Today was very warm- it was 20 deg C in the shade in the garden! This inspired me to sow some peas. A double row of mange tout pea "Oregon Sugar Pod" and a tall pea called "Alderman" which I grew last year and was quite impressed with.
I have laid some fine mesh chicken wire over the pea bed and pegged it down. This is to deter mice from digging them up. I have often ended up with a row of holes where the little rodents have dug down to get the pea or bean. Another method I use is to sprinkle garlic granules over the seed bed to disguise the smell of the germinating peas. I will report back on this one!
I have also added to the broad bean bed by sowing some "Supersimonia" and some "Witkeim" also using the garlic granule rodent confuser.
I tried to finish off the winter pruning of the apple trees today and took some cuttings for grafting if I've got time. The buds are just starting to break so it's getting a bit late for this. Leaves are now bursting open on the gooseberries and black currants, which were all pruned in the winter.
Another job completed today was planting pot grown wild plum and damson suckers, and hazel saplings by part of the hedge in the field where it is getting rather thin. Hopefully these will add to the hedge or some allowed to grown to produce fruit.
It's been and real Spring like day today and I was pleased to see a lot of bees about. Honey bees and different types of bumble bees were feeding on the willow flowers and making a real buzz. The yellow stars of Celandines also provide early bee food.
