27th May

Another good start to the week with nice dry weather, finishing of with the end of the week pouring with rain yet again.

But we did get nearly all off the late leeks planted.

And we pulled the fleece of off the brassicas and went through with the weeding machine.

The brassicas were really needing their first weed of the year.

Seventy thousand late leeks were ready for planting, and yet again just me and Rab on the planter.

I knew the weather was due to change by Wednesday, so we cracked on with the harvesting, getting in early, so we could get on with planting as quick as possible.

The plan was to try and get all the leeks planted before the rain.

Each morning the harvesting did hold us up just a wee bit.

But on Monday we got one hundred and fifty trays planted that is, twenty-one thousand six hundred leeks.

Tuesday the same, I thought with a bit of luck we might just get them in.

The forecast was for thunder and lightning from Wednesday at 12.

Wednesday morning, we got started even earlier.

The day was going well, with zero wind, I did think we might just make it.

By 12 o’clock it was still looking pretty good, two more hrs and we could do it.

But half way down the row, which takes about an hour to plant a row, the temperature dropped, seagulls came in.

If seagulls come in and sit in groups around the field, that is a sure sign heavy rain is on the way.

And right enough then the wind came and we just made the end before the downpour arrived.

And the rain kept coming on and of till the end of the week.

But we did get sixty-four thousand eight hundred leeks planted, with just five thousand two hundred left to go in, just and hr and a half work.

The seagulls have always baffled me.

They are a water bird, and we have the river earn running down past the farm.

Why is it they do not like being on the water if there is heavy downpours of rain.

The river is soaking wet anyway, but they always fly in and sit around the field until the rain goes off.

We always know its going to be a huge downpour when they arrive and it gives us time to put our waterproofs on, and they are always right.

And the other birds that are hiding in the trees and bushes when is raining.

They all start singing about and hour or so before the rain is about to stop, amazing how they all know.

Much better than met office.

Next weeks, plans weather permitting.

Is to finish of planting the leeks, then lay the mulch film, and start planting the squash plants.

Fingers crossed for a dry spell.