Started digging

[Mrs Ava]

Started work on my new patch this morning.  You know, it really isn't too bad....at the moment! The ground is lovely and soft and is digging easily.  I am pulling up roots like mad, but already I have made a dent in the work!  Whilst digging I turned out a newt, jet black with a fire orange belly, and a slow worm slithered out amongst the roots. Also beetles of all sizes, one whopper made me jump, shiny blue!  Now it looks like rain, but I don't care.

Also picked the last of my peas, a few more runner beans, can't believe they are still going, dug up some lovely carrots - early nantes, and not a hole in them, and some parsnips which were transplanted, so are more like tennis balls than snips!  ;D

[Mrs Ava]

[tim]

Amazing how the beans keep coming - still at 12"+. Just dug the maincrop spuds - see elsewhere. = Tim

[rdak]

EJ,
Fire-bellied newts are protected, so you might want to report your finding somewhere- especially as developers cannot build within so many yards of where they are found!

[Mrs Ava]

They aren't fire bellied newts Ross, I just googled some pics to check.  Hope not anyhow as apparently they are toxic!  Also mostly aquatic.  Nah, just a regular (whatever they are) newt looking for somewhere to spend the winter I guess.

Apparently a couple of years back some pheasants nested in the rough where I am digging, but something...or more likely someone smashed all the eggs and destroyed the nest!

The site sec. tells me it is a favourite hiding place for grass snakes, and old Jack had an adder on his plot sunbathing the other day.  So tell me....do snakes hibernate?  Am I likely to run across them also?

Saw your spuds Tim, wow what whoppers!  Wish I had some like that, could just go a jacket spud for my tea...instead I have kippers!  I have picasso on order for next year - I will leave them in longer and hope they stay blight free so I can dig some whoppers!

[kenkew]

Looking in my new UK seed cat: I'm real envious of you people, the choice of seed spuds is enormous in the UK....here I can only find about 5 sorts. Still, my crop this year beat my Belgium friends........Hehehehe.

[DocAlgae]

Hi Emma,

Yep, snakes do hibernate, anytime from the end of Septemberish onwards.  They like to sleep in holes in the ground, and manure/compost heaps especially (presumably because they're nice and warm!).  If there have been reports of an adder around your lottie, I would be very careful and remember to wear stout boots and gloves if you're delving into the compost heap or undergrowth..  It also might be worth mentioning to your local wildlife trust, as adders are in serious decline in this country.

[Doris_Pinks]

Doc, around here they are luckily plentiful, Hubby and youngest go to watch them in the late spring basking in the sunshine ;D Eldest and myself decline! :o

[Mrs Ava]

I shall be careful.  Jack saw an adder a couple of weeks back, and I know there are plenty on our plot as we are surrounded my NT land, and farm land so all lovely thickly planted countryside.  Essex is fab!

[Multiveg]

Ken - would it be worth you visiting the UK - thinking of Potato Day last weekend in January? - and buying over here to take back with you?