New plantings

There is now plenty of light and sometimes the temperature is favourable for growth. But the spring winds are especially strong this year and feeling cold as well.

I could not have managed half of the planting we've done without the use of covers, such as the two beds below, planted 9th March. They have fleece over, my cover of choice until it warms up in May or soomer, I hope.

Mostly I lay fleece covers flat on top of vegetable seedlings, straight after planting, or after sowing in the case of carrots with radish. Just the two trial beds and two lettuce beds have hoops to support it the fleece. That looks good, but makes extra work because the raised covers are inclined to be blown away: often I need to rearrange the stones to secure them again.

Nonetheless this 30gsm fleece is strong and does not rip. The only damage happens if we are unlucky enough to have a badger wander through at night time. Also from rooks tearing the fleece, to use for their nests.

Last October I popped in a few plants of month-old calabrese, to see if they might give an early crop. They have surprised me, cropping for a month already. And they have had a mesh cover over them, all the time.

Mesh and even netting serve to break the force of any wind, which increases warmth and growth. Rain can pass through mesh more easily than it passes through fleece. Also, there's good visibility through it, which helps in keeping an eye on growth, and when plants are ready to pick.

Sowings

We have planted thousands of seedlings, and it feels like that was just scratching the surface. This week in the greenhouse we sowed 180 chard, 180 leeks (video), 180 beetroot, including Flaming Barrel from Vital Seeds, 150 basil, 120 sweetcorn (video), 120 zinnia, 42 courgette (video) and 60 Dahlia. Outside we planted potatoes.

This coming week, it’s good to sow any of the above. Now or soon you can also sow squash of all kinds, cucumber (video), Brussels sprouts, French marigold, nasturtium.

For squash, 24th-26th April is great for sowing, then 28th April for flowering plants

The photo below shows how I increase root space by overfilling my module trays. Apparently this is not horticulturally correct! But it works very well.
This webpage has details of where to buy the trays, including in different countries.

Outside sow carrots, salad onions, broad beans + peas asap, lettuce, and radish.

I partner with Premier Seeds Direct for seed of my favourite varieties, in monthly packs and individual packets too.

April garden

A thing I love about this time of year, compared to early autumn, is that when we sow a little later, seedlings grow faster because they have extra warmth and light, always tending to catch up. For example most springs I see a lot of summer beans sown too early, then struggling to grow and sometimes killed by late frost. I sow them around the middle of May, and I shall remind you in the next newsletter.

The drone photo shows our activity, with new plantings all covered. Some of the beds have potatoes in, so about 1/5 of the garden is not yet planted. That's good for the mass of new plants coming ready soon.

Then later we shall be clearing early radish, spinach and overwintered plantings, making more space for cucurbits and beans. With no dig, it's quick to twist out plants and pop in new ones, at any time.

We have reduced the Calendar price, both in printed and digital, since part of the sowing season has happened. But there's plenty more to come.

Building

It's less peaceful here than it used to be, during weekdays. But I'll take that because the builders are making excellent progress. I'm hoping the work will finish before the end of summer, but know that there are always imponderables. I plan to have the main house re-roofed as well, so there will be a lot of scaffold by mid May.

Pyramid

I am excited to make this. Since I was 18, when I made a pyramid from battens, I have been fascinated by them. Now I am inspired by the work of Marijn Poels, see below.

I see great possibilities, and hope for lovely results from the one we are making. It will be wooden framed, with plexiglass/polycarbonate, so it can serve as a greenhouse, as well as a fantastic energy point.

Bosnia

Recently, four of us spent an amazing two days near the Bosnian pyramids, which it turns out are 30,000 years old. There is a history around them which is not widely known.

While in Bosnia, we stumbled on amazing videos called The Primordial Code. They are so beautifully made, well presented, and this is the website of Marijn Poels who created them.

The caves underneath this pyramid are extensive, but 5000 years ago they were filled in, for unknown reasons. Now they are being re-opened, mostly by volunteers, and the feeling in them is wonderful with more negative ions than are found on mountains or in forests. See the work of Semir (Sam) Osmagich.

Grow Together

My new book came out this week: garlic between winter salads is an example of one combination in it. I explain many ways you can increase cropping without having extra space.

We are now selling the book from my website, but unfortunately they have not arrived yet. I have paid for them and they will be here late this week. If you can cope with that delay, please order from this website, and you will receive a signed copy. Elsewhere they are widely available.

Moon experiment

The Biodynamic Association have started a Citizen Science Research Project . "Does sowing seeds just before full moon or new moon have any effect on germination rates" 

Take part using this link. Or email office@biodynamic.org.uk to learn more.

Trails

The agenda is to obscure the sunlight. Here, it’s happening more than usual this spring. See this piece from the BBC.