Seed sowing and showers

What to write about.

We’ve had copious amounts of rain over the past week or so and that has stalled outdoor activities somewhat. That and an abrupt return to the office job on Monday.

But that’s okay, autumn sowing has been keeping me busy. That and buying bulbs. 1500 of them to be exact. I have carefully procured the most beautiful and unusual tulips and narcissi for delivery in the coming month for November planting. I wonder if you’re interested in the varieties?

In the hopes that you will be I’ll list them here:

• Daffodil Sir Winston Churchill.

• Daffodil Honolulu

• Daffodil Erlicheer

• Daffodil yellow cheerfulness.

• Tulip Peach Blossom

• Tulip Blue Diamond

• Tulip Creme Upstar

• Tulip Apricot Parrot

• Tulip Foxtrot

• Tulip Albert Heijn

• Tulip Exotic Emporer

• Tulip Monte Orange

• Tulip Honeymoon

• Tulip Amazing Parrot.

  That concludes the list, but I’ve gone for 100 of each so hopefully not too overwhelming? That’s a question rather than a statement.

Progress on the plot so far has been great, hedges have been trimmed back, weeds tamed, ground turned over and a brilliant space revealed. I can’t wait to see what it’ll look like in it’s first season.

I’ve got a fair few trays of module sown annuals in the greenhouse which is exciting. To get these started I firstly fill my module trays with compost, nice and full with no air pockets- but not overly packed down so the little roots have chance to burrow down.

Once I’ve filled my tray, I submerge them in a gravel tray of water and leave the porous compost to soak up the water while I finish filling the rest and when the soil is nice and dark with moisture I drain the excess liquid, and either surface sow my seeds or drill them in to the required depth.

I’m very lucky to have a lovely greenhouse where I tuck all my trays of seeds to germinate out of the elements, nice and warm. Although I am impatient for the little green glimmers of spring 2021 to show their leaves as it can be slow going in the cool of early autumn. I’ll be adding to my nigella, sweet rocket, granny’s bonnets, snapdragons, foxgloves and bellflowers over this coming weekend. I’m planning some lovely foliage plants to add to the mix which will really add some height and airiness to the selection so far.

I hope you’re planning the most beautiful Spring to come in the new year. But, don’t forget to fall in love with autumn, the darkening evenings, the crackling of the first fires in your homes, the distinct change in the density of the atmosphere and those layers that have been packed away since earlier this year.

The greenhouse germination station.