“Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the number of apples in a seed. Robert H. Schuller

This is a bit of a religious quote for me but it grasps the potential of seeds. From one the possibility for life is endless. Springtime is seed time.

So what did I sow?

In the propagator:-

Tomatoes: Marmande, Cuor di Bue, Datterini.

Basil: Lettuce leaved and Bush

Marjoram, Dill, Parsley

Cayenne Chilli Pepper

Courgette: Alberello di Sarzana

Cucumber: Picolino

Leek: Pandora

At the allotment:-

Onions: Red Baron and Centurion

Broccoli: Raab

As I walked up to my plot I inhaled the sweet smell of the earth. I felt enlivened by it. I was very pleased to find that the broad beans were poking out of the ground with only a couple of duds, so there I popped in replacement beans. I was most upset to see my chitting potatoes devoured by a rodent though! An intruder in my shed no less. I'm thinking no chitting next time, I'll just get them in the ground. I have some Raab broccoli seed from a Grow your Own magazine last year and I thought I'd give it a go. It's a dwarf variety ready in 60 days, it will be interesting to see what it's like. I took my whole seed box with me thinking I'd get some other things in but I did lots of weeding and wondering but got nothing else sowed. I think the weather is going to be ok for Saturday but I did notice the first blistery pox of my boy's back tonight so I think I'll be playing nurse to my sweet boy and his chicken pox this weekend instead!

I have been very kindly presented with this Award from Jo at The Good Life - I feel very privileged to receive it and has left me feeling proud and appreciated. Thanks again Jo.

Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn. ~Quoted by Lewis Grizzard in Kathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love You

I love this quote, it's so perfect.

It's been a long weekend with my 3 year old burning a fever and the constant driving rain keeping us indoors for the most of it. Cabin fever. I was delighted to wake up to sunshine this morning which meant one thing to me - Allotment!

With the help of my young under-gardener, I dug over last year's garlic and onion bed. I had tried to grow sweetcorn after the alliums, although pretty unsuccessfully. I sowed two rows of Nantes carrots and one row of Cobham Improved Marrow parsnips. I'm hoping the parsnips and the carrots will be happier than the corn! I had dug in a little manure before the sweetcorn so I think by now the soil will be about the right richness for the carrots. It's definitely not a good idea to put grow carrots in freshly manured ground as they will 'fork'.

I weeded the raspberry bed while my darling fella, who'd made a rare but happy visit to the plot, dug over one of the long beds in which the potatoes and courgettes had grown last year. Time flew by and when my little one cracked me on the nose with a bamboo cane - AAwOOuch! - it was time to go home.

I do hope it's sunny tomorrow as I really want to go back and get more done, I'm hooked again.

xx