The years spuds are in – 1st Early is ‘Marris Bard’, 2nd early ‘Nadine’, and main crop again, as per last year is good old ‘Marris Piper’.
These won’t get planted for a few weeks yet, but they are in the greenhouse ready for when the weather and the ground warms up a little.
I think I installed these raised beds at the allotment maybe 8 years ago. The timber used was treated, and I have kept on top of the woodwork with creosote every other year. Time is slowly taking it’s toll around the place, and a number of sections have given way to rot. I had to bite the bullet and start shifting quite a bit of soil out of the raised beds in order to access the wood to replace these rotted sections..
I will wait until there is a good dry spell in the weather forecast, paint everything again in creosote which will bring everything back up nice again. So these are the ‘before’ pictures so-to-speak.
I almost forgot completely about planting Garlic this year. I know I meant to get some planted in November. I guess the ground must have been frozen, then I must have simply forgotten about it? Never-the-less, Garlic is still on sale and there is still a little time to get some in the ground. Ideally, Garlic needs a bit of frost to do well. I have planted 24, in 4 rows of the variety ‘Flavor’ again this year. Planted in trowel-depth compost with lots of plant food.
With the un-seasonal February warmth, the Rhubarb is sprouting quickly this year. I am sure though that there will be a number of frosts, and even a little snow before spring.
2023 really has been a great year for tomatoes. From the seeds I planted months ago, this year has been very productive indeed.
It seems ages since I have manged to angle at my most favourite of locations in Wessex; time seems to pass more quickly the older I get. I usually manage to fish on midsummer’s day, but not this year unfortunately.
Non-the-less, I managed to escape the normal high-pressured life that I seem to currently lead, and was able to stop at a juncture and relax for a time at this ancient pool.
I arrived late afternoon on the 28th to warm overcast weather. I avoided a couple of the more popular swims and made my way to one of the farthest. I hooked a Tench the moment my first cast landed, but missed it. I then slowly began to catch Roach after Roach, with no signs of the Crucian’s, nor my favoured Tench. I then hooked a small Tench which was great to see. The swim was awash at times with bubbles and was really exciting fishing. Soon after small Crucian’s began to appear; no two-handed fish, they were all palm-sized. Sport continued, and in fact increased from about 19:00 to 21:00.
The 29th saw me back at this lovely pool and back in the exact same swim. Weather again was warm and overcast, but today there was rain in the forecast. Today, just as yesterday, the action seemed immediate but this time all the Crucian’s were a size larger. The largest I’m sure thought it was a Tench as the fight was incredible from such a small fish. Again, I managed to encounter a number of small Tench. It was not long before the forecast rain appeared, first as a light mist which didn’t affect anything and I hardly got wet at all and the fishing continued quite successfully. However, when the rain did appear in earnest, the catching immediately stopped as if being turned off by a light switch. I persevered and the rain did ease to give a dry spell when the fish began to bite again. Towards 19:00 I had one monster of a bite that broke me immediately; that was a sign that I had had more than my fair share of luck over the two days and the pond told me to leave.
It was superb to be able to catch quite a number of Crucian Carp (I stopped counting), but even nicer to be able to connect with quite a number of new brood of Tench. I do not think I caught anything over three quarters of a pound, which is super encouraging for the continuation of this my most favourite of fishes.
Note: not a single Perch on this trip.
It has been a number of years now since I have managed to fish on the final day of the course fishing season.
Watching the water level on my favourite river in Wessex over the past few weeks looked really promising. It is a spate river you see and reacts to the slightest bit of rainfall. In fact, this river at this time of year is often in the fields.
The forecast was not great with rain the few days prior to the last day and on the 14th. However, the gods smiled and although the 13th proved rain all day, the 14th was met with a piercing blue sky.
The river was still quite high and coloured but it was falling. The fishing was tough, but a few fishing buddies did get together and we toasted the end of the season both on the bank with tea and at the end of the day round a log fire and a pint and a local inn.
It is indeed the 4th, a day early, but there’s nothing like a good firework display before the actual main day and tonight was no exception. With absolutely perfect clear skies and no wind, it quite literally went off with a bang!
Today was my travel day home. However, my journey takes me past this little pool in Wessex and I often drop in for a few hours before getting back on the long road home.
I fished in the same place as yesterday, I knew I had already ground baited it.
