A Jump on Spring

Planting peas, radishes and potatoes in the greenhouse.

Warba potato.

We try to start spring a little early, by planting potatoes, peas and radishes in containers in the greenhouse.

The greenhouse is not heated, but the light and the warmth gets things growing pretty fast.

We seeded these containers on March 4th, and the peas and radishes are up already (two weeks).

Tall telephone peas.

The first shoots of the peas March 18.

The radishes after two weeks. They should be ready in another week.

Our containers, planted with potatoes and radishes for an early spring harvest.

Sunday at the Farm

It is a slow day. Yesterday was a day of activity: Bread baking and lamb shank roasting along with some long walks and garden finessing. I planted a row of peas last weekend and I hope to plant some potatoes today.

We have been eating chard and spinach from the cold frame as well as the kale that over wintered and some carrots I planted in the garden and then forgot about. The carrots are good although they are a little watery tasting. Not as good as when they are first planted. The chives are up, and I have been mixing them in with my French bread recipe, making a tasty bread loaf with lots of green bits. We have been eating young mint leaves for a couple of weeks, mostly putting it in our morning cup of coffee. I can't wait for more fresh garden produce.

The garden is calling ... soon.

Garden Experiment Number 2

We built a cold frame to try and produce some fresh herbs and greens over the winter. We used four straw bales and an old patio door for the frame. We dug into the soil about four inches, and then lined the bottom with old newspaper. We added leaf mulch and manure, and then added soil (about one third of the compost volume).

It was pretty cold when we rescued the plants from the greenhouse. They look a little raggedy. We shall see if it works!

If the plants die, I am sure the slugs and rats will enjoy its spa-like atmosphere.