Beans, bulbs and herbs

Well, we did manage to get down to the plot yesterday, though it wasn't exactly the sunny day that the weathermen had predicted. After being there for half an hour, it started to hail! Eeeshk! But we persevered, determined chaps that we are, and got lots done!

After seeing the broad bean seedlings coming through the soil on Friday, and then seeing the snow on Sunday morning, I wouldn't have been (bean!) too surprised if they'd curled up and died. But they seem ok. Nice, green and vigorous-looking. Yeay! So I planted another three rows to fill the bed and - fingers crossed - the weather won't get any worse than it's been recently and they'll germinate in a few weeks.

Adam also finished off the cold frame, with a minimal amount of cursing and swearing. We need to give the glass a bit of a clean but it's good and sturdy and will keep little seedlings nice and warm. So now I just have to get my act together and plant some seeds in pots so that we've got some plants to harden off in it! And we also need to decide where to put it so that it gets a decent amount of sun but doesn't get in the way.

We also took a trip to the garden centre and bought some bulbs and herbs to plant in one of the old rusty wheelbarrows that we found behind our shed. Pretty, eh? And it was Adam's idea! (Creative fellow he is). We've planted bluebells, dwarf daffodils, a couple of sad-looking ivy plants which were being neglected in our front garden, plus some little white flowered bulbs which I can't remember the name of. Think it might be Scilla. We've also planted some oregano, marjoram and thyme, to keep it useful as well as a bit allotmenty, and give us tasty herbs when they're a bit bigger. Our next-door-but one-plot neighbour Phil was quite impressed. Plus, it's the first thing you see when you walk around the corner of our sheds, so it'll be nice, especially when the bulbs are flowering.


By the way, that green thing next to the wheelbarrow has our rhubarb underneath, growing nice and tender while desperately searching for a chink of light. If I remember, I'll take a picture next time, they're looking really good.

Just before we left I chucked some mixed radish seeds in the ground. ('Chucked' is a technical allotmenteering term, don'tcha know.) I sowed 4 little rows, just to see what would happen. The pack says to sow from March onwards, but the ground's still quite cold, what with the hail and snow an' all, so I'll be pleased and more than a little surprised if more than half of them germinate.

Creating a seed bed to sow leeks and brussels sprouts in is on the cards for next weekend...