Rhubarb forcer lid forced off by rhubarb

.. as it should be! First crop of rhubarb pulled today.

Wild garlic

.... part of plans for lunch tomorrow.

Sunshine for most of the day yesterday. Today started with sun and clouds and then we had sharp showers in the afternoon.

Last weekend - as in 4/5th April - lawn feed and weed

Some rain finally. 'Some' as in the weather forecast was for torrential rain but we only got a light overnight shower. 'Finally' as in the ground is parched; on heavy clay this is not good.

Although Mr B is, in theory at least, in charge of the lawn I took control of the spring 'feed and weed' to make the most of the first rain for weeks. Used Evergreen's complete formula and scattered on Friday 3rd April. Could have done with more rain to water it in and I can still, some 10 days later, see some of the granules. The first four cuts of the lawn after application will be put on the field side of the hedge as mulch and to avoid adding weedkiller to the compost heap.

Forcer off rhubarb and first stems harvested (twist off rather than cut btw!)

Spring Fauna and Cover Ups

Fauna: The first bumble bee of the year bumping up against the kitchen window.

Cover Ups: ended the day yesterday putting the cloches (metal hoops covered with plastic to make a tunnel) onto the middle section of the vegetable patch. This will allow me to make an early sowing of, at least, lettuces and radishes in a few weeks time.

Rhubarb forcer (put in place early Feb)

Peaked inside the rhubarb forcer. Although I couldn't actually hear the rhubarb growing, as you can if you go to the growing sheds in Lincolnshire, the pink stems are developing nicely. Haven't a clue what variety it is. My clump is from a root division from one my parents had many many years ago.

Will order the main 'cover up' this week. This is compost created by the local recycling company from garden waste. It makes an excellent mulch as well as soil improver and remarkably cheap, as well as eco-friendly. My own compost will be dug into the part of the vegetable patch designated as bean growing area this year (once I have dug up the remaining parsnips) and mulch the base of the fruit bushes/canes.