Three weeks after drilling our sugar beet they are beginning to emerge. They're pretty vulnerable at this stage and I see the skylarks that proliferate around here have already found them. I hope they don't create too many gaps in an otherwise relatively full plant stand. But given the unpleasant wet weather we've had since they were put in its quite surprising they are up already. The secret, of course, is that temperatures have been quite reasonable, even at night, and that and plentiful moisture has encouraged the seedlings to peep above the soil surface.
And although we've not been able to do any land work since we drilled the beet, today we are again busy planting combinable peas. Once again we are benefiting from early ploughing and easy soft seedbeds guaranteed by the winter frosts. Walking behind the drill a few minutes ago I was very happy at the way they were going in after one pass with the seedbed maker. The Cambridge rolls are following the drill to leave level land for the combine in four or five months time and also to help preserve moisture. If the rest of the growing season goes as well we should be able to harvest a useful crop.
Isn't it grand how a bit of sun on your back makes everything seem better?