So few grains of happiness
measured against all the dark
and still the scales balance.
Jane Hirshfield
The Old Gage tree I planted 2 years ago mysteriously started to die just as it was in the full glory of spring blossoming – an ominous harbinger, though we didn’t know it yet, of the year to come. On investigation, it turned out that the council strimmer had been a bit over-zealous and had damaged the bark just above ground level. Anyway, I have now just planted a replacement Oullins Golden Gage, and the council have kindly provided a protective guard so hopefully this one will thrive.
The brassicas are doing well, various kales, PSB and trying purple cauliflower Graffitti for the first time, along with flower sprouts and brussels sprouts. All need protection from the voracious pigeons who have shredded the red and yellow chard.
May the long time sun shine upon you
All love surround you
And the pure light within you
Guide you all the way on *
*Mike Heron – The Incredible String Band (1968)
And here below is today’s harvest, all looking good apart from the gnarly carrots which, although the root flies got to them, still taste lovely – excellent for soffritto base.
The force that through the green fuse drives the flower
Drives my green age.
Dylan Thomas
No dig parsnips – surprisingly straight and large, considering the dense clay soil…
Asparagus, leeks and sprouting kale as well as PSB
View from the greenhouse – seedlings coming along including asparagus kale, red & gold beetroot, various lettuce varieties and coriander. Broad beans and onions planted out in the beds beyond – and carrots, radishes and dwarf peas just germinating.
As the full moon approaches, yesterday seemed a good time to apply this year’s horn manure preparation; stirring diligently for an hour, creating vortices to ‘enliven’ the rainwater. Sprinkling it over the soil with fragrant branches of bay was suitably magical, droplets sparkling in the afternoon sunshine. Perhaps fortunately, there were no witnesses to this arcane process …
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
Making best use of this extra leap year day, and catching up after so many days (weeks?) of rain, there was a flurry of activity at the huerto. Greenhouse glass cleaned inside and out; such a difference to the light. Quince tree heavily pruned in the hope of eradicating the rust and poor cropping of the past 2 years. Seeds sown. Pansies planted out into the hanging basket adjacent to the bee hotel. And even a reasonable harvest, including some rose de Roscoff onions I had forgotten about, stored in the shed but still edible. Also flower sprouts, kale shoots, leeks and parsley. AND it didn’t rain. At all. Sunshine even!
Just look what I found in the greenhouse!
Amid the wintry desolation I was happily surprised yesterday to find this array of vegetables, L to R: cabbage, chioggia & golden beetroot, parsnip, kholrabi and celeriac.
Huerto 
You must be logged in to post a comment.