Free gifts

How often do you get a free gift? I mean really free - no strings, no small print, no catches? In the allotment I seem to be getting some really good ones. First, a fennel plant. This seed must have been in hiding since last year when my fennel, if I am honest, wasn’t all that good. I forgot to do the earthing up to keep the lower part white and the rain didn’t come at the right time so all the plants were a bit feeble. However this seed sat it out and came up early this year. When nothing else was visible in the plot this was growing away merrily. It was a free gift in two ways - a plant I hadn’t bargained for and an indication that next year the fennel can go in much earlier.

My other free gift is even more dramatic and truly free - i hadn’t even planted a seed like it. It’s a sunflower. I saw the seedling and realised what it was early on. I was curious so to see how it would turn out and in that happenstance way of nature it had come up pretty much centre in the front plot. Now it is over six foot tall and a variety that has really bold yellow petals and what looks like several flowers to follow. The stem is about an inch in diameter with leaves spread along and it’s really sturdy. I don’t know what variety it is but it certainly isn’t one i have ever planted. I shall aim to find out. In the meantime it’s an eye catching feature and I hope that eventually it will set seed and become bird food. Who said there was no such thing as a free lunch.

This week’s gardening log:

Lettuce - most of the first lot eaten. The "Arctic King" bolted in the heat - it’s really a late season variety but it was worth a try. Frisee coming along nicely and seemingly unappetising to the invasion of slugs and snails that has recently appeared.

Peas - at last. The rain has fattened a few. Not many yet but sweet.

Runners - first plants got munched by slugs but i have put in some more which were at a more robust stage and they seem to be ok - but a bit pale. Nutrient missing?

Garlic - pulled one just to see how they were getting on. A bit on the small side still but looking forward to seeing how that one tastes in advance of the rest.

Tomatoes - pinched out the first lot of side shoots. Must remember to keep doing this or they run out of control. But the plants look healthy.

Lettuce - planted a new row of "All Year Round". They were free seeds so lets see how they do!

Nursing times

I am worrying about courgettes. As my second favourite summer veg, I really want my own, just-outside-the-front-door crop. But the three plants I have put out so far are looking poorly. They have come out in yellow spots and the leaves look crumpled.

I have had trouble with these in the past. The year before last I had dozens of flowers but no fruit. Last year I think the plants succumbed to mosaic virus and looking at them this year, I am worried it's back.

Mosaic virus attacks a whole bunch of things but particularly courgettes, squashes and cucumbers. As I understand it, it gets in through those places where aph

ids have bitten or where there has been some other damage. Afte

r last year's outbreak I destroyed the plants and made sure I didn't plant this year's lot in the same place. However, loo

king at the evidence I think the news is not good.

So what to do? The virus doesn't kill the plant but makes it weak and it remains a threat to other uninfected plants. Since I have a pretty small patch to grow in I think remedial action is probably too late - my other plants probably already have it. I have decided to nurse this lot for the time being and see what happens.

However, I do have some more young plants not yet planted out including two sorts of cucumber, Burpless Tasty Green and Crystal Lemon and another variety of courgette, Firenze. These I'll plant up in pots in the back garden and hope they don't get sick away from the isolation ward.

This is the sort of thing that tries the patience of even the most enthusiastic gardener. Note to self: next year buy disease resistant varieties