The garden's laid fallow pretty much all winter and I haven't paid it very much attention. But now, now we have sunshine and bulbs popping up and it seems the right time to venture back out and get ready for another year of gardening.
Excitingly, I've planted my first seeds of the year, some red onion seeds. I thought I'd try growing from seed this year instead of sets, because it's a whole lot cheaper to get organic seed sent through the post than organic onion sets. They need starting at the end of January, to be planted out in April, I'll keep you posted! I'll wait a couple more months to sow any more seed though, everything seems to get straggly and unhealthy and/or die if I get over eager and start planting too soon!
My raised beds have been cleared out of all the things I lazily let die there last year!
There's still lots of lovely leafs growing, Swiss chard, perpetual spinach and kale, I think maybe some beetroot as well, some carrots too, and I was happy to uncover my perennial Siberian onions still growing away despite the frosty winter we've had.
Joe and I have had a little exploratory excavation in the front garden to see what exactly it's made of. Turns out it's gravel, membrane, then mud and a bit of builders rubble. We're trying to come up with a plan to re-gravel it that fits in with Joe's need to do a job properly and my need to not spend too much time and money getting it done! It looks a complete mess - I can't wait for it to be done!
Joe bought me some LOVELY new loppers for Christmas, I gave them a test chop on the buddleia and they are super-choppy. I think I'm going to have to replace all my other loppers and choppers now!
I keep all the thick buddleia stems to use for bean poles in the garden. They're strong, they're free, grow fast and tall each year, and are more sustainable than buying imported bamboo canes.
Here's my wintery garden in full. I leave it looking a big raggedy over winter (honest!) so all the insects have somewhere to sleep.
I'm looking forward to blue skies and pretty flowers!
How's your garden fared over the winter? Have you planted any seeds yet? Are you EXCITED for spring??!
I love how much there still is to see in the winter garden, when I get out there for a look around. I am very excited for spring, although I have zero garden budget this year I plan to move lots of my plants around so things should look much better.
ReplyDeleteLook forward to updates about the onions you're growing from seed.
There is still some colour in my winter garden mostly from rainbow chard, but its really been battered esp. the greenhouse losing lots of it glass due to high winds. We are not on top of it, but i hope to get digging and sowing in March. Sadly unorganised once again,
ReplyDeleteThe Buddlea canes is a great idea! The majority of my runner bean canes were actually from the Bamboo plants in my Grandad's garden. His Bamboo was rampant so my Mum helpfully chopped me some down for the garden. I am so impressed with your winter gardening!x
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