Weeding, weeding, weeding....

A day dedicated to weeding Plot 69, and it definitely needed it.  If only the veg would grow as quickly as the weeds.... bindweed a bit of problem on this plot, and thistles - the previous owner of the plot next to ours left it to grow huge thistles last year apparently and we are reaping the benefits.....  Worked methodically from one side to the other on our hands and knees hand weeding and managed to get it all back to some sort of order.  Very backbreaking, but good to find the veg between the weeds!



 

Got some calendulas about to flower too, but they seem to be an unusual colour, not the usual yellow ones we see around the place.

 

Managed to get some planting done after a picnic lunch, put in some more rainbow chard, French dwarf beans and swede seedlings.  Protected the lot again with netting and slug pellets.  Bit of a problem at the moment with black aphids on the broad beans, tried the old method of washing up liquid diluted today, will see if that works before resorting to hard chemicals.  The ants seem to be keen on them too though so they are trying to help as best as they can.

Wondering if anyone has an idea what this plant is?  Have seen it on a number of plots and cant work out what it is, and whether it is edible, about 4ft high, not fragrant, not seen any flowers on it either, fleshy stems....

 

PS.  Beetroot doing well!