I setup in the dry and cast out. It was not long before the rod was bent over. Roach after Roach were caught often “on-the-drop” from around the baited area.
The weather was somewhat different to the 17th. Today showers were forecast and actually quite welcome. However, the wind was blowing directly at me. I am not very proficient with the ‘Wallis’ cast to begin with and my first cast landed back at my feet. The wind was so strong at times that I had to employ a kind of “Nottingham” style cast with an overhead chuck as hard as possible and the float and bait landed managed just about in the right spot.
After about one hour catching lots of Roach I suddenly began to catch Crucian’s. Very tentative at first.
The heavens opened, I got very wet.
I then did something I do not normally, I changed my hook and down and to 2lb line which had an instant effect.
The swim simply bubbled as if id tipped a box of washing powder into it.
Luckily the rain was a warm rain and the fish were not put off at all. If it were a cold rain, that would certainly have been different.
I fished from around 14:00 until 20:00. I spoke to a friend on the phone who told me to wait for the seventh chime of the church bells and I would land a 2lb Crucian. This did not happen. The church bells did ring seven and the rod did indeed double over, it was not a Crucian. A tremendous battle ensued and I was convinced I had hooked Moby (the one and only Carp in the pool). I could not get the fish to the surface to see what it was. I then remembered that I was now also fishing with 2lb line so was super cautious. I eventually won the day and heaved up a tremendous Tench which was slightly longer than my 18” inch landing net. I reached for my disgorger to see that the line had snapped the second I had landed the fish. This was truly a miracle.
It would be fair to say I photographed over 30 Crucian’s and two Tench. No Perch today and the Roach outnumbered the Crucian by 2:1.
Around 20:00 I saluted the pond and said a thank you, as I placed the final items into my car the heavens opened again. I smiled all the way home.
I don’t normally get to fish the opening days of the course fishing season, but have been very lucky this year.
I had a lovely 16th at a nearby pond yesterday, and today was eager to get to this, my favourite little pool in deepest darkest Wessex.
It was hot, very hot. I did not fancy my chances at all of catching anything. I waited until the afternoon, had a spot of lunch at a local inn and made my way to the pond around 14:00.
I did not particularly wish to fish this particular swim but my own comfort was paramount on a day like today. Shade was the overriding necessity.
After ground baiting an area, I setup an old Mark IV with one of my usual Aerials’ and sat down in total comfort out of the sun.
It was not long before the little red-tipped quill bobbed and went under. Finally, christening this float to a little Roach. (It did not move at all yesterday).
As the afternoon went on I saw a number of Roach and infact a couple of Perch and a Tench; all small and all in the heat of the afternoon.
Around 19:00 I hooked into something substantial and landed one of the finest Tench that I have ever caught at this pool.
The Tench was gently lowered back to its home. I re-baited and re-cast. Again it was not long before my float dipped. I lightly struck and missed, my float lodging itself onto a lilly stem. Managing to free the float and hook from the lilies which then “pinged” to my left and straight into the braches of an overhanging sapling. A sharp pull on the rod only to free the float and hook from the branches which then wrapped themselves around the rod tip many, many times resulting in one awful tangle.
I normally would have cursed, but I sat down calmly and began to unravel the tangled mess. Around 10-15 minutes later the tangle was free, I re-baited and re-cast. Again it was not long before the little red-tipped float began to move. I struck – nothing! I reeling in to find my hook had been bitten off. This was surely the pond now telling me to go home. I had too much good fortune for one day.
Although Christmas just seems like last week, we are now in the middle of March. Not so long ago I would be found on a riverbank in search of a final Roach or Dace at the end of the course fishing season at this time, but not this year. My fishing days are on hold, and will be for some time.
It is great to get the first seeds planted, and for me Tomato’s are the first of the year. This season I am growing varieties Sweet Aperitif, Sweet Million, Sungold, Orange Beauty, Golden Sunrise, Rainbow Blend and the good old Moneymaker. Such evocative names of hot summer days eating colourful salads; let us hope.
I will only pot on about 21 tomato plants, any more than this in my greenhouse I find the plants often get problems and certainly crop less. Any spare, of which there will be many, I will give away.
I don’t normally manage to get fishing around this time of the year, but I did today.
I found a lovely day ticket water not too far from where I live. Taking with me a rod that I don’t often get to use, a J.B Walker Mark IV and my usual pin, an Aerial 3.5″.
