Early last year I sowed some rhubarb seeds and most of them seem to have taken quite well; never done that before with these. They are here in a 5-part container, four of which are doing alright. I have others either outside with what is left of my old rhubarb plants (lost a few last year) and in another pot. I overwintered the container in the small poly-tunnel. When cooking rhubarb I find that the bitter taste can be softened by adding a peeled orange as well as sugar.
Here is a raised bed with a 'roof' on top to keep the frost off as much as possible; it was planted with carrots last autumn and they have survived the winter. We did have a number of frosts but nothing drastic, which is why they survived, no doubt. All I do with carrots is throw the seeds around anyhow and as they grow pull up the larger ones to space the rest out. This has worked before and I get a good crop in a very small space.
These are onions growing from seed; many people prefer to use onion sets, which I do myself, but I also like to sow seeds too since these will grow but may be smaller and useful for pickling. Last year was not a good growing year by any means, as the seed-suppliers pointed out, so my onion crop was not as good as previous years. But they did last until around February this year, though I usually have them until April or so - which gives a continuous crop.
These are onion sets; usually I put them straight into the ground but this year tried an experiment in using trays to start them off. I have some more on order soon and will get these straight into the ground. Onions, I have found, get little problems and are easy to grow. They can also be grown amongst other stuff, like lettuce, to ward off predators who don't like the smell of onions.
These are tomatoes, a bit early being sown in January, but nevertheless they have grown well. I put them outside into the Mini-Greenhouse which can be warmed by a candle when frost is predicted. They were 'free' seeds and again an experiment, which has been the object of the Eden-Project really.
This larger container has been sown with dried peas; the sticks don't really hold peas and are there just to start things off. When they grow I'll use twigs cut from a tree at the bottom of the garden (nothing is wasted). I have a lot of trays sown with dried peas (dirt cheap and they do grow) and these will soon be ready to put straight into a raised bed.
These are seed-supplier bought garlic bulbs; they were planted in January since garlic needs a cold spell to kick-start them. I have also planted supermarket garlic in containers - we'll see which does better. Another experiment, since one day we may need different outlets for our growing stuff. The fennel was from last year and is growing again.
These are peas which were sown in early winter and a planted into a cold-frame in the front garden. In front of them (in the shade so not easily seen) are a few lettuce as a catch-crop. The cold-frame will be removed at the end of March and used for more seed-sowings.
This pot contains another two rhubarb plants; rhubarb is a perennial and thus an easy crop of dessert to grow. Last year was a bit odd since I lost quite a few which had been there years, but this year should see these progress and take their place - I hope.
This is a stray lemon-balm plant which grew from seed last year; I saved it because I lost a couple of these last year but will try to keep this in a larger 'Herb-Tub' this year (on the ground the dog pees on them, which does nothing to enhance the flavour!). The pot was kept in the Poly-Tunnel over winter which is why this is growing so well and green.
These are supermarket garlic bulbs which are doing about as well (so far) as the seed-supplier bought ones. We shall see how different these are in growth and quality. Any seed-supplier will tell us that their stuff is better, but they are there to sell them.
This is a pot of comfrey; this one I dug from the bottom of the garden, where I managed to lose a couple last year. The larger tub that it stands on is also full of comfrey - or at least it was last year, there are signs of growth now. Comfrey or 'Knit-Bone' is good for sprains and broken bones - I have used this years ago on a cracked bone in my toe and it certainly does the job.
I have dug all of my raised beds already so as to be ready to plant out as soon as it is possible; spuds are 'chitting' ready to go. I prefer to dig my garden, as my father and grandfather did, but some people prefer a 'no-dig' approach; since I get the results I want I see no need to change, but this is entirely down to the individual.
Back in January I performed my own 'Blessing of the Spade' since small gardens have no need of a plough; but this is something we have in our rituals if we wish to use them, so thought I'd do so. Also, in the same month, I did a 'Wassailing' on the two apple trees at the bottom of the garden, again to try to revive something that is still done but not much in the home-garden.
I still have my allotments but the lease on these has run out and it is not certain whether the council will continue it - land is 'needed' for government house-building 'requirements'. The allotments are on a small patch of land on the road that I live on, and are tied to the local 'Community', so I have had to volunteer to 'chair' this to try to stop them getting rid of the allotments altogether. We shall see how this pans out.
