(1)Lettuce grown in outer space was on the news this week, following an article in New Scientist saying it was as nutritious at lettuce grown on earth. They do have an advantage as I doubt whether they took up slugs, for anything other than maybe some experiments rather than to graze on its leaves. I hadn't chosen the same variety: Red Romaine which they had selected as it germinates easily.
Down on the surface of Earth, a few varieties were sown up and are starting to emerge this morning in less than a week. Lettuces Catalogna Cerbiatta, New Red Fire and Royal Oak x 5 modules each.
To complement the lettuce , some modules have been sown up with Coriander Calypso, calendula and dill. I love a salad, I really do, but Mr S used to be a reluctant partaker. That changed last year when I started to buy mixed bags of leaves grown within walking distance. As the year passed I started to add edibles from the garden such as nasturtium leaves, dill, etc. He is now 'on board'.
(2) Rocket: another space related connection! Last year my son shared a bulk packet of rocket seed for picking your own leaves from a pot. As the light is getting better, I have sown a tray and seeds are just bursting into life.
More Veg that is what I want to grow this year, but still in my little patch, with maybe a few pretty leafy things tucked into the borders. I came across www.moreveg.co.uk just as I was looking for a paticular variety of lettuce, and was delighted to find a company selling small amounts of seed of rather interesting edibles.
(3) Alliums
Allium schoenoprasum aka chives border the small 'potager' and have been providing a few leaves for the past couple of weeks. From now on there will be an abundance!
Allium schubertii close by the gravel area are up and a quick peer down into the centre shows that the buds are poised and ready to rocket up into flower.
(4) Corydalis Beth Evans
Two years ago I bought my first little pot of Corydalis Beth Evans. Last autumn I put the corms out of its pot and planted four small groups. They have bulked up very well, and will be a spring special in the garden for many years to come. Once it has flowered and seeded, it will die down and melt into the ground, making room for all the other emerging summer plants.
(5) Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' has survived the winter, it is on the 'dark side' and its silver veined leaves and blue flowers lighten the spot nicely.
(6) Emerging leaves
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| Tulipa Sprengeri Trotters Form |
The Acer's newly unfurling buds against a fence green with the tell tale of a wet winter, growing daily.
Plant and shrub cuttings lie along the base of the wall, and with a covering of winter worn wind blown leaves offer shelter for small creatures during the winter, attracting slow-worms and many forms of small garden wildlife. This week the blackbird has been collecting long strands of old Phuopsis stylosa and bleached leaves and stems for her nest, and the jays continue to look for long fallen acorns.
I pulled up my Acer last year. It had threatened to die every year but showed enough red leaves for a reprieve until then. The top broke off it and I decided that 2 pathetic leaves were not worth keeping. Nice to see your healthy tree.
ReplyDeleteThat acer is rather tough: A Wilkinson special about £2 several years ago, and was one of my pots on the patio before getting placed in the garden here. Quite a bargain I would say. I am with one though on discarding plants that 'want to die'!
DeleteI used to be reluctant when it came to salad until my wife convinced me they could be interesting. I must sow some rocket in a pot this year. I hope your tulips flower this year.
ReplyDeleteI love alliums. They seem to be so hardy and my garden is full of drumsticks. I will be very interested to see the flowers on your schubertii when they show.
ReplyDeleteYou’re going to have a great crop of salad veg soon. Well done on getting Mr S to take part!
I shall be sure to post when the alliums come into flower. I particularly like Allium carinatum subs pulchellum which I posted about in August. They keep green here all year round, and I have planted little clumps in amongst thymes etc.
DeleteI've sown flower seeds but neglected to sow any lettuce. Thanks for the link to Moreveg - it looks an interesting site. Fred's posted pictures of his lettuces and they've got me salivating.
ReplyDelete