It was a cold day, and quite windy too, but with the wind behind me I did not have much trouble with my ailing Wallis casts.
With the temperature as it was, I was not confident of any Crucians. Roach were the order of today. It was a really nice being at a new lake. The thin sunshine grazed through the baron branches of the surrounding trees, and a full November supermoon moon signalled the end of my day at this lake . I will certainly be returning here in the future.
It has been a great year for tomato’s . I think all will actually ripen on the vine, and I won’t even get enough for a chutney. The chillies however, are quite the opposite. It is just as well that I still have loads left over from last season in the freezer and they are all still good.
As usual I do like to plant one or two tomatoes that I am familiar with that I know should give a half decant crop and then plant others that I have not tried before. This year I planted the good old “Moneymaker”, a tomato that always does well, maybe not the tastiest, but will still produce. “Sweet Success” which failed miserably last year, has done well for me this.
Other varieties were “Sungold”, “Sweet Aperitif”, “Rainbow Blend”, “Crimson Crush”, and “Orange Beauty”. The finest of them all this year was Sweet Success, with a taste that was out-of-this-world!
After the day I had at this lovely lake yesterday, I just had to return today.
I setup in exactly the same swim as yesterday, this time bringing the camera. It was warmer and the sun shone more intently than yesterday. As I looked out onto the water, I could clearly see that yesterday I had been casting my first rod into what looked like thin silk weed. The edges of the weed beds shone clearly in full sun.
A lot of people avoid at all costs fishing in weed, but it has certainly worked for me in the past and it did so yesterday.
I setup both rods exactly the same as previously and settled in the warm sun.
I hadn’t caught anything yesterday from under the over-hanging bush, but today out of the corner of my eye I saw the float zip away and the reel screamed. I thought that I had hooked one of the lakes small Carp but no, as soon as the fish came to the surface it was clear I had hooked one of the Golden Tench. It fought well, but nowhere near the strength of it’s green colleagues. In fact, it fought on the unhooking mat and I struggled to get a quick picture before returning as quickly as I could to the Lake.
I did catch a couple of small Carp later in the afternoon, all around 4-5 lbs. However, later that afternoon the rod on my left sprang into life and I was into an absolute rocket. A fight with a 5lb Tench that was greater than any Carp three times it’s size, what a battle! Although I was using 6lb line it tested all the tackle to the limits. Nearly loosing the fish in lily beds, I simply put the rod down and let out a little slack line. After a minute the fish had freed itself and was off again out into the Lake. I eventually got it under control and landed what was easily the best Tench I have ever caught, not the biggest, but certainly the most memorable.
What a day. The season is well on now, and although it is possible to catch Tench all year, I for one will be packing the Tench gear away now looking forward to next year and even greater battles with the Tinca.
Today I visited a lake that I had not fished in quite some time, I was as usual at this time of year searching for a Tench.
I chose a fantastic double swim enabling me to set-out one rod to my left, and the second float-fished under an overhanging bush to my right.
I cast the first rod to my left out into the middle of the lake and began setting up my second rod. However, no sooner had I started threading the line through the rod rings, my first rod had a solid “knock” resulting in a decent Roach. I re-cast and continued setting up. Again, within a short time the first rod bent over and the reel screamed again landing another nice Roach. I reeled this rod in so I could get the second rod in place under the bush to the right. Eventually the float was in place and I then re-cast the first rod on my left into the Lake. After around half an hour the first rod hooped over and I had a great battle with a good Tench. Unfortunately, I had left my camera in my van so I brought both rods in and walked back to my car to retrieve the camera and a flask of tea.
After the tea and a sandwich were consumed I re-cast both rods and settled down relaxing in the warm afternoon sunshine. I could not believe it when again the rod on my left screamed off, and again I battled with one of the lakes Tench, a good four-pounder at least.
What a cracking day topped-off with a good meal at a local inn followed by a pint to celebrate. I might come back tomorrow if the weather stays fair.
Weather-wise it had been really disappointing this week. High pressure lingered, but so did the cloud and a cool breeze to match.
Today I was due to travel home for the weekend, a journey that I do not relish and after checking the state of the traffic there was a crash going one way, and the infamous road into Wessex was at a standstill as usual. I had already packed my fishing gear in my van and at around 13:00 the sun shone through. The temperature rose really quickly until my van dashboard read 24 degrees – time for some Tench fishing!!! I decided to fish for a few hours to let the traffic settle before I made my arduous journey home.
