Complexity, simplicity & mistakes in the vegetable garden.,

Day 122 #365DaysWild

Vegetable garden.

Still lots of green even as we head to the end of October.

Invertebrates on the wing including red admiral and common carder bees nectaring on the dahlias. Dive-bombing harlequin ladybirds.

Little siskins in flight call overhead.

Organic and no-dig, undisturbed soil. Enriching compost mulch applied to the soil surface to stimulate invertebrate and mycorrhizal activity and to nurture roots.

Grazing rye green manures flourishing. Protecting soil structure and fertility.

But protective mesh can conceal problems too! Big mistake!! Beneath the mesh protecting our Brussels sprouts from white butterflies was a whitefly supercity! Devastation! Chlorotic, coated leaves. Poorly plants.

Emergency action required so that all affected leaves had to be stripped off. Hoe the ground beneath the plants.

And then, to the wonder of Pete who stood in surprise I blasted the plants with my jet washer to remove the remaining whitefly and their horrible detritus.

Whether I’ve done enough to revive the plants will be discovered on Christmas Day!

More ordinarily, dying leaves removed from kale and broccoli to discourage slugs and snails.

Weeds to the compost bins.

The annual reinstatement of paths with rotted straw and chip.

A big bunch of Autumn King winter carrots to the kitchen.