Just back in failing light. Hooray - I've dug over the top bed - and removed another half sack of couch weeds - and manured it ready for the Aquadulce broad beans which I bought last weekend. Hope to get 'em in tomorrow.
This leaves me 6 more beds covered in weed fabric, one already dug out, and 5 to go. As well as a few beds not covered, but needing to be dug over and weeded. I've decided to also dig out the paths between the beds, because there's more couch lurking under there, waiting to strike out sideways. Weeds are my main crop.
I'm getting ahead with my planning for next year - which I do find quite difficult. I've ordered some globe artichokes as little plants to be delivered in May. I assume as they're perennials (well, I gather they have a few years in 'em) I'll need to decide on a 3 to 4 year home for them. Are they brassicas? They're a bit of a vanity project really - but R says we don't get enough sun here to grow globe artichokes properly.
I've got a load of leeks, planted at the end of June. Some are looking quite plump, but others are still quite skinny. Book says they need 6 months minimum - which will be January at the earliest. I've planted them too close together to allow earthing up - so every year I get a crop of little stubby items. As my granddad used to say - "Think on, lad!" Maybe I'll get it right next year.
What's really worrying me is that last spring we went on the local town twinning trip to Brittany where we stayed for a couple of nights with a small farmer and his family. His mum (who's 84) was i/c vegetables and kept the equivalent of 4 allotments under management - not a weed in sight and everything beautifully in order. It's the turn of the French to come here next year, and we may find ourselves hosting the farmer and his wife (if they decide to come over). They're really nice people, but they'll sure as eggs want to see my allotment! Perhaps I should hire a local gardener to get it ready? Aaargh.