It's that deliciously hand rubbing together, gleeful time of year when I get all my seeds out and start to make the plans of what we will grow, harvest and eat in the months ahead.
The packets of free seeds gathered together each month from the copies of my subscription magazine have been mixed with all the seed packets leftover from last year and from years previous. Some packets go as far back as 2011 and are the ones inherited from Mum and Dad's seed collection, I know which ones these are as they have Mum and Dad's handwriting on them. Bearing little snippets of descriptions and information.
It links me with my past, anchors me in the present and gives me hope for the future. There's a lot of hope in a tiny seed.
Some packs that didn't germinate last year and were seriously old have been thrown away, the small selection in the basket have picked out for planting next week, a smaller handful of things I have no intention of growing have been popped into the car boot sale box and my great big wooden drawer is on standby for the coming weeks.
Spring is on it's way .... I can feel it in the air. It's time to throw off the blanket of Winter, time to dip my fingers in the compost and set to, we have earth to tend, seeds to sow, food to grow :-)
Sue xx
I just have to buy some fresh carrot seeds then will be ready. Some seeds this years will have to have fresh seeds harvested so I can keep them going.
ReplyDeleteI love it this time of year as well. My seeds are all ready, although I'm sure I'll buy some more yet! I'm looking forward to all the meals from the garden again!
ReplyDeleteOur little veg patch is a mere 20ft x 10ft and we are also excited for planting out (on a much smaller scale than most) but still enjoy producing veg which saves us loads of money!!
ReplyDeleteThat's a very good sized plot, bigger than I first started on. Happy planting :-)
DeleteThis time of year is so exciting! I have to hold myself back so i dont plant everything all at once and too early, but its hard!
ReplyDeleteWhat a hopeful post Sue - good luck with this year's crops.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful hopeful happy post. I was in the garden yesterday an got some seeds planted, they are in the spare room where I hope they will germinate.
ReplyDeleteThings are looking much the same in our household. Hubby started planting last weekend (in the greenhouse) and spent yesterday combining over the veg patch. We are going all out this year, we have even paired up with a friend so that we each grow different things, we will share throughout the year. I can't wait. Fingers crossed for a good growing season for everyone x x
ReplyDeleteI have a whole host of flower seed packets that weren't planted last year, plus some harvested seeds from my previous garden two years ago. *blush*
ReplyDeleteCan they still grow? Or should I be discarding them (such a shame)?
Your post has motivated me to sort out my greenhouse, replace the glass that was blown out by last week's fearsome gales and get planting!
Give all your seeds a chance, even seeds years old will germinate successfully. :-)
DeleteUnfortunately I can't do any gardening now let alone grow vegetables, but even I felt stirred up to do my bit. The last sentence put me in mind of Winston Churchill with his on the beaches speech, "... we have earth to tend, seeds to sow, food to grow". That alone would motivate me. Good luck, everyone.
ReplyDeleteJoan (Wales)
It's funny how we have to feel the 'time is right' in order to start planting. The time was right today as I sowed my mange tout - lovely and warm.
ReplyDeletexx
I have spent all day today sowing seeds. All tomatos and peppers in now ( a month late, but I have been so ill so needs must)
ReplyDeleteTomorrow the spring greens and salads. Still have all the winter kales and salads cropping in the PT :)
We have also had lots of luck with old seeds germinating this year, we sowed a lot with the thought that not many would germinate ! Now they have I've got cauliflower seedlings all over the place.
ReplyDeleteI really hope they grow! THere's some cracking veg to be had!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great collection of seed you've built up. I always sow seed no matter how old and usually have success, I inherited a lot of seed with the nursery last year, so we will see how that germinates this spring. If it does I'l have lots of lovely new stock for customers :)
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