Tag: Seeds

Growing vegetables, fruit and flowers, Why I garden3 Comments

Seedlings

Reclaiming Paradise

Last week I sowed some seeds and this week I have some tiny tiny tomato seedlings: Barely there but hopefully they will grow big and strong and produce tomatoes in August and September. The chillies, sweetpeas, broad beans and salad that I sowed last week are taking their time. It’s been nasty and cold outside most days so the seeds in the seed palace have not had much to spur them on. The ones in the house have no excuse but I’m patient. Meanwhile the daffodils are coming in waves, starting at the back of the garden which gets the … Continue reading Seedlings

Growing vegetables, fruit and flowers, Why I garden2 Comments

Signs of life

Reclaiming Paradise

And so we have made it through the dark days of January and into February. Yesterday the sun shone a bit and it almost felt like spring. In the garden the snowdrops are springing up everywhere: A few iris reticulata have appeared in unexpected places. This one in a flash of blue in a pot at the patio door And these ones poking up between self-seeded strawberries and foxgloves I’m not sure I planted them there but I’m happy to see them never-the-less. The faithful rhubarb has sprouted already and maybe we’ll be harvesting it before the stash in the freezer from … Continue reading Signs of life

Growing vegetables, fruit and flowers4 Comments

Freezing

Reclaiming Paradise

On this first day of British Summer Time, we have had hail but also some sunshine and it’s still light! At last we’ve made it through the dark months and have long spring and summer evenings to look forward to. Meanwhile my freezer is looking rather bare, having used the last of the frozen rhubarb for breakfast this morning and the last of the frozen apple in a chocolate apple cake – recipe here – for a family birthday. However this year’s rhubarb is now in full production so I’ll be able to start filling the freezer again! The spring … Continue reading Freezing

Growing vegetables, fruit and flowers5 Comments

Daffodils in the snow

Reclaiming Paradise

We’ve had a bit of snow and ice here but nothing lying for long. Here are the tete a tete daffodils appearing with still some snow lying. The garden is looking a little battered but the spring bulbs provide cheer. There’s still lots of snowdrops, daffodils coming in waves, crocuses in odd places and even some hyacinths planted out from last year, looking as if they’re going to flower I forgot to take any photos of the large daffodils apart from the fallen over ones which I brought into the house. I was pleased to be able to take some … Continue reading Daffodils in the snow

Growing vegetables, fruit and flowers, Why I garden4 Comments

Reclaiming Paradise Awards 2022

Reclaiming Paradise

As we approach the end of 2022 and venture into the wilds of 2023, this post celebrates all that has been joyful, exciting or downright disappointing in my garden and allotment this year. This year my main achievement was my challenge to harvest sixty different vegetables, fruit, herbs, or edible flowers or weeds in the garden and allotment. In fact, my list reached sixty nine. This was an interesting challenge for me and I didn’t do anything very different from usual other than try some new varieties of veg that I’d grown before and make sure I recorded every new … Continue reading Reclaiming Paradise Awards 2022

Growing vegetables, fruit and flowers10 Comments

A seedy Six on Saturday

Reclaiming Paradise

I was out in the garden checking on what’s happening for #SixOnSaturday and was struck by all the seeding going on, among the vegetables, herbs, flowers and wild things. The noble teasel, which has had seed heads for weeks or possibly months but is looking rather good just now. These self seed all round the garden and I allow one or two to grow to full height each year. It’s all a bit random where they end up. This one is growing by the fence in the front garden. 2. Foxgloves, like the teasels, these decide where they want to … Continue reading A seedy Six on Saturday

Growing vegetables, fruit and flowers, Why I garden2 Comments

Falling behind

Reclaiming Paradise

Apologies that I’ve fallen behind on blogging – life has got in the way a bit – but exciting things are happening in the garden. Here’s a snapshot from last week’s glorious sunshine. Plum blossom, crocuses, a tiny self-sown nasturtium in beside the tulips, the wild primroses all coming up. Now it’s all rainy and cold and nasty, but my cucumbers have germinated, so life is good: Continue reading Falling behind