After a big push in the winter and cold spring to prepare the 48 beds, put up the polytunnel, start our seedlings off and then transplant, we are finally reaping rewards for all the hard work. And what a reward! Despite the heavy clay soil and late cold spring we are pleased with how the garden has grown. Of course it has been the hardier stuff that has done the best, like broad beans, beetroots, kale, cabbage, turnips, parsnips with some of the more delicate things like spinach and coriander biting the dust and bolting on us in the tough conditions. This was to be expected in the first year of growing and Bo and I have been relishing this opportunity to learn all about starting a market garden and growing vegetables using the bio-intensive technique.
One lesson we have learned is that it is not necessary to start everything in the polytunnel and later transplant. The bio-intensive technique advocates this with everything including roots and grains. But we have decided that the head start in growth you get by starting the seeds in the polytunnel does not make up for the hours spent transplanting and the possible shock and root damage that can occur in the process. See our purple carrots s on the right. On the left is a clumsily transplanted carrot started in the polytunnel in March and on the right a carrot grown from seed outdoors in a neighbouring bed sown in April!
Thanks to our lovely volunteers who come along on Tuesday 10am – 3pm! Feel free to join us and take home some yummy veg in return!
