My seed order came through the post today. I decided to shop online this year and have
dealt with a new company that offer hundreds of different organic (and
non-organic) vegetables, so I was like a kid in a candy shop and ordering
probably far too much. A few flower seeds made it onto the list, It’s just
the usual giant sunflowers, glorious
smelling stocks and sweet peas, but they will fill the gaps nicely with a bit
of colour and fragrance.
The luffa seeds were the first ones to inspect after opening
the large envelope. They are a member of the gourd family so the seeds are very
similar to courgette seeds. They will be the first ones to plant.
Asparagus
I also have a packet of asparagus seeds, which is also a
vegetable I have never grown before. The main reason is that asparagus take
quite a while to be productive and because moved around so much I never thought
it was a viable option for me as they would be establishing as I moved home.
Asparagus from seed will take even longer to bear the edible
stems large enough to eat, but I feel I have a bit more time in this garden
that before so I am going to give them a go. Usually they are bought as crowns
in much the same way you would but a bare rooted hosta then wait for two years
until they crop. I am quite sure it’ll be four years until these mature, but
it’ll be worth it as asparagus are one of many vegetables that really command a
high price on the supermarket shelves.
Space
As I am pretty limited for space there will only be one
variety of broccoli and kale this year. I’m trying a dwarf variety of kale as
they will take up less room as I am limited for space. I have just enlarged the
growing area in the polytunnel though so I will be able to fit in the hot
chilli peppers and Chadwick variety tomatoes. Although the work area is a bit
smaller than last year, I have left myself enough room for the sun lounger
chair to be fully reclined, for my quieter moments of working in the garden.
The plastic cover on the tunnel is opaque enough now for me to recline and snooze
blissfully without being seen from outside.
Salad
Other seeds ready to plant out now are the salad variety of
lettuce and basil. I’ve also got some annual rocket and will be digging up most
of the perennial variety as it’s taking over the tunnel. As attractive as it is
as a plant, it doesn’t have the same fresh flavour of the annual type so it has
to go. I just haven’t really got the space for ornamentals in the tunnel.
The runner beans, mange tout and peas are new organic
varieties for me this year. I have grown these earlier in the season in the
past, putting each pea and bean into small module pots. This year I as I am
intentionally so late with the planting they will be going straight outside.
One of the best spots for these nitrogen fixing plants will be in an area I
have emptied a compost bin onto. I was
pretty unceremonious with it; I just tipped the whole thing over and leveled
it off like a mulch to make a bed. It won’t win any design awards but it’ll do
the trick I’m sure. I did put a few shovels full of compost that was full of
worms back into the bin to start the whole process again.
Trays
I have all of the seed trays ready for sowing and will be
starting this week hopefully. Initially I do look quite organized with all of
the module trays lined up to receive the seeds. On closer inspection though you
can see that apart from tipping the compost bin sideways for the dog to have a
rummage, I actually haven’t done any preparation work on the beds. Self-set
foxgloves, creeping buttercup, couch grass, ivy and a whole array of annuals
have all made themselves at home in the soil. I’m not concerned though as a bit
of a tickle with my trusty Dutch hoe will soon turn them into compost.
No Division
I have decided to take the carpet paths that divided the
beds up away this year. They were put there to walk on in wet weather, but they
just took up valuable growing space. As you might have gathered by now, I don’t
really do any work in wet weather anyway so they were a bit of a waste of time.
I’ll make small paths as wide as my shoe in between the plants. I can tiptoe
around on these this year. I am anticipating such a bumper crop, the plants
will be flowing onto the path anyway so I can just harvest the veggies as I go
to have a snooze on the camp bed in the sunshine. I can dream can’t I?