Arriving at this little pond I was immediately disappointed to see three cars there and one van. I do like to fish this pond by myself. Thankfully, these vehicles belonged to a renovation company refurbishing a local house, so I did have the ponds to myself after all.
It was around five o’clock and fishing what is now my favourite swim; sport was quiet. I began casting around towards the back of the baited area and found what was obviously a shoal of fish. Piranha-like, I seemed to have a bite every cast of which 99% were missed.
I fished on until around eight o’clock when the owls now start their calls. A lovely warm evening spent at this lovely little pool.
I don’t like being on the roads on a Bank Holiday, never mind fishing, it is always so busy, but I have got to take every opportunity that I can at the moment, so today I travelled to my favourite little pond in Wessex.
I fished again in my favourite swim having a big lilly bed to the right, and a smaller lilly bed to the left. The boss has put some bark chippings here too which is great keeping things un-muddy. I baited up heavily and as neatly as I could to the right, and only very lightly to my left with the intention of alternately fishing them both. The weather had cooled a lot since the Sunday and I was not that hopeful for a Tench, but it was still nice being here. I had a good Roach really quickly from the right hand swim and I thought, here we go it’s going to be Roach all day now, but no. Everything went quiet. I had arrived about two-ish, and now at three o’clock with overcast skies I thought even I should be catching by now, but nothing. Time went on and I cast around looking for a bite. There were not many signs of feeding either. There’s a little weed to the left but this can be seen when the sun comes out. Here I cast and slowly reeled my float in as close as I dare the the left hand lilies. Boom!!!! the float zipped away resulting in a little Crucian which I was enthralled at. The wind whipped round from all directions and the rod remained straight for some time. I retired to the van and collected my kettle.
After my tea things changed. fishing in the right hand swim as close as I dare to the lilies I started to catch. Oddly enough, I never caught a single fish from the centre heavily baited spot, but as I cast just beyond it, or to the sides of it, I began to catch. After catching in the right hand swim I would leave it alone and cast to the left, returning after 20-30 minutes. Later I found a sweet spot just beyond my baited area, it was a little far for my poor Wallis casting skills, but I got there in the end and missed most bites but caught a number of Crucians (maybe 10+) until the Owls were heard and the bats emerged.
Due to my work, I find myself a temporary resident of Wessex. This does mean that I am almost in casting distance of my favourite pool.
As I arrived this warm overcast evening I met the manager who was there in preparation of a friendly get-together he had planned for the following day.
After a chat, I aimed for a swim that I had not fished in absolutely ages, and watched fish roll as I was tackling up.
I hastily cast out and tried to relax with a cup of tea as my float kept being knocked all the time. Line bites I thought, or something small having-a-go as I was using a larger hook and a good sized bait aiming for a Tench.
Nothing happened! I let the situation carry on for about two hours, I then reeled in and dropped a hook size which led to almost instant action.
Firstly, I landed a small Roach and then the Crucian’s appeared. Although I was hoping for a Tench, it was lovely to see Crucian after Crucian. I missed most bites. There were definitely Tench in my swim as now and then I would get a clonking bite and the pin sang for a brief second. These bites never materialised as I’d dropped to a smallish hook. Not to mind, I had a cracking evening. One note, I didn’t land a single Perch, which was the total opposite of my previous visit to this pool.
It has been quite some time since I have been at this lovely little pool, certainly more than one year and I had been looking forward to fishing here.
The pool looked in great condition thanks too all the work parties that had carried out works throughout the seasons.
I had brought with me my trustee Floatcaster “De-Luxe”, not my favourite Floatcaster in my collection, but it has the added backbone to tame a Tench, which is what I was looking for today.
I had setup in a swim that I do not normally fish on the opposite bank. Really nice and level with a little cover, although slightly hazardous casting. It did not take long before the float moved and Roach after Roach crossed the net. This only changed when the Perch began to prowl and I landed perhaps five; but no Tench.
As the afternoon moved onto evening I was sure that weed had begun to drift into my swim, bites became thin on the ground until finally the float dipped under and I landed a whopped of a Tench, totally out-gunned by a large Hardy Altex reel and the Floatcaster. This was quickly followed by a whopping Crucian too.
