The Broadbeans that I sowed on 15th Feb have sprouted. They have been in my coldframe since then and so have dodged the few frosts that we’ve had here.
I absolutely love this time of year! It makes me want to bounce around the garden like a Spring bunny! Unfortunately, not the Spring bunny that my cat brought in the other day and that was ‘having a nap’ on the kitchen floor when we got up for breakfast.
Sleeping bunnies aside I love how everything is so fresh and green. New seedlings, Rhubarb crumble, Daffodils in the shops, Easter pastels, heck even a Royal Wedding to look forward to! Yes, Spring is good.
There’s nothing like a sunny day to give you a kick start in the garden. Today, was glorious and I managed to get all the jobs on my list done and checked off. The first ones to benefit were my Tomato seedlings who spent the whole day outside soaking up the rays.
The Cauliflowers that I’ve been hardening off for the last week also went in the ground.
And I took the plunge and transfered my Winter Lettuce from the coldframe to the soil. Although, I did cover them with some fleece just incase it gets chilly tonight.
Jackson followed me around the garden all day with a dustpan and brush, shouting, ‘mess!’ and attempting to sweep up after me – awww! I’ve taught him well :)
I also planted my Potatoes and sowed some Courgettes, Pumpkins, more Lettuce, Parsley, Beetroot and Sunflowers. Phew! time for a cup of tea and a sit down, I think.
I love Spring – everything is so new, green and full of promise. Apart from Christmas it’s my favourite time of year.
The Cabbages that I transplanted a couple of weeks ago are coming on a treat and are ready to be planted out in the garden. I made sure to dig in some lime before I planted them and firmed them in nice and snug – Brassicas like to have their roots tucked in.
I’m a sucker for a neat row and decided to make a little Cabbage patch over near the Peas. At this time of year your plan is starting to take shape and it’s a great time to make those last minute changes to it before your beds start getting filled up. Before you know it you’ll be wondering where on earth you will put that Courgette plant or row of lettuce.
Here at mtp I’ve been busy sowing and planting. Now that the nights are light I find that I can get a lot done in the hour between bath time and when it gets dark. Here’s what’s in already:
- Peas – check
- Potatoes – in, last week
- Radish – sown (two rows)
- Early Carrots – in, one sowing under the cloche, two sowings in the ground
- Parsnip – one outdoor sowing
- Spring Onions – in, but not up yet
- Rocket – in, and up
- Broccoli – sown in coldframe
- Perpetual Spinach – ditto
- Sweet Peas – four varieties sown in coldframe
- Dwarf Sunflowers – sown in coldframe
- Leeks – just pushing up in coldframe
- Lettuce – check, check, check – early sowing in the coldframe, plus outdoor sowings last week
- Broadbeans – 2 inches tall
- Cabbage (summer) – seedlings transplanted
- Onions – check
- Shallots – check
- Garlic – in and growing well
- Tomatoes – Super blight-resistant variety (Ferline) sown, currently getting the 4-star treatment indoors
Currently harvesting:
- Rhubarb
- Kale
- New Zealand Spinach
- Perpetual Spinach
- Herbs
- Tulips
So that’s the view from mtp. Anyone else sowing anything else? I don’t like Beetroot, Sprouts and Celery so that’s why they’re missing from my list, but I’d love to know if anyone is having success with other stuff right now. Always room for one more as they say!
