Of cabbages and kings ...

So we spent the day yesterday laying the rest of the weed fabric my lovely mum got me for my birthday (which isn't until July but the garden wouldn't wait that long) including some of the paths. I also managed to plant out 10 Sweetcorn plants, a variety called Lark and 15 each of Red Cabbage (Inferno), Brussel Sprouts (Diablo), Cauliflower (Skywalker) and Savoy Cabbage (Famosa). I have planted cornflowers in amongst the sweetcorn and hope that they will help the ground stay freer of weeds and provide some additional support and help in pollinating the corn.

I actually only managed to fit 52 of the brassica plants in the bed I'd put aside for them and have had to dot the spare around in various places to make sure they don't go to waste. I'm planting morre intensively than recommeneded as I only have a half plot veg and a second half plot for fruit. My allotment neighbour, Tom (80 next year) says he doesn't think they are even halves and I should get it remeasured but to be honest I've got about as much as I can cope with at the moment I shall just have to try and give them extra food until I can manure all the beds in the winter. I think I'm going to get them some pelleted chicken manure (called Cluck!)

It was very hot there yesterday and Friday and, according to another allotment neighbour, it was up to 90 degrees on his shed; I did feel somewhat like the witch in the Wizard of Oz: "I'm melting" but survived and the whole place, although not looking massively attractive with the addition of the plastic matting does, at least, look and feel a tad more manageable.

In other news, it's back to work on Monday, so no more halcyon days indulging my shepherdess fantasy.

*Wanders off singing "high on a hill lived a lonely goatherd ...."*