Spring is here eventually but its already June

In the north everyone is saying spring is late this year: the winter was wet and the ground has warmed up very slowly. I've had lots of plants started off in the polytunnel but delays have meant many have outstripped their nutrients. But now there is the problem of no rain for 4 weeks; ground dry but seeds will not be germinating without regular watering.

So a few experiments this year....

Chitting parsnip seeds so there is a small shoot. Nothing growing so I think that is something to not try again

Chitting carrots - let them grow on too far so when a release them from their incubator the radicle is breaking. Perhaps it will help. The jury are out.

All hands to the pump. All the weeding and tilling jobs are needing to be done now or sooner. This bed is weeded and now being prepared for planting. So far 3 long beds have ben planted out with cauliflower, broccoli, spring cabbage

Lettuces which have grown on in the polytunnel are desperate to get their roots into some proper soil. This is a crude cold frame this does a good job at creating a warm space, out of the wind. Might even stop the cats digging them up

In the third polytunnel Eilidh is planting out sweet corn in a block. They like a long hot summer - hope they can cope with something rather different.

We discovered some hanging baskets which are now planted up with annuals bought at the Kirk plant sale. I just need to keep them well watered and we could have a great display

Meanwhile, action at the development sensory garden where I have a contract to keep tidy etc. Here is a storage unit being and then completed construction

To ensure there is no time for relaxation, I service a dozen or so property lawns. It is not uncommon for desperate requests to get on top of the grass. In this case, at Waterfall, not cutting for a year or two. so the grass was two foot high in places. I have a powerful grass cutter which struggled but eventually got the grass down.