So three boxes of broad bean seeds were planted on the same day, and in the same way; heritage crimson flowered, witkiem manita and grando violetto (purple beans with a green pod). Then all placed in the cold frame to do their thing… Mysteriously, although the other two germinated and grew beautifully, the GVs did not! Just one runty little seedling has appeared. So far I’ve resisted poking about for signs of life…

I’ve now planted out the broad beans that had germinated, along with the seedling peas ‘Champion of England’ bred in 1843 by William Fairbeard, a Kentish nurseryman – who was later consulted by Darwin when he was writing his book on natural selection. (I just love that sort of detail!) I learned about it on a very informative blog by Daughter of the Soil, to whom I am very grateful. I’ve had fun twisting locally coppiced hazel peasticks to create climbing support and, I hope, also protection from marauding pigeons.

And the apple tree is looking very pretty in full blossom against the newly painted shed.