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The planting begins…

February 12, 2015 by Catherine 25 Comments

My seed order arrived this week.  Do you think I’ve overdone it a little?!

packets of seed for planting

And this doesn’t include last year’s leftovers!

In my defence I fully intend to plant everything I’ve ordered, but I can already tell we’re going to struggle to find room for everything.  It’s the same every year, I always end up juggling what goes where – you’d think I’d learn but apparently not!  I’d rather this than not have enough plants though, I can’t handle the idea of big patches of ground that aren’t growing anything.  And more plants in the ground = less weeds, right?

I couldn’t bear the sight of so much promise in little packets without doing something, so I’ve been making a start on planting this week.  This is the first year we’ve had a greenhouse and it’s great to be able to start the sowing a bit earlier.

february greenhouse planting

Leeks, spring onions, broad beans, chilies, garlic & sweet peas

Being in there in the sunshine was like a little taste of Spring, it was the first time in months that I’ve been warm while gardening.  A real contrast to the hard frost outside…

allotment water butt ice

Warmed by the greenhouse, I decided to tackle the compost heap – I know, the glamour!  We built the compost boxes about a year ago and haven’t used any compost from them yet, but when I turned it to get some air in things were looking pretty promising underneath.

homemade compost

You know you’ve been properly sucked into the whole gardening thing when you get excited about compost!  There were loads of worms in there doing their job very well, next time the kids are at the allotment they’ll have a great time studying what they’re up to.

Back home in the garden, Sam has been planting up some primroses he chose at the garden centre; in true kid style he went for the brightest ones he could find so we’ve now got a real shot of colour outside our front door!

planting primroses

This kind of slower-paced pottering is what I’ve been missing most about gardening during the Winter.  In the colder weather it’s been a case of ‘get it done then get back inside’, which is better than nothing but nowhere near as good for the soul.  I can’t wait until it warms up!

Joining in with Annie’s ‘How Does Your Garden Grow’ series at Mammasaurus

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Filed Under: Grow Your Own Tagged With: Allotment, Children, Compost, Crops, Flowers, Food, Garden, Greenhouse, HDYGG, Homegrown, Planting, Seeds, Vegetables, Winter

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Comments

  1. Gemma says

    February 12, 2015 at 12:02 pm

    Lots of lovely seeds you have there! Mine also arrived this week but I have the opposite problem, I don’t think I’ve ordered enough. Had a few leftover from last year but not as many as I thought. I like your theory of more plants in the ground = less weeds 🙂

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      February 12, 2015 at 3:26 pm

      I was genuinely shocked when I opened the order! We’re going to be busy 🙂

      Reply
  2. Amanda says

    February 12, 2015 at 12:07 pm

    Those seeds! It’s so easy to go OTT when buying seeds, I do it every year.
    I’ve just put some primroses out too, we really need the pop of bright and cheerful colour

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      February 12, 2015 at 3:31 pm

      Now I’ve just got to make them all grow – no pressure there!

      Reply
  3. Claudia says

    February 12, 2015 at 1:38 pm

    wow!! that is a big handful of beautiful and colorful seeds. can’t wait to see it all in full bloom!

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      February 12, 2015 at 3:31 pm

      We’ll do our best! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Mammasaurus says

    February 12, 2015 at 2:02 pm

    Seed-tastic! Oh how I would love a greenhouse. I foolishly talked about getting one late last year just after house extension work begun but that was before I realised just how long extension work takes – even though it’s done now the amount of ‘little’ job left to do is huge. Alas the greenhouse will have to wait till next year *sulks*

    Looking forward to watching their progress!

    Thanks for joining in again and sharing 🙂

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      February 12, 2015 at 3:30 pm

      I’ve come up with the justification that what seeds I don’t use can be kept for next year – and I’m definitely well-equipped for your seed swap!
      Like you I longed for a greenhouse for years, I knew it would be useful but I’m starting to realise just how brilliant it is not being at the mercy of the seasons and the climate. And it’s a great place to hide from the rain too 😉

      Reply
  5. Helen The good life mum says

    February 12, 2015 at 2:16 pm

    so many pretty seeds oh the envy, i made two pot plants recently and ended up using all the compost we had made now i have nothing for the new garden, good to see you turning the soil.

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      February 12, 2015 at 3:34 pm

      I think our little pile will just about cover a row of potatoes! We’ve been using chicken manure pellets as well, I think we’ll need to rely on them for a bit longer.

      Reply
  6. Merlinda Little ( @pixiedusk) says

    February 12, 2015 at 5:09 pm

    OMG so many seeds, so many possibilities! I also bought some and I cant wait to start planting! #hdygg

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      February 12, 2015 at 7:06 pm

      It’s about to be an exciting time of year in the garden – good luck with the planting 🙂

      Reply
  7. Iona@redpeffer says

    February 12, 2015 at 5:09 pm

    Love the colour choice by Sam 🙂 I know exactly what you mean about pottering-I miss that too. I can’t wait until our garden perks up a bit and is less like a muddy quagmire so I can get out.

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      February 12, 2015 at 7:08 pm

      It won’t be long now – that’s what I keep trying to remember anyway, I’m still very impatient!

      Reply
  8. happyhomebird says

    February 12, 2015 at 9:07 pm

    Oooh look at all those seeds, very exciting! I am going to put an order in tonight for my veggie and cutting garden seeds. I’ve already got some sweet peas so must sow them in our little greenhouse this weekend. Gorgeous primroses, we also just bought some very bright ones for our window boxes. Looking forward to seeing your seedings growing.

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      February 13, 2015 at 9:13 am

      I think primroses are a great way to satisfy the colour craving right now! Hope you manage to not get as carried away with your seed order as I did 😉

      Reply
  9. Elizabeth - Little White Feathers says

    February 13, 2015 at 12:05 pm

    Wow – such potential with so many seeds. You’ve inspired me to get in the greenhouse this half term with the kids and get it ready for planting. Lovely burst of colour there too! x

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      February 13, 2015 at 1:44 pm

      I think we’ll be in the greenhouse this half term too, you can never have enough sweet peas right?!

      Reply
  10. there and back again... a mother's tale says

    February 13, 2015 at 9:38 pm

    Ooh brilliant order, you lucky duck, happy planting!

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      February 14, 2015 at 8:08 am

      Thanks, we’re going to be busy!

      Reply
  11. Rosie @Eco-Gites of Lenault says

    February 18, 2015 at 10:02 pm

    It was warm in the garden today when I was pruning and verging on very warm in the polytunnel. Such a nice feeling but I also know winter may well not be done with us yet.

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      February 19, 2015 at 9:46 am

      Yes, we’re heading into that time of year where we get all excited that things have warmed up, only to be hit with a hailstorm! At least we’ve got a greenhouse to hide in now 😉

      Reply
  12. Me, You and Magoo says

    February 19, 2015 at 9:04 pm

    A lady after my own heart, I always get sucked into looking at plant/seed catalogues in the cold Winter months & order far too many…this is the first year I have resisted & have hardly bought anything! I love this time of year, starting the seedlings off, dreaming of Spring. #hdygg

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      February 20, 2015 at 8:52 am

      Well done for resisting, I completely failed as you can see! Happy planting 🙂

      Reply

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  1. The planting begins… | LAB says:
    February 12, 2015 at 10:32 am

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Hi, I’m Catherine. Welcome to Growing Family, a top UK home & garden blog sharing ideas, inspiration and tips for making the most of busy family life, indoors and out.
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