Today was my first day at the plot for three weeks. We've had huge amounts of rain recently - apparently April 2012 was the wettest April we've had for 100 years - so I haven't been down to the plot for a while. I imagined ark conditions, but it wasn't too bad - the soil is heavy and damp, but not flooded, and the cool temperatures have inhibited growth of both weeds and vegetables. The fruit trees look as though they have very much enjoyed the rain, as do the shallots and onions. The first few broad beans have poked through, and more asparagus has come up too. Still no sign of the other beans or beetroot. 
A bit of emergency strimming reduced the main paths to slightly more respectable lengths, and the recut thoroughfares were enjoyed by sparrows and waddling pigeons during the afternoon. I planted (rather late!) a set of chitted Maris Piper potatoes, in five potato bags - a new venture for me. I also built my second little raised bed for the artichokes, this time much more quickly with the invaluable help of a battery operated drill - so much easier! I'm still plundering an old compost heap for the soil - it's good stuff but probably full of seeds. It'll be interesting to see what comes up with the artichokes...Digging out the artichokes was a surprising experience - their root systems seem to be as extensive and alien-looking as the asparagus; they might have been trees from their appearance. A good deal of tussling later, they were up, out, and waiting to be reburied in their new home. Not before time too, I had planted them much too close to my neighbour's fence four years ago, and they were threatening to invade. They were one of the first things I ever planted on plot 129 - gifts from my neighbour on the other side.
So all in all, I reckon I deserved that cider! Cheers!
