Snoop's log, plot date 22.5.21

Not very much to report but keen to keep a record.

All the peppers and aubergines have taken. Courgettes looking fine. Home-grown toms and basil have taken to the new bed with maybe 7-10 cm of muck on top very well. Shop bought ones looking a bit less happy, but they're quite tall in comparison with mine and have struggled a bit in the wind. Mine are acclimatised and have good thick 'trunks' rather than spindly 'stems'. Very pleased. Was a bit worried so much muck might be too much of a good thing.

Scythed another area. Soil looking very good under tarpaulin cover with loads of plant debris on top to keep out light. Masses of snails and slugs, though. And the odd bit of shredded tarpaulin. Won't use that again. Just cardboard and muck.

Spotted an adult skink too (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalcides_bedriagai). Never seen one here before and their usual habitat is much further south. I'm guessing they're pushing north due to climate change. Must make a safe overwintering habitat for it/them, as some years the winters will be much harder than they're adapted to. But really good to see. With any luck, one day I'll see a hedgehog too. That'll be the day. Feel a song coming on...

Got some successional sowing done: beetroot, spring onions, broccoli, cabbage and lettuce. Anybody grown Goldvital cabbage before? I liked the picture on the website. Talk about buying a book by its cover. You'd think I'd know by now that mine won't turn out anything like seed suppliers' pampered plants!

Tomorrow's job: put up the bean frame. Mr Snoop bought me some overpriced climbing bean seeds. They never do well here - too windy - but they're giving it their best shot. Looking extremely healthy and bursting out of their modules. So, they and the peas can go in the ground tomorrow. Lettuce and some beetroot to go out too, along with first round of brassicas.

Feeling like I'm making progress. Another day of scything up top and then I can have a look down in the fields.