded "carrot root fly" so I don't have a crop of them this year - double drat! I was growing F1 Maestro by Sutton Seeds and they are supposed to be resistant, but obviously they are not. Next year I must write myself a note to cover them with fleece to protect them.

Our 6 Rhubarb crowns all flowered this year. Never had that before. Now they are covered in black fly - never had that before either. In fact, I have noticed that all the underside of the weeds was covered in black fly too. They must like this warm weather.

Weeded the Celeriac and the Parsnips and we don't know which is which as their leaves all look very similar. At least we have got some of both this year which is a bonus. For the past 2 years our seeds have gone to Australia so chitting the parsnips first is definitely the way to go. Will have to write myself another note next year!

As I have so much washing to do and a quilt to finish for my Mum's birthday (which is next Tuesday) I had better get on with it.

Thanks for looking