In the absence of lambing news, time to catch up on the greenhouse!
It is sometimes said that 'growing your own' has many benefits – and here in Devon we realise that one of the perks of home grown vegetables is the joy in seeing plants develop from seeds or cuttings into delights for the table. Never mind the cost saving (does it really cost less?) or 'just picked' freshness, an afternoon spent potting up seedlings is one which relaxes the mind, calms the soul and prepares one for an afternoon cup of tea with a slice of carrot cake and home-made ice cream. Eat your hearts out Tom and Barbara (The Good LIfe, 1970s).
As the nights start to warm up and the daylight hours increase activity in the greenhouse moves on apace – some of our brassicas have now been potted up, the coriander has been thinned and is ready for cutting for the table, lettuce and basil are slowly growing and outside, the onions, garlic and carrots are all looking strong (your turn to do the work now - most of the veg mentioned is in the photo compilation below) with some mint ready to cut for the lunch time potatoes.
We are still deciding on a long term plan for the vegetable plot and as our ground is clay (and very wet today it is too) we are trying potting the veg in an area just outside the greenhouse, mainly in pots – almost a parody of a 'small garden' situation but on a larger scale. We await results, with another cuppa to keep our thoughts going.