Getting Ready for the New Gardening Season
Well, that's it then. The Christmas season is over. The tree has been taken down and the fragile ornaments carefully packed away for another year. Cards that were suitable have been made into present tags for next year. The foliage brought it to decorate the house has been removed. The house is back to normal, another Christmas season swept away leaving only a few uneaten chocolates behind.
Now it is time to start planning for the next highlight of the year - the beginning of the new gardening season. Seed catalogues to be pondered over, choosing what we will be eating from the veg garden over the next year - wondering how we are going to fit everything in - wishing for more space.
Preparing the soil, mulching, manuring, fertilising - making it ready to take the vulnerable seedlings and plants that will be soon filling every available space.
Flower pots and seed trays need to be washed, new packets of labels standing by to be written with the new varieties we will be trying this year.
There are still a few weeks to go before the soil warms up enough to be able to plant anything, but there should still be enough veg left in the garden to pick for the odd meal.
Will this year be more successful that last - will mistakes made last year be rectified in this. Who knows? For me, personally, the end result isn't always important - it is all that goes before that I enjoy, the sowing and pricking out - the transplanting and potting-on. Watching the seedlings come through and the anticipation of whether or not they will all survive, is all part of the pleasure of gardening. BRING IT ON.
I love the Christmas season but it's such a relief when everything gets back to normal and we can start looking forward to Spring. Love your post and photos. Your potting shed looks so tidy too.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
Only a few weeks to go Patricia - let's hope for better weather this year.
DeleteOurs will have to dry up a bit too. We could do with a gigantic battery operated hair dryer.
ReplyDeleteYou are right the soil just hasn't had the chance to dry out yet - we could do with the ball boys at Wimbledon to pull out the ground covering when rain is expected.
DeleteGardening is something you've got to enjoy, I don't think any of us would do it if we didn't, it's such a task nurturing those tiny seeds through every stage until they produce something worth eating, but it's done with love.
ReplyDeleteI just hope the seedlings get off to a better start this year.
DeleteHaddock's is such a mess at the moment; I've even let the hens scratch about. When the ground dries a bit, I shall rotovate and start planning. If I have ONE 2013 new year resolution, it's to stagger my planting. Usually EVERYTHING goes in in Spring. This year I shall take my time, and PLAN AHEAD.
ReplyDeleteLittle and often is my motto- staggering the planting at least ensures you get continuous crops.
DeleteA delightful post, and I like the 'old-fashioned' pictures showing clay pots and metal watering cans.
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of them too.
DeleteThere's something almost meditative about planting seeds and pricking out - and all the hope and expectations of flowers and veg yet to come is what I enjoy most. Just looking at your lovely photos of the potting sheds makes me want to get going again.... and I've not even planned my garden or ordered new seeds yet!
ReplyDeleteI actually spent some time in the greenhouse this afternoon tidying up, yet again, I can't wait to get cracking but will have to have a little patience - there's no point in starting too early.
DeleteIt's great to see everyone's enthusiasm beginning to come to life again. It is awakening my own hibernating brain.The brain is willing, the body is sluggish....but renewed vigour is starting to brighten with the lengthening evenings and hearing the birds begin to sing also. As you say, Elaine....Bring it On ! ;)
ReplyDeleteThe weather here is very mild at the moment so I have come out of hibernation to crack on with some jobs outside that needed doing desperately. I must say it felt great to be doing something useful.
DeleteI don't grow any fruit or veg in my postage stamp size garden, just a few herbs, so my start of the year is a bit different - I sit and mull over plant catalogues and wonder if I can manage to cram in yet another few plants! I have been a bit naughty already, I have bought a callistemon which will be delivered next week. I have no idea where to put such a monster so it will have to live in a large tub for now.
ReplyDeleteLoved your potting shed, wish I could have space for one of those!
I know how you feel I can't resist buying new plants and they usually end up in containers/
Deletehow very tidy, all ready to go. I have spent time to day washing pots and sorting seeds for sowing
ReplyDeleteI think this little spell of warmer weather has put me in the gardening mood - if the rain could just hold off for a bit I could get so much done outside.
DeleteOh what an uplifting post!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for the new gardening season... time to get the seed catalogues out!
Beware - seed catalogues are an inspiration but also a temptation - good luck with trying not to buy everything listed.
DeleteI love this time of the year, I have been pouring over seed catalagues and am itching to get started. Having to pull myself back firmly telling myself it is too soon. Love the planning though.
ReplyDeleteI can remember ordering seed potatoes from a catalogue only for them to arrive before Christmas so I have resisted the temptation to order quite so early this year.
DeleteI have just found your blog and will definitely be following. I've just ordered my seed catalogues and can't wait to get started in the greenhouse. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThank you for following. Not long before the greenhouse will be overflowing with seed trays - my favourite bit of gardening.
DeleteHappy New Year Elaine...2013...bring it on indeed! x
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you too Jane - let's show this year what we're made of.
DeleteI am busy viewing seed catalogues, whilst waiting for the weather to warm up I could do with a few hard frosts to reduce the slugs this year.
ReplyDeleteI don't have many seeds to buy this year as I still have loads left over from last year, but I will be experimenting with one or two new things - I haven't decided what yet though.
DeleteThat shed is UNREAL! Mine is a complete mess in comparison with that. Have you decided to grow anything really unusual this year? Egged-on by Stephen at UKVG I'm planning on having lots more chilli varieties.
ReplyDeleteI will be trying some of James Wong's suggestions this year - tomatillos, inca berries and cucamelons - should be fun to grow and interesting to see how they turn out. Good luck with your new chilli varieties.
DeleteWe had to get a new shed last year - even then it never looked as well organised as that one! I was in the garden today too - itching to get started but I know the bad weather has yet to arrive! Pessimist or Realist?!? Happy New Year ... if you don't want those uneaten chocolates just let me know .... :)
ReplyDeleteI have been turfed out of our shed - which is filling up with the beloveds' gadgets - so I have to make do with storing everything under the potting bench in the greenhouse. I think we will see more bad weather before the good stuff arrives. p.s. those leftover chocolates seem to have mysteriously disappeared.
DeleteYour right Elaine, so many things to do and think about, as well as keeping fingers crossed for good weather to help us out. I've actually managed to get 5 days work done down my plot since last Tuesday, so blogging has been on the back burner again.
ReplyDeleteIt is so frustrating isn't it, when the weather won't behave - I suppose it will all get done eventually.
DeleteOK, my shed will NEVER look like that! But I do have the annual seed audit planned for this afternoon. I confess I am really bad at washing out pots too, and take great heart from Charles Downing writing that he never does. If it is good enough for him, I murmur, as I knock old compost out of seed trays before filling them with compost... Hope 2013 is a kind growing year for all of us!
ReplyDeleteLet's face it Janet - it can't get any worse (she says with her fingers crossed).
DeleteOh, Elaine, you just had to say it, didn't you ;-)
DeleteUneaten chocolates? What are they? That shed is so clean and tidy - I have just developed shed envy... Is it a show shed and you have another one round the corner full of mismatched wellies and lost trowels? Please tell me you have!
ReplyDeleteThat isn't my shed, unfortunately, I can only dream of keeping it that tidy.
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