Runner beans

The runner beans are doing very well. At first we were a bit dubious about getting a crop especially after an attack of aphids, wind damage, nosey foxes and all sorts, they have recovered. They've quickly clambered up to the top of the canes and are winding themselves around each other and back over adjacent canes.

However, in order to actually get the plants to produce runner beans we need some bees. Bees, which I am coming round to the idea of, are very very important flying beasties in the garden. They pollinate the flowers - remembering the old GCSE knowledge. However there are stories which say that the bee is in decline. What can we do to help boost their numbers again? (A question I never thought I'd ask - I've even looked up "bee nesting boxes". However the word "colony" sends a shiver down my spine). It's too late now as we should have put a bee box by now. Maybe next year, when I have also invested in a bee keepers outfit.

Ladybirds

Over the last week we've had our first sighting of ladybirds around the garden. This is brilliant news - these gorgeous little beetles eat aphids. Aphids attack the green beans and stunt their growth, so I am happy as murder at the hands of ladybirds will shortly commence. We had planted marigolds to encourage ladybirds - so hopefully this is what has brought them along to our patch. Either that, or it is ladybird season. Either way, who cares.

The ladybirds love it so much, particular on the runner beans, that they have taken to making sweet love (and baby ladybirds we hope) on the stems. If you look carefully in the darker picture, you can just make out the outline of the happy couple. How voyeuristic, but lovely to see nature in action. Mr's new camera lens captures them very well (if I may say so myself as it was his birthday gift from me).

More harvest

Look at our beautiful salad. I feel like a proud parent as I munch on the leaves. And it all began from some tiny seeds. We've been lucky - the aphids and slugs haven't touched this stuff. I think the pak choi has proven to be too much of a distraction for the slimy beast. How could they resist the large leaves; perfect slug food.

Harvesting

At last, we can eat! Salad, spinach and pak choi have been on the menu so far as it's too early for anything else.

After musing what crops to pick and how to pick them, we just dived right in and started pulling away. It's bizarre but great to actually start using the plants for what we used them for in the first place. Look at how green the pak choi is! And it tastes much better than the stuff you get wrapped in cellophane from the supermarket.

We've taken the netting off the crops now, and the spraying (of organic killer - if there is such a thing) seems to have done the trick. However the slugs are breeding and seem to be feasting off the pak choi. However as there is so much of it, I think we can live with it. Although I really want to buy some slug pellets and wipe them all out.

We made the mistake of putting woodchip paths between the vegetable beds. A mistake because it proves to be a breeding ground for the slimy horrible things. If there is a frost, I have to turn the woodchips over and that'll kill most of them off. One blog also suggested going out to mow the lawn at night as the slugs come out to play in the grass i.e. this would chop them up and stop them eating my food. Gosh, it's amazing what a murderous person gardening makes you. I'm feeling particularly aggrieved because the slugs or snails had a go at my pepper plants, eating their leaves and making them look poorly. Furthermore, the stupid baby foxes have squashed a marigold plant (which attract ladybirds, which eat aphids) and another pepper plant. Why can't nature stay out of my garden?!!! I've been out at 7am a couple of times to chase the horrible four legged furry things out. I hope the neighbours haven't seen.