Apart from last year, I always seem to be fishing on midsummers day and now I try to always make an effort to be out fishing. This evening however was not midsummer-ish at all. The temperature dropped so much that I could see my breath in the air, and it became so cold my head hurt. Never mind, tomorrow would be the Strawberry Supermoon to look forward to.
I had probably around 40 strawberry plants last year. A lot of these plants had been grown on from runners. These really had not performed well even the previous year, so I made the bold decision last year to take them all out and start again.
With funds from my birthday last November, I purchased four new varieties. All of which develop at different times in the season. Recently arriving through the post, it is now time to get these in the ground.
I also have a completely different area for the strawbs now. They are actually in the bed where the old Gooseberries were. It is in full sun. With a lot of manure including fish, blood and bone meal, I secured black teram over the bed last year in November in order to try and keep weeds down, and to keep the soil warm. Planting through the teram I hope to keep moisture in the soil while cutting down on weeds and hopefully, as the plants grow bigger, they will sit on top of the teram keeping the berries off the soil. I will still have to keep a check on the slugs and snails though.
Similar varieties to last season with the spuds. There just isn’t any better that “Arran Pilot” for first earlies, and they last way longer than Jersey’s.
“Nadine” for second earlies, and for main crop I’m trying “Maris Piper”, which is a first for me.
I already have a couple of really good gardening books in my collection written by Mr Don; Santa has been very good to me this year and kindly gifted me four more. I have began one of them, and I am thoroughly enjoying the read. There is probably one more that I seek, and is hard to find these days entitled “The Prickotty Bush” so I am keeping an eye out for that one to add to the heaving book shelf.
I had to think back to the last time that I was able to cast a line. My initial thoughts were the final days of the course fishing season back in mid-March. After looking through my own blog, I remember that I did manage a short fishing trip at the end of June – what a poor fishing year!
This particular local pond used to be full of Roach, which is what I was fishing for today. Waiting for a bite, sipping tea, I cast my mind back to the last time that I was out fishing on my birthday? I deduced that it was actually eleven years ago. At the time, I had purchased my very first split cane fishing rod, and have never opened the rod bag full of my carp fishing “carbons” since. I have added a few lovely split cane rods to the collection over the years too. One of my favourites I was using today, an old Mark IV, with one of my favourite ‘pins’, an Allcocks Aerial.
With the black death (Cormorant) circling above every hour or so, it was clear that this lovely pond had been targeted. This was confirmed when speaking with another angler there. A lot of the small fish are no longer. So I did not catch on my birthday. The wind was storm-force at times, float fishing wasn’t the best idea, making casting somewhat tricky (fishing excuses out of the way). I had a great day non-the-less. I am sure I used to class November as Winter, but today was overcast, dry and warm on this pleasantly mild Autumn day.
I never thought id ever been picking tomatoes in November and here is the last of them.
Planting everything late this year has extended the season somewhat, but the cold weather has now put pay to the plants themselves, and they have given up for this year.
These too are the final onions. They have just not stored as well as they ought to but they will still get used. and the chillies just keep coming. There are a number remaining on the final plants in the greenhouse. Il wash and freeze these now and use them straight from the freezer.
Sadly, there were no organised firework display’s this year, but we still had a good burn-up in the garden.
Writer, fisherman, amateur naturalist and sometime Idler...
The Wonder of the World, The Beauty and the Power, The Shapes of Things, Their Colours Lights and Shades, These I Saw, Look Ye Also While Life Lasts. - "Denys Watkins-Pitchford".
The Wonder of the World, The Beauty and the Power, The Shapes of Things, Their Colours Lights and Shades, These I Saw, Look Ye Also While Life Lasts. - "Denys Watkins-Pitchford".
The Wonder of the World, The Beauty and the Power, The Shapes of Things, Their Colours Lights and Shades, These I Saw, Look Ye Also While Life Lasts. - "Denys Watkins-Pitchford".
The Wonder of the World, The Beauty and the Power, The Shapes of Things, Their Colours Lights and Shades, These I Saw, Look Ye Also While Life Lasts. - "Denys Watkins-Pitchford".
The Wonder of the World, The Beauty and the Power, The Shapes of Things, Their Colours Lights and Shades, These I Saw, Look Ye Also While Life Lasts. - "Denys Watkins-Pitchford".
The Wonder of the World, The Beauty and the Power, The Shapes of Things, Their Colours Lights and Shades, These I Saw, Look Ye Also While Life Lasts. - "Denys Watkins-Pitchford".
look ye also 
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