Since moving into our place-the south of the UK, we have been eyeing up our garden for a chance to turn it into what we love – a food and flower oasis! If you have been following our gardening journey, you will know that we gave this a go on a balcony in our flat. So…moving to a house was a privilege. In true, aspiring gardeners style we have decided to start early.
So we are starting a series, sharing our experiences, triumphs, lessons and more.
Preparing for growth:
Having learned from our previous garden experience-we have budgeted and set a list of new seeds as well as previously harvested seeds to grow.
We begun on the last week of February! Armed with pruning shears, compost and a lawn mower we begun by tidying up neglected corners and cutting the overgrown grass. Though the days may be short, there’s a sense of purpose in every shovel full of compost, knowing that we’re laying the groundwork for future growth.
We have read and heard that the primary tasks in February is soil preparation. So, with a mix of anticipation and determination, we turned over the earth, cleaned up some random rocks in corners with cobwebs and tried to get rid of all the weeds. We quickly discovered how much work this is. A whole weekend dedicated to pruning and clearing was not enough. So we have been back again and it is now March 2024. We are not rushing it as we now have a realistic expectation of what we want to do and how long it might take us to achieve. Our new goal is chipping away at it- all of March. In between the rains and the cool weather, some weekends have not be appropriate to venture out. So, a month is more realistic than preparing the soil in one saturday.
Whether to sow and when not to sow:
While we have been preparing the outdoors, we decided to start sowing indoors using shop bought compost. As we do not have a typical fancy glass greenhouse we have taken to using windowsills for now in everything we can recycle from loo roll cardboard to glass jars.
Having watered the seeds we realised, how cool the seelings were and being on the windowsill, hasn’t been the warmest spot. However, to our surprise, the shoots have decided to sprout as of the time of this post! A win is a win, and this gave us all the more confidence to try out more on the windowsill.
In the spirit of trying something new, we have also got scraps of veg growing on the windowsill – starting with bok choy. We have managed to keep our herbs all winter albeit in a sad phase of muted growth. This will be the time to tidy up the leaves and give them new soil and a pot with the promise of continued and better growth. Watch out for these flourishing herbs!
Planting the seeds of promise:
As March unfolds, the real excitement begins! With the last frost date drawing nearer, we are eagerly awaiting sowing more seeds and transplanting mature seedlings.
Despite the occasional chill in the air, there’s a tangible sense of optimism in the garden. Each seed sown is a testament to our faith in nature’s resilience and our ability to nurture life from humble beginnings. We marvel at the tiny green shoots that emerge from the soil-daily, a promise of abundance yet to come. We have all the feels romanticising this phase of our growing journey.
Challenges and triumphs so far:
Of course, our gardening journey is not without its challenges. Unpredictable weather, voracious pests (mice!), and the occasional setback test our resolve and ingenuity. Yet, with each obstacle overcome, we emerge stronger and more determined than before.
One of our greatest triumphs this season has been learning more about companion planting. By strategically intermingling flowers and vegetables, we look forward to creating a harmonious ecosystem that promotes biodiversity and natural pest control. The sight of bees buzzing among the blossoms and ladybugs patrolling the leaves will fill us with a sense of pride and satisfaction!
Looking Ahead:
As we enter mid March and eagerly anticipate the arrival of April, our thoughts turn to the future. Especially as we have the little shoots coming up, we dream of sun-ripened tomatoes, fragrant herbs, and colourful blooms that will adorn our garden in the months to come. Yet, even as we look ahead, we remain grounded in the present, mindful of the daily rhythms of nature and the lessons they teach us.
Our gardening journey in February and March has been a labor of love, a testament to our deep connection to the earth and all its inhabitants. As we tend to our garden, we are reminded of our place in the cycle of life, humbled by the beauty and complexity of the natural world. And so, we continue to nurture and cultivate, knowing that with each seed planted, we are sowing the seeds of hope and renewal for generations to come.
With love,
C&D