Raspberry relocation

I was going to carry on with digging bed 3 today, but once I got to the plot I completely lost all digging willpower - Had a bit of a tidy up at the side of the shed & found what I think are some raspberries growing there & rather than cut them back I dug them up, especially as they were all sprouting.

As I had dug them up I then needed to plant them, so got on with digging a couple of trenches in the fruit cage. Once I had dug the trenches I refilled them with soil, first taking out all the weed roots and mixed in some compost and feed.

I then planted all the raspberries in to the trench, although once I had planted them it became apparent that there are too many to fit into one trench. In the other trench I planted all the raspberries I previously dug up from the next door plot.

There will be two more rows, one of the canes that Rachel gave me which are an autumn variety and another of the 'under shed' variety. The only problem is that I do not know whether the 'under shed' or 'next door' are summer or autumn varieties...only time will tell I suppose!

Last but not least, I took a peek under the cloches and found that the perpetual spinach has just started to sprout....Hoorah!

I love growing things, but I am never too sure about what I am doing - it is all a bit trial & error, so it is always cause for a celebration when it actually works!

Rhubarb 'n' Raspberries

Once I had had enough of studying I went to the plot and dug the ground where the other half of the rhubarb bed is going to be. It was not too bad to dig, although full of bindweed. All I need to do is to get two more gravel boards from B&Q and put the edging round, even up the soil, add some manure and relocate some of the rhubarb plants, as they are too close together at the moment.

The only thing is that currently the bed looks like a recently dug grave......Now where did I put my Husband?

Whilst I was there I went scouting for raspberry canes on the overgrown plot next to mine, found about 5 canes which I think are autumn ones as they appear to be sprouting from the bottom, and 8 which I think are summer canes as they seemed to be sprouting from the along the cane. I might be totally wrong of course, but will be able to see once they actually produce something. Transplanting them might not work, but I thought it was worth a go as it will save me some money. These, if they grow on OK, along with the ones Rachel gave me will give me enough cases to get going with, I can then add some more if needs be.

I heeled these into the strawberry bed temporarily until I can put them into their correct place.

By the time I had finished all that it was almost dark, so called it a day & went home & made a crumble with some of the Rhubarb a fellow plot holder gave me.

It was delicious!

Dig in

Had to make sure that I got to the plot in reasonable time this morning as I am off to Wembley with my daughter to see the X Factor Live (She likes one direction but I think Matt Cardle is great - if only I was a few years younger!) Any way, decided to try to get the digging finished on bed 2, which was easier going as I got towards the end of the bed.

I actually managed to finish it before I needed to leave which was a relief - Now I need to tackle the grassy ones which will be MUCH harder going, as I will need to take out all the couch grass....and there is loads of it!

As I was digging away Rachel came over brandishing what looked to unaccustomed eye, a load of twigs, but it turns out she was actually clutching some raspberry canes that she had thinned out from her plot & did I want them? Oooooh yes please! So I followed her advice & heeled them into one of the soon to be strawberry beds for the time being, until I can plant them into their proper place in the fruit beds once I have rotorvated & prepared the ground.......Mmmm that's another story!

Dominic & Andy were at their plot but were having bad luck with the rotorvator, as the first one they picked up wouldn't start and the second on was working OK on cultivated land but was just bouncing around & not digging in on the uncultivated areas, so They gave up and took it back & got a refund. Now we are on plan B - the options are to try to get a very hefty rotorvator from somewhere or dig the whole area.....What to do?

I really want to get the poly tunnel up and also at least have the ground prepared to plant the fruit bushes and trees, so that I can then plant out the bushes I already have and plant trees as & when I manage to get them. I wouldn't bother rotorvating but the ground is so uneven with great big dips and craters in it, if I want to have a grassy orchard area it really needs to be flat. It would lake me ages to dig, so still think It will be best to rotorvate, particularly as I need to focus the digging on the veg beds.

Oh well - onwards & upwards...