• Somerset, June 2007

    Planting out at the mangold patch

    Mangold seedlings ready for planting out
    Raised in captivity, these young mangold plants are now ready to leave their pots to join their counterparts in the mangold patch. This bird’s-eye view shows how the plants might appear to a crow or a tit.
    Mangold paraphernalia in a car boot
    Everything you need for transplanting, thinning and weeding your mangolds can be accommodated in the boot of a conventional motor car. It is not necessary to purchase an agricultural vehicle.

    The mangold patch

    A general view of the mangold patch following weeding and thinning. These operations have slightly traumatised the mangolds, resulting in the foliage looking a bit droopy. They will soon perk up though.

    These mangolds were sown directly in the soil, and are now nearly 7 (seven) weeks old and flourishing. A tray of young plants approximately four (4) weeks old is shown for comparison.

    The soil-grown mangolds are displaying superior growth because the ground here is particularly rich in nutrients, especially pig shit.

    A corner of the mangold patch