Should have read the instructions!

Any purchase of a product or activity that requires instructions to be carefully studied and followed should come with some form of warning. Pretty much a bloke thing (so I am often advised), instructions or guidance notes are very rarely followed, and are usually a bit of a drain on getting to grips with what we have purchased, or have set out to accomplish.

The same sort of warning should relate to the growing of plants. As early blogs have suggested, the writer started with a viewpoint of how difficult could it be, and now some of that rather laissez faire approach is providing a few important lessons.

The biggest exists in the poly tunnel, where the drive to grow some different exotic vegetables at face value seems to have heralded some results, but also some unexpected issues. In particular the stuffing cucumber, whose leaves resemble another growth fondly recognised by smokers, is scrambling everywhere. A quick google search and a read of the notes on the seed packets suggest that these plants can grow to 3m x 4m in terms of spread! Oh dear - I've planted three of these in the space of 3 foot and the growth is now spreading rather quickly!!! I should have read the notes first - oh well, the results are at least eagerly anticipated.

Despite all this a steady stream of produce is now being harvested and sent to our chosen charity organisation, together with donations from other plot holders which have been gratefully received, thank you.

The plot itself has a spray of colour at the front from the planting of cornflowers, candelula, and dahlias, and some small lavender shoots has been planted close to the decking with the hope that this takes and grows well. Lavender and similar plants attract all sorts of bees and butterflies, which are good for the plot.



There isn't that much to offer up on the wildlife front, the only strange looking visitor a couple of weeks ago was this Clearwing. It is actually a moth, although when it first landed looked a little like a wasp. It tends to lay its eggs on current or berry bushes, and some further information can be found under.



Scientific name: Synanthedon tipuliformis

June - July. Britain and Ireland. Small, transparent wings. Said to mimics wasps or hornets for protection from predators. Can be seen in gardens, allotments and fruit fields. Often found near currant bushes.

All Britain's resident clearwing moths fly by day. Several are superficially similar. This clearwing is small and black with a yellow collar and two yellow lines along the thorax which are absent on the similar Sallow Clearwing. Females have three and males have four thin yellow bands across the abdomen. The dark outer band on the forewing is streaked with orange on the Currant Clearwing which helps to distinguish it from the Thrift Clearwing.

Flies by day in sunny weather, often around larval foodplants and can also be found resting on leaves. Males are readily attracted to females, often in great numbers.

Size and Family
Family – Clearwing (Sesiids)
Small Sized
Conservation status
UK BAP: Not listed
Scarce (Nationally Scarce B)
Particular Caterpillar Food Plants
Cultivated and sometimes wild Black and Red Currant, less frequently on Gooseberry.


Information from butterfly conservation website.


..//.. Project 63