I’m planning for this year’s harvest.
This year I am not going to start anything from seed. If you see me at the garden centre, staring goggle-eyed at all the seed packets of pretty yet unfeasible vegetables, please drag me away. We just can’t successfully grow things from seed: We don’t have a greenhouse, or cold-frame…or even any window sills.
That might sound odd for a house with so many windows, but ’tis true. I don’t know whether it’s an Edwardian thing or just some weird requirement of George Kiddy, the railway manager that built our house back in 1904. Perhaps Mrs Kiddy hated dusting window sills. Whatever the reason, we have nowhere to germinate plants and grow seedlings. I tire of carrying them all in and out every day, of having muddy trays cluttering up my worktop and of mice eating them, or chickens scratching them up before they’re established.
So this year I shall be sourcing seedlings, which means I have a little longer to plan things…at least until the risk of frost has passed.
It might look random, but there are reasons for all my plans. I like the cutting lettuce and the beets at the back of the deck-seating, so I can reach over and grab some leaves for a salad without putting my shoes on. Runner beans, and maybe some borlotti’s will go at the back on the bean poles so that they don’t create shade for anything else. Sweetcorn can lean in front of them, facing the sun to ripen the cobs. I like dumpy outdoor bush cucumbers – always difficult to find seedlings for those – but they are worth the effort as one is just the right size to add to a salad.
Courgettes are thirsty plants, so they are near the door and in the ‘moist zone’ for easy watering and because the slugs leave them alone due to their spiky stems. I have to have broad beans because they are the best first crop of the year, preceded by the bean-tops which are almost even better. Once harvested they will get pulled up and replaced with a quick crop like chard or maybe some kale to take us through to winter.
Would you look at that? Not even proper spring yet and I am thinking about next winter. Gardening does that to you.
I’ve started chitting some potatoes so that we can have some waxy salad potatoes as early as possible. I’ll plant some in pots and sneak some into the herbaceous borders too. I know that means I shall be digging up rogue potatoes for evermore, but I kind of like surprises.
Oh and peas! We must have peas. They never reach the kitchen, we just eat them wandering round the garden, straight from the pod.
I have filled the dry, sunny, front garden with herbs. It was looking pretty good last year, but it will be amazing this summer when it is thick with herby scents and a haze of Hidcote Blue Lavender as we sit on the veranda to watch the sun go down.
We look a bit like Peak District hill-billies sat out there in a row as people walk past. It’s a good job we don’t have a banjo and a shotgun.
I might plant some garlic in between the herbs. It loves it out there in the sunshine and fresh garlic is the best for summer cooking. For a while we did successfully grow lettuce, onions and shallots out front, but it looked a little ‘Good Life’ and just needed a goat-on-a-rope to complete the picture.
I think that’s it for now….until a seed catalogue drops through the letterbox.
What are you planting this year?
Cara Joy
March 20, 2014
very inspiring! i’m trying to figure out what we’re doing this year too. it’s almost time! happy spring to you.
thingswemake.co.uk
March 24, 2014
Thank you Cara, I’m sure my plans will change depending on what seedlings I find, but at least it’s plan A!
thekiltedwoodworker
March 20, 2014
Firstly, your photography and graphics skills are brilliant. Just wanted to put that out there.
Secondly… No window sills? I bet if you asked sweetly, someone could make up some simple bookcase-like constructs that would a) hold books on shelves and b) hold seed containers on top just at the height of the bottom of your windows in a sill-like fashion.
(I seriously hate tossing another woodworker under the bus like that, I really do, but… Maybe, secretly, I want to see what he does because his woodworking is just as brilliant.)
thingswemake.co.uk
March 24, 2014
Thanks so much for your kind comments, KW. Don’t worry too much about my lack of window sills, it keeps the cleaning minimal!
thekiltedwoodworker
March 20, 2014
Oh, almost forgot…
There are few things in life tastier than peas shelled into your mouth 10 seconds after they were picked. Growing up on a farm, our mum had a full acre garden we used for most of our veggies for the year (she did a lot of canning). She dedicated two rows to us boys; she called them the “pick and eat” rows and everything in them was stuff you could stop and eat on the spot when you got hungry after running around the farm on a hot summer day. The sugar snap peas were always my favourite…
KerryCan
March 20, 2014
I haven’t planned a thing because I’m beginning to doubt spring will ever come to upstate New York! But your plans are very inspiring and thorough!
thingswemake.co.uk
March 24, 2014
Thanks Kerry…Spring WILL come soon I’m sure, although it is VERY frosty here today. I’m glad I didn’t plant any seedlings yet.
idiosyncratic eye
March 20, 2014
Three thoughts:-
Wow, that’s efficient!
Can you not make indoor window boxes perhaps?
Gorgeous house!
😉
thingswemake.co.uk
March 24, 2014
Thanks…I am a visual person so I can only make plans like this, lists just don’t do it for me.
lapetitecasserole
March 21, 2014
Looking at what you did I wish I could have a garden! great job!
thingswemake.co.uk
March 24, 2014
Ah, are you garden-less? They add work, but it is a joy to have a garden.
Anne MC
March 21, 2014
hello, wishing you a very productive garden this year! I do not grow on window sills but I currently have 3 long trays on the floor in the living room in front of the french windows: growing tomatoes, okra, herbs and having to constantly turn over the trays because the seedlings are desperately bending to the light. Every year in spring I have visions of a lush green garden producing a bountiful crop. Every year in September I am disappointed after another awful English spring and summer. This year, I am thinking of investing in a fruit-cage for my raspberries and blueberries. And yes here as well, peas never reach the kitchen: always eaten fresh. have a great week-end. Anne
thingswemake.co.uk
March 24, 2014
Hi Anne. I have been known to have little propagators propped up on milk crates, temporary tables and even in Ed’s workshop on the table saw out feed. We all live in hope of that perfect Summer when the crops just keep on coming. Maybe it will be THIS year.
wendy@chezchloe
March 22, 2014
I love your fun with fonts! Looks like a great plan. I have missed early seed starting so I’ll be indulging in buying starts. I have hopes for a few little tomatoes, peppers and eggplants in my greenhouse but the brassica’s aren’t doing much. Late winter actually flew by.
thingswemake.co.uk
March 24, 2014
Thanks Wendy. I planted up a few kales yesterday, I hope this morning’s frost hasn’t killed them off.
Sandra
March 24, 2014
Reblogged this on A Layering of Perception and commented:
Our Garden
First year: Zealous. Second year: Optimistic. Years three and four: Never planted. Year 5:…Optimistic. Everything is in the kitchen alcove to match seed to soil.
Our last day of expected frost (freeze) is April 1. No joke, I hope.
thefolia
March 25, 2014
Viva la garden! i love your garden plan…I’m dreaming of a nest with some land that we could enjoy like this! We have the same problem in our nest with peas–can’t resist to pop them in our mouths right from harvest. Happy Nesting!
yourstrulyg
March 25, 2014
I am so incredibly jealous! Can’t wait until I have my own home and can do this!