I won the battle, bring on the war!

Since I beefed up the anti-sparrow measures in the front garden the sparrow family seem to have disappeared (fingers crossed) I'm still a bit concerned though as the Borlotti beans have gone crazy and are now towering above the netting stretched around the bottom of the bean frame. The largest bean whose main growth shoot was broken off has surprised me by sending up another shoot which has taken over where the other one left off. All this means that there are now lots of tender, tasty shoots looking all naked and vulnerable around the bean frame. I'm just hoping the sparrows don't make an opportunistic raid and spot them, I'm sure they'd move back in like a shot if the food supply resumed.

The butternut squash is also doing well. I've done a little research on how I can expect the plant to grow and I'm reasonably confident that it can trail across the lawn where it will plenty of room. My plan is to feed it diligently as I'm a tad concerned about the small amount of ground it's growing in.

I've spent this morning thinning out my radish and coriander seedlings. I feel horribly guilty about ripping these tiny lives out of the ground and condemning them to a premature death (not sure I'm emotionally robust enough for this gardening lark) so I do my best to make use of them. The radish seedlings were donated to the chickens who wolfed them down in seconds (no tussling with finer feelings there) and the coriander seedlings have been saved to be used in the same way as grown up coriander.

O, Irony, where is thy sting?

(Cough) no-one look at 11th June, I said DON'T LOOK! After my protestations not only have I bought a new plant but it's Butternut Squash. What's the first thing a quick Google tells me about Butternut squash? They need space - a LOT of space (head in hands)

OK, deep breath, let me explain. I went to garden centre looking for a green man plaque for our fairy garden (didn't find one, will have to pay squillions in postage on ebay instead). I casually checked out the veg plants, looking for courgettes as an insurance policy in case my feeble looking specimens give up the ghost. I was also looking for something to augment the bean project in the front garden. A couple of borlotti beans are looking quite healthy but the others have bitten the dust. The pack says they can be sewn until July so I've planted a few more seeds in the hope they may yet come up with the goods.

I found a courgette then spied the butternut squash plant, I vaguely remember reading something about them climbing and being easy to grow so I added it to the basket. I must point out though that the veg plants were on special offer, £1 each if you bought 4, I restrained myself and only bought 2 so deserve some credit for that at least.

It was only when I got home and did my first tentative Google that I realised the enormity of the task I've taken on. With some help from Xanthe I've planted both the courgette and butternut squash in the front garden by the bean support. I have no idea whatsoever if this little project will work out or not but hopefully we'll have fun finding out.