I had big plans when I set out for the allotment this morning with a long list of jobs to do including preparing a new bed for the root vegetables, making up a molasses spray to deter the caterpillars and planting more garlic. The garlic I planted a few weeks ago seems to have suffered in the rain and only half of the stuff I planted actually came up.
But the first job on the list was to dig up the old snake bean plants and remove the climbing framework. Then prepare the bed with fertiliser and compost ready for the next lot of plants. Shouldn’t take too long. WRONG.
Even though the old bean runners were really on their last legs they just wouldn’t give up. I spent ages snipping away, untangling and removing the old growth from the framework, and all the old bits of string I had used in my valiant attempt to train it in the early days.
Should have been straightforward except that every time I delved into the bush I found beans hidden away and I just couldn’t ignore them. Well, you wouldn’t, would you? I ended up with a bucket full. The young beans will do nicely for dinner, some of the old ones will be shelled and go into minestrone soup, and some seed I’ll save for next time.
By the time I had finished I ended up with a massive pile of greenery which I had to drag to the compost bay ready to be put through the mulcher. Fortunately one of the chaps is in charge of the mulcher, so that’s good!
I took a break and had a yarn over the fence with Helen who lives next door to the farm.
Then back to the allotment – spent the next hour digging over the empty bed, adding lots of lovely new compost, and leaning on the fork occasionally.
If anybody is reading this, and feels like yawning. How do you think I feel?
So I went home and had a big soak in the bath.
Snake Beans R.I.P.
Allotment Adventures with Jean 
May 07, 2012 @ 06:09:11
Snakes alive Jean. Your morning at the farm sounds like mine. I go with certain tasks in mind – so organized I think to myself! I never seem to get the jobs I planned to do done but end up doing something else instead. Trust nature to cut me down to size.
May 07, 2012 @ 06:31:28
Mornin’ Di. You’re up early too. But it looks like another fine day, can’t waste time languishing in bed. I can’t believe how much energy it took clearing that bed yesterday. But it was great when I had finished with the lovely new compost gleaming all black and ready for planting. Only thing is, I couldn’t yank out the main part of the iron framework. I wiggled it and wiggled it to release it but it wouldn’t shift. So next time a brawny fellow walks past I’ll grab him. Can’t really plant the new seeds until it’s gone.
By the way, yanked out the pathetic rhubarb plant yesterday. Couldn’t bare to look at it a minute longer!!!!!!!!!
May 07, 2012 @ 08:56:18
This really DOES mean Bean Jerke ! :-))
May 07, 2012 @ 09:53:37
Simon, I did try to Jerke it out of the ground.
I am laughing because I know you HATE this particular green vegetable, and you would just have ripped it out of the ground and stamped on it.