Waste not, want not

I am trying really hard to be less wasteful and the chickens are a great help with this.   Today I pulled up some radishes for lunch tomorrow, together lettuce, rocket and salad leaves.

I love the cycle of reducing waste.  The leaves from the radishes were given to the chickens who really enjoyed them.  They then provide us with lovely fresh eggs and lots of chicken manure which can be left to dry out and then in the autumn put into the garden to help next year’s crops grow.

22 May - 5 weeks after planting

Going to have a very busy week as lots of things need planting out urgently and we don't have any more space. But I have a plan.

In my usual disorganised fashion I'm not entirely sure what sort of beans I planted here but I think they are dwarf french ones. Time will tell.

Mange tout making good progress

Extra beans - yellow beans, broad beans and french beans - just in case the ones planted outside don't grow. Together with a couple of squashes and yet more courgettes. All planted about 10 days ago.

Courgettes need to be planted in their final spot.

Turnips have progressed a bit since the beginning of the month. Shame they are starting to cover up the carrots though.

It's amazing how much the red cabbages have grown - and the cauliflowers after a rather shaky start when they were first planted out. The mange tout are starting to climb the netting at the back.

These cabbages desperately need planting out, as do the tomatoes behind them but where?

Broad beans planted about 10 days ago.

Strawberries starting to ripen

Pictures from 1 May - (2 weeks after planting seeds)

Am aiming to keep a weekly diary of my garden but have been out of action for a couple of weeks so have this from the beginning of May and then a gap until today.

Eggs from our gorgeous girls

Greenhouse - including runner beans in need of planting out

Herbs coming on nicely

Red onion sets

Beetroot (hundreds sown by Boo) and turnips after thinning

Sweetcorn in the greenhouse

Early planting of strawberries already in flower

Later planting of strawberries

Cauliflower plants which George bought at Countrywide.

Red cabbage plants bought by Emily at a car boot and tiny mange tout planted from seed.