An odd year so far. As I reported in other posts, mice have been a problem with peas, Seeds were dug up and shoots eaten. Beans also attracted unwelcome attention, this from rabbits, which chomped the foliage. The leaves were sprinkled with cayenne pepper which has helped and I may dress my pea seeds with the cayenne next year . Ferrets have been used on the warren and they seem to be gone now. When I read to my youngest grandchild, I now tell him firmly that Mr MacGreggor was right and that Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny belong in pies.
I'm getting on top of the Mares's tail. Glyphosate seems to work better on it if the foliage is bent over flat and scraped with a spade before spraying. Between that and digging, the weed is much reduced and in most areas almost gone.
On a more successful note, I installed new raised beds for carrots and onions. I spaced both quite intensively and have bumper crops. On a site with carrot fly problems, I also used a barrier of insect mesh on one bed. I have some good compost from a bin I took over. I tested it in a couple of pots with no problems at all.
For next year - more raised beds and intensive spacing as recommended by an old friend.
