It's the end of May and, I think for the first time ever, the plot is fully planted up. Just 8 weeks ago the plot was completely bare. So now it's a bit more relaxed until the "catch crop" of first early potatoes is harvested in July and the space planted out with leeks from the seedbed.

All the crops in section A are growing well except that the courgettes Defender were a bit slow during the cold weather for the first half of the month. They have now picked up some speed. The potatoes have been earthed a couple of times and will get this another two times during June.

The "Aminopyralid" contamination of section B, brought in with the farmyard manure, caused problems for last year's potato crop. I haven't used any manure this year and just used compost and leaf mould instead. Aminopyralid can take up to three years to break down in the soil but probably won't cause problems for brassicas. The pigeons are feeling frustrated - they can't get to the plants since they are protected with wire mesh tunnels. I've seen newly planted cabbages stripped down to bare stalks overnight on unprotected crops.

The main potato crop in section C, like the catch crop, have been earthed up twice with two more to go in June.

Just to spite me, the pigeons have turned their attention to the peas in section D. Some plants have been well nibbled but once they get a bit taller the pigeons will probably lose interest. The first three rows of carrots, sown on 14 May, are now starting to appear. They will be protected from the carrot fly with plastic mesh laid over wire hoops to form a tunnel. This is probably the most effective control in an organic plot.

Next month is more relaxed with ongoing hoeing between rows and hand weeding close to plants. A few bits of Mare's Tail, one of the most difficult weeds to eradicate, have shown through the soil. They have been dug out and taken home to the wheelie bin.

A break down of this year's crops, each by row, is:-

Section A

4 courgettes Defender
21 beetroot Boltardy
21 parsnips Countess
Leek seedling Musselburgh. These will replace the first early potatoes and form
7 rows of leeks each row with 28 leeks.
10 potatoes Concorde
10 potatoes Dunluce
10 potatoes Winston

Section B

5 summer cabbage Minicole plus 4 winter cabbage Celtic
9 calabrese Chevalier
9 calabrese Chevalier
9 brussels sprouts Maximus
9 brussels sprouts Maximus
9 cauliflower Candid Charm
9 swedes Angela

Section C

10 potatoes Pentland Javelin
10 potatoes Kestrel
10 potatoes Nadine
10 potatoes Osprey
10 potatoes Maxine
10 potatoes Edgecote Purple
10 potatoes Edzel Blue
10 potatoes Beauty of Hebron

Section D

49 carrots Flakkee
49 carrots Flakkee
49 carrots Autumn King
49 carrots Autumn King
49 carrots Chantenay
49 carrots Chantenay
13 peas Hurst Green Shaft
13 peas Hurst Green Shaft
13 peas Hurst Green Shaft
13 peas Hurst Green Shaft
27 shallots Golden Gourmet
27 shallots Red Sun
40 garlic White
40 onions Red Baron
40 onions Red Baron
40 onions Setton
40 onions Setton.

B. A. Plotter.