First and foremost was planting out my chicory. These are plants from last year, and they have very solid roots now which is perfect. The variety is "Witloof" which is good for cut-and-come-again leaves and also to be forced in the winter to create long, white spear headed lettuces.
Pretty little plug-plants!
Up the back of the garden I have a 4m x 2m raised bed, in which I grew my pumpkins, squash and courgettes last year. This year, I am changing it to a soft fruit bed as it is a warmer spot with better soil and more sunshine.
I moved some of my healthiest strawberry plants and planted them in three rows. I have a few more to plant, so I will have 3 or 4 rows in total.
When the plants start growing runners, these will be pinned to the ground so that they develop roots and grow into new strawberry plants. Older, less fruitful plants, will be dug up and composted, and the new young plants will take their place.
Finally, I wanted to sow some sunflower seeds. I saved these seeds from a few flowers from last year, more than enough for this year!
There's about 42 sunflower seeds there, which sounds excessive, but slugs demolished most of my sunflowers last year before they even grew a foot tall, so I'm hoping that even if this happens again, I should still have enough sunflowers to plant out.
There is still plenty to be done in my garden; I have raspberry canes to move and gooseberry bushes to move as well. Not looking forward to that!
Ruth
