Digging and Thinking: In the Cells.....

The Old Roof

Last time I wrote I was hoping to get the greenhouse refurbished. Well I'm glad to say that the roof has been done! Not a full make over yet but we ran out of time, roofing bolts and sheeting. The roof was the most important part because the old sheets are getting quite brittle and one or two broke when it snowed. At least I will not have snow inside the greenhouse this year! With the roof done we put the remaining bits of sheeting inside the greenhouse to provide extra insulation. Where there were any gaps I put bubble wrap up again. I know it sounds a bit Heath Robinson but when I went in there yesterday it was quite warm so It will do for now. It was a hasty job to put everything back inside before

New Solid Roof

darkness fell so I did all the plants then the pots etc had to wait until the next day. Having put in all the overwintering plants I have discovered a problem – not enough room for planting seeds!! This is a real nuisance to say the least. The problem is caused by the mini greenhouse not being sturdy enough for the winter so I can't use it as I'd intended. I'll have to do some serious sorting out and shifting around to make enough room to do the seeds for next year. What is taking up all the room? Why do they all need to go inside? I hear you ask (imagining voices again!).

Standing Room Only

I have a lot of plants in pots which would freeze solid if we have another really cold winter so they need protecting. Back in February I mentioned that there is nothing but open seas between the North Norfolk Coast and the North Pole so when the North wind blows we really feel the cold. Well it isn't much better if you head east. We are on almost the same latitude as Berlin and Minsk with only the low lands of Holland to protect us from those biting easterlies! Brrrrrrrrrr!

It's Not Rubbish!!

When I was emptying the greenhouse I found sacks full of pots and trays for seed planting. The pots are fine as they stack together quite happily and don't take up too much room. The same goes for traditional seed trays. Then there are the cells – they are very useful but an absolute nightmare because there are so many different shapes and sizes! I have got cells in sixes, nines, twelves but each is different in size and shape – small square sixes – big rectangular sixes. Hardly any of them will stack together so they are a an unruly bunch to store. I make my own cells by using toilet roll tubes and stand them in seed trays which is great for bigger seeds but rather overkill for smaller ones so I resort to reusing the plastic cells for them.

The Cells

Lastly there are the polystyrene ones – totally unstackable!! I think it's time to cut down on the variety!! Is it really necessary to have so many different sizes, shapes and numbers of cells? Surely more uniformity would be better for commercial growers and gardeners? Oh what was that? – We're not meant to store and reuse them? They are meant to be thrown away?! But we are gardeners – past masters at recycling – it is in our blood. Well if we are not meant to reuse them why not make them Biodegradable instead! (I need to go and calm down now)

I have brought in the seed box and sorted it out and found that many packs are out of date but still half full. So now I have a quandary – do I buy in new ones or give these a try? Well if I can make enough room I'll give them a try a bit earlier than usual so I can see what is still viable seed. It has occurred to me that my idea of growing different and interesting foods has rather fallen by the way. I have a few different varieties of the same old thing. Thinking about what I really like to eat made me explore some different sites on the internet and I have decided to revolutionise what I grow with a bit of help from James Wong. On his website http://www.jameswong.co.uk/#/homegrown-revolution/4572077593 I have found some really different thing to grow such as Cucamelons, Goji Berries, Callaloo, Quinoa, Chick Peas, Tomatillos and Electric Daisies. Many of them are available from Suttons Seeds (look for James Wong Homegrown Revolution) and for the rest his website has links to suppliers. Some of these need a really sunny site so I may keep some at home and put them on the edge of the deck instead of tubs of annuals. Added to the James Wong selection I shall be trying out climbing Borlotti Beans because the climbing French beans and dwarf Borlotti did badly, Dutch Brown Beans and Red Kidney Beans. For the less unusual vegetables I shall try heritage varieties such as Laxton Fillabucket Peas, Spanish Black (purple) carrots, Norfolk Giant Carrots and Lemon Cucumbers. I'm going to ditch the traditional tomatoes in favour of unusual varieties such as Green Zebra, Yellow Pear, Orange Russian and White Beauty – these come in a variety pack for £5.95 from http://www.jungleseeds.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d48.html. A bit pricey but so much more exciting than the usual suspects.