Some recently sown seeds outside including cabbage, pak choi, leeks, various flowers and beetroot:
I have been referring to Klaus Leitenberger's book Vegetables for the Irish Garden this season and his recommendations for outdoor seed sowing times is much later than what seed packets (often of UK origin) would have you believe. I have seeds planted in the porch but I do prefer to wait a bit later and do most of it outdoors. Once the temperatures have risen beyond likely risk of frost, our combination of sun and rain usually provides quite an agreeable habitat for seedlings.
In the porch are spinach, peas, early cabbages, pak choi, leeks, borage and sunflowers, all planted between 14-17 March. Only some peas and sunflowers have germinated as of today. I've been taking them outside during the recent warm days to feel a bit of direct nature on themselves (make them feel like free plants!) and back in again in the evening. In the last week I have also done an outdoor sowing of the above vegetables. It will be interesting to see how indoor fares v outdoors.
Seedlings in the porch:
In the vegetable beds, the broad beans are the forerunners as usual. Some were planted in December, others in March. My Achillea are looking healthy and I cannot wait to get some flowers. These plants were grown from seed last year but were slow to grow and then halted over winter. They are thriving now and as they are perennials, it is worth the wait. Peas are planted beside a wood and wire frame and protected with lots of small twigs to deter birds (it is pigeon country here, lovers of peas!). Garlic has been planted around the edge of the beds but I am not feeling encouraged by the growth so far. I am annoyed with myself for not sourcing good quality bulbs and not planting in late Autumn. I guess my beds weren't ready at the time, I'll have no excuse next season! Also sown are corn salad, pak choi and wong bok (a Chinese cabbage). Last year's pak choi were magnificent, I'll be deeply sore if I cannot replicate my success this year. Raspberries are in there too.
The beds with most activity plus containers in the background growing queens potatoes (the lifebuoys were found floating at sea):
Other perennials I am excited about are coneflowers which have a similar story to the Achillea. They were planted from seed last year, didn't amount to anything and never made it from the pot to the ground. I wasn't sure if they were still alive, as they hibernated in pots over winter in the porch but they are coming back strong and I cannot wait to get them into the garden beds.
I have planted Queens potatoes in the same bed as Early Nantes carrots, and parsnips will also be sown here in a few weeks (not pictured).
In the front garden, my tulips are looking good and an area of grass I stopped mowing last spring has brought lots of primroses. My perennial flowers are starting to come back:
The same patch ten days previously:
Anything else......oh yes I planted courgettes today and they are residing in the porch.
Actually some musings on compost....it is very difficult to buy compost at the moment. I'd love to have some good quality seed compost but have to use what I have in the garden so I am taking the stuff from the back of the heap. As we only moved in here a year ago, it is not my making. It is very crumbly and reminds me of a forest floor. In the Autumn, this part of the heap is covered in mushrooms, which I *THINK* are Clitocybe nebularis, or Clouded Agaric. Good edibles apparently if you are not in the percentage of people that can get awful gastro problems from them. I have no idea if this soil is suitable for seeds but it will have to do.
