Time flies

This week spring arrived with a giant leap; blazing sun that would surprise us two months from now, never mind at the start of April. At this time of year and with this sunshine I feel I can't get seeds into the ground fast enough.

We've had to really enjoy the purple-sprouting broccoli because the heat has pushed it close to flowering. How surprising that the flowers are yellow. It's no hardship since it's in season for such a short time and everybody in the family likes it. The plants are

starting to look a bit spindly - the sprouting bits get smaller and the stems a bit tougher. It's getting to be a trade off between enjoying the remains and hankering after the space for something else.

We've also eaten the first of the rocket (and even that is threatening to fl

ower) and some baby spinach leaves. The latter came up really fast but it's worth picking and eating leaves in a salad before they get too big. Rocket and baby spinach, pepper and mild, go really well together.

All these started under a cloche but I have taken that away for now - poor things were sweltering away in there - but I have the plastic handy to go back. It's not unknown for frost and even snow in April.

I have managed to get a few things into the ground. I have some tiny "Arctic King" lettuce seedlings in. They won't mind if it turns cold again. And I have sowed some mixed leaves that have "year round" on the packet. Then, by day three of the sunshine, I really got into my stride and put in some peas "Hurst Green Shaft", beetroot and a new row of rocket. In a pot in the back garden I did basil, coriander and lamb's lettuce.

Lets hope my early enthusiasm isn't damaged by a late frost.

Fresh start

I'm afraid the gardening rather took over the blogging last year. So this year the blog has a new name and it's blogger has new resolve.

An update. The hedge is no more. Or rather, it is reduced to a number of two-foot long sticks. I am told I need to dig out the remains and I will - if I can. This may need more brawn than I have but a local gardener who trains horticulture students at tells me it may not be too hard..and if it is he offered to give me a hand.

There's now a good view over the wall of the beds if anyone at the bus stop cares to look. There's some rather fine Cavolo Nero (posh kale to you and me), purple-sprouting broccoli, garlic, broad beans, some tiny rocket, even tinier spinach and beetroot seeds. Overall it doesn't look half bad - and it's only March.

My allotment-ing friend gave me the best compliment. "No one at the allotment has this much now."

Somewhere to start

On a quiet day - perhaps a Sunday in early April - you can hear Big Ben chime from my new garden. Four bus routes pull up outside, beyond the patchy privet and waiting travellers peer over to see what has appeared. This blog celebrates the arrival of my new gardening space. Two rectangles of railway sleepers, each about one and a half metres wide and three metres long. My friend, who was responsible for the installation of the sleeper beds, thinks that here in urban Kennington we will be self-sufficient in salad stuff at least.
So far, leeks - donated by same friend - rocket, shallot sets, salad leaves and broad beans have started to grow in the soil. This soil, by the way, is 90% rich locally made Kennington compost and ten per cent shop-bought stuff for mulch. I am warned that weeds will have come too but so far the space is clear save for the few seeds I have put in that have germinated.
There is plenty of sun for the moment. A hacked laurel is trying to create shade along with the privet but both may have to go. In time, the larger trees in the nearby wild garden belonging to a school will rob some of our light. But in spring, it is all systems go.