We had a surprise visitor to our office this afternoon.  During the morning a pair of swallows flew in for a quick recky and flew out again, and then this afternoon this little fellow flew in but struggled to find his way out.  Its amazing to think that in a few months he will find his way to Africa and then next summer hopefully return here.  I'll make a note in my diary to see if he flies into the office again on the 19th May 2010!

I made a note in my diary that the early avola peas that I sowed 60 days ago should be ready now.  Some chance!  And I thought we had had a good start to the summer.  They are up and winding their way through the pea sticks, but not a flower in sight.  Maybe it has been just too dry.

Some years ago I put in raised beds and I'm very pleased I did.  Growing your own veg is so much more pleasurable when you feel on top of things and raised beds do that.  They make weeding and crop rotation easier and generally make you feel like you're winning.

The only downside I can think of is that they are head height for the rabbits, and act rather like a buffet!

This spring I have germinated all my seeds in a mixture of coir compost and peat free multi-purpose compost.  The mixture is coarser than classic seed compost, but this doesn't seem to have held back the seeds.

In a few days I will pop the coir pots into ground and cover them if a frost seems likely.  I will keep a few back in the cold frame though just in case I get caught out!