Bare soil

This is one of three plots I have in my vegetable garden or "hort". today is mild and sunny so I took advantage and hoiked out the weeds and gave it a rough dig over.

Experience has told me that there is no point in trying to fight with nature here. If you dig down,plant and irrigate you end up with weedy plants in baked clay. So I have gone for my own form of lazy bed, a rickle of stones about 5mX4m with a depth of compost to about 60cm. This seems to give enough depth for plants to establish roots but doesn't totally dry out during the day.

I buy my seeds over the internet from Real Seeds. They have good varieties and interesting non traditional veggies. Things like tomatoes, I have found are best bought locally as they seem to be more resistant to local pests.

Love February for the optimism that pervades my gardening, come August I am either cursing or enjoying the fruits, often both!!