Sold!

 

Remember the pansies I sowed a couple of months ago, and when I pricked them out and potted them on there were 107 of them? Well - I’ve sold 30 of them, for the grand sum of £12.50! And whilst I’m not going to break into the ranks of the Top 500 Earners of the UK with this sale, there is something very satisfying about growing seeds into seedlings and actually making some money from them. £12.50, eh? I know - I shan’t spend it all at once! 

Of course, this little horticultural win makes me want to be a market gardener even more. Andy said to me the other day, ‘Do you need another greenhouse?’ ‘Yes, I do,’ said I. He’s already said he’s going to build me an open-sided potting shed, probably next to the compost bins, and underneath the sycamore tree. This will free up space in the greenhouse for more plants which is a good thing because this morning I sowed some peas to grow into pea shoots for salads and I actually stood there, pea tray in hand, wondering where the chuffing heck I was going to put it. 

I’ve embarked on sowing Spring Seeds for Summer Planting and Autumn/Winter Eating, you see. So, turnips, salad onions, red cabbage, Savoy cabbage, sorrel and squash. I’ve also set off more flowers: poached egg plants, cornflowers, sweet Williams - and herbs: coriander, basil and parsley. So that lot are all fighting for shelf space with the camomile, lobelia, dahlias, petunias, marigolds, emergency courgettes (ha!), succession sown lettuce, kale and a couple of teeny spider plants that fell off their mother plant during a brisk watering the other day. 

I’ve moved the borage, pansies and cucumbers outside. The tomatoes are well over 12 inches tall now and setting their first flowers. The chilli peppers are about 8 inches tall and probably need potting on into their final growing homes. If I wasn’t enjoying myself so much, I’d be feeling swamped and overwhelmed by all this growing stuff but I’m not, and I can continue to play musical plants around the garden because where there is a problem, there is ALWAYS a solution. 

Outside, the first peas are appearing, and the beans are either shooting up their strings or spreading across the ground depending on their type. The three courgettes have beaten slug attack. The transplanted leeks have finished playing dead and started to stand upright and proud. Carrot, parsnip, beetroot and salad leaves are all popping up nicely. I think we’ll do well on the fruit front this year, too, and I’m being very firm with myself and not touching the rhubarb (in its first year, so no picking until next year) even though the thought of a rhubarb crumble is VERY tempting. 

I know, I know…I’m showing off about the loveliness of my garden. But I’m so happy with how it’s developing this year, I can’t help but toot my little trumpet, just a bit. Parp!