Favourite winter task

Still indoors in my coat and beanie. But I have unpacked my suitcase and thought I’d best record the most precious cargo (excluding my Heston Blementhal hidden orange Christmas pudding).

Seeds.   I buy a lot. Expecially as I had a very successful Christmas Fare and had funds to splurge on some interesting treats. I usually buy from Chiltern Seeds and occassionaly Thompson and Morgan.   But this month I have wandered into two different catalogues: The Real Seed Company and Plants of Distinction. I went to Plants of Distinction as they stock some interesting varieties of Cosmos.   I tend to know what works now in my garden, and cosmos has thrived. But I’m bored with my self seeding varieties.   So this month I ordered some mouthwatering selections: Cosmos Double Bonbon Snow Puff, Double Click Cranberries, Brightness Red, Fizzy Fizzy and Collarette Improved Mix.   All mad doubles and colours.

If all goes well I will try and plant them out in different areas of the potager. And hopefully it they grow well, they will self seed where they stand and create a fabulous palette of colour and form in the future.

And naturally I couldn’t resist some Zinnia varieties they have as well: Raspberry Cordial, Faberge and Double Zahara Cherry.   Yes they sound like something out of a drag queen’s make up kit.   But we shall see. People respond well to colourful flowers and I’m even thinking of dipping my toe in the selling bunches of flowers at the market idea.   Unformed and untested, but my stallholder friends are encouraging.   And Daniele will be thrilled. She loves her flowers.

The rest of the seeds are veg. And I am branching out into more creative kales. I love Kale. And only grew Cavollo Nero, black tuscan kale.   But I want to try more. And maybe grow them in the potting shed rather than outdoors.   My poor kale was so ravaged by bugs this year. We barely had two meals out of the crops.

So in true optimistic gardener mode, instead of giving up, I’m doubling my chances.   East Fresian Palm Kale, Sutherland Kale, Red Ursa Russian Kale and True Siberian Kale.   A glut if ever there was one.   Actually it’s not the winter cold that I have to struggle with, but cabbage moth butterflies, gendarme beetles, and drought.   They usually sail through winter.

I shall put them all in my nicely ordered seed boxes.   Ordered by month. So I know when to sow. I do so love this time of year. All promise and hope.