I'm about to head out of the house to man my stall at the Farmer's Market today but thought I'd put up a few photos of what I've been up to in the last couple of days. It's now a week into March and the beginning of the seed sowing rush is on. I've sown Brussels Sprouts, Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Thyme, Basil, Oregano, Sage, and a few other types of veggies and flowers. I've started quite a bit of each with the idea that I'll be selling my extras on at my stall on Thursdays.
As you can see from the above picture I had a little gardening helper as well - Louis is fascinated with my gardening activities and follows me around the garden. He's also been known to help dig holes and not for the usual cat purposes either.
The seedlings I sowed in early January are all doing well and my seed-sown onions have grown to about 5 inches tall. I spent the good part of an hour this week pricking each of the tiny seedlings out of their communal tray and into individual modules. The'll continue growing in these trays until I plant them out in their final positions in about six week's time.
The tomatoes are coming up a charm and it looks like I'll have quite a few of them to sell at my stall this spring and summer. I'll only need a handful myself and hope I can find some good homes for the rest of them. I'm thinking of selling them at 50p per seedling when they've put on some height - does that sound like a decent price to you?
The ginger has finally broken a bud along it's side and it looks as if I might be seeing some green leaves before long. This is pretty exciting for me since it's my first year growing ginger and I thought I might have done something wrong when it didn't sprout for the first two months.
The leek seedlings are still in their original tray but I'll be pricking them out into modules tomorrow. These are Autumn Giants and they should eventually reach a good couple of inches in diameter. I hope to get some massive ones out of this batch as well which I'll enter into the Eastern Young Farmer's show at the end of the summer. I've got to live up to my promise of giving the usual suspects a run for their money!
If you're out and about today, please feel free to drop by my stall from 11-3pm; in addition to my handmade soaps I've also baked fresh blueberry muffins this morning and have an array of moist chocolate, carrot cake and vanilla cream cupcakes. I've also made my 'famous' chocolate chip cookies and some divine Lavender biscuits - my husband is sitting here waiting for the leftovers this afternoon.
Have a great day everyone :)
I think your husband may be disappointed, I wouldn't be surprised if you sell the lot, they all sound delicious. 50p for a tomato seedling sounds very reasonable, I'm sure you could charge a little more as the garden centres tend to sell them for double that, at least. Louis is just gorgeous, I miss having a cat around the place, but my son is allergic so it's a definate no no. Good luck with your stall today, hope you sell loads.
ReplyDeleteI didn't manage to sell all of them so he's happy with his small pile of leftover carrot-cake cupcakes :)
DeleteI could try selling them for a bit more...I'll wait and see what the other ladies are selling theirs for first and then make a decision. I could always lower it later on.
That's a shame your son is allergic to kitties - I think you mentioned that to me once before. I think even the hairless cats aren't an option either since it's the dander rather than the hair that people are allergic to?
Looking good. I'm getting real antsy. Need to be gardening. Need to be warmer also!
ReplyDeleteHi John :) You could always start some seeds indoors like I'm doing...that way they have a longer growing season and/or produce early.
DeleteHello tanya,
ReplyDeletefirst time to your space, I love greens too!!!
Happy to follow you!!!! do stop by mine!!!!
Good Food Recipes
I will do DD - thanks for stopping by :)
DeleteOh I wish I could visit your stall...can you not come to Stornoway on a Saturday morning?
ReplyDeleteYour seedlings are well up now - I was so excited this evening to find some of the tomato seeds had sprouted. it is such a great time - so full of hope and anticipation. xxx
Let me just dust off my magic carpet :)
DeleteI love spring too Jacqui! It's such an amazing time feels like such more of a fresh start to the year than New Years. Great luck with your own seedlings - I can't wait to see what you grow in your new polytunnel.
I found your blog through a comment you made on eight acres. as you can imagine I grow a lot of ginger here in tropical Australia. You look as though you are going to have a very full allotment this year - I look forward to following your progress.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for following my link from Liz's page :) It's interesting to watch how gardens grow over the year...especially considering the differences in season between the northern and southern hemispheres.
DeleteAnd I'll bet you do have a lot of ginger! Here you really have to start it indoors then move it outside then back inside in the autumn. I'll bet that you can let it get on and grow like a weed in Australia.
The soil looks dreamy to me... I cannot wait to have it under my nails & to wear a grass-stained garden dress... it's almost time here to start tilling the gardens ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll look lovely out pottering around in the dirt in your dress :) Me, I work in old tops, beat-up holey jeans and muddy boots. But you won't catch me posting any pictures of my garden 'fashion' here! lol
DeleteEverything is looking awesome in your neck of the woods! I love photos of seedlings, it is just such a great reminder that spring is on the way.
ReplyDeleteI wish my cats would help with the garden. Instead, they seem to great pleasure in munching on my seedlings.
Haha...pesky kitties :) Ours are a bit spoiled and haven't discovered that they can make their messes outside the litterbox - YET. I don't have that much trouble with them eating seedlings but it could be because I grow cat grass for them to much on inside as well.
DeleteThanks for stopping by Prairie Cat!
Your seedlings are looking great, hope you had a good day at the farmers market. Lavender biscuits...mmm.
ReplyDeleteThey are unusual but delicious Mr. H...very thin butter cookies with sugar and lavender petals pressed into the top.
ReplyDeleteYour seedlings all look very healthy and make me feel ashamed that I have yet to put anything into my greenhouse.
ReplyDelete50p for a tomato seedling is a bargain so go for it!!
I have never grown ginger but if it goes well let me know and I may try it...we eat a lot of ginger in our house...especially over the winter!!