Rabbit attack!
Oh no – my exhibition celery has been devoured!
I’m very fortunate to be growing on a seam of really top-quality soil that’s probably the best you can have anywhere on the Isle of Anglesey. However it does have its drawbacks as I’m constantly struggling to keep rabbits away from my plants. Anything I grow for the show bench has to be covered over with netting or mesh, otherwise it will be gone. The damage rabbits can inflict is really heartbreaking, as I discovered to my cost once again this year.
I cover all the brassicas and carrots but I never thought that they would go after my exhibition celery. I planted up ‘Evening Star’ at the end of May and watered as usual during the dry weather. Then one day, when he went to water the plants again, my son Alwyn found most had been eaten overnight, right down to soil level.
All I can do now is water well what’s left and, as the heart of the plants were untouched, I’m hoping that they’ll get back on track. Whether or not they’ll be ready in time for Malvern is doubtful, but if we have a nice sunny summer they may well catch up. The good thing is that the powerful rootball is still there and, with the foliage having been very effectively pruned back, they could even be stronger than ever and burst back with a vengeance. I’m optimistic.
I also have celeriac plants growing. Celery and celeriac are not the same thing, but are closely related. I’ve grown celeriac for a few years now and it actually grew well in my polytunnel last year. The variety I favour is ‘Monet F1’ and the plants this year were potted up into 2 litre containers before being planted outdoors in raised beds. This is an area I’ve fenced off with rabbit-proof wire mesh, so they should be safe!
Why not follow me on Twitter throughout the season as I grow vegetables for my display at Malvern - @medwynsofangles.