Acts of Random Gardening
I would love to be a better gardener and grow lots of things, but I am too lazy. In 2025 I am going to try to make a more disciplined approach and grow a few things well. The rest of the time shall probably be spent sitting and watching bees rather than doing any work.
Seed Sowing
In the first week of April I popped the following in for sowing:
- Carrots - see below
- Cosmos - three varieties
- Imopmea - free seeds when I bought some more
- Tithonia Torchlight - I am going to plant this in the garden rather than tubs this year
- Cactus dahlia
- 1 courgette seed
- Cavolo Nero
- Chilli Peppers - Prairie Fire and Demon Red
At the end of the first week I have some Cosmos, kale, Ipomea and Dahlia sprouting up. The carrots have taken about three weeks to make an appearance and I had to move them round to the front of the house - bit worried the pigeons might find them though. I've moved the Imopmea out of the propagator after about a week along with the Courgette. Not much else is doing anything. The dahlia have been moved out on week three.
Into May and the carrots have now been covered as they had been ravaged by pigeons - because they are pigeons and they are everywhere. The seeds aren't really coming up much at all - I am watching them and making sure they are kept warm and have water. They are just not really doing anything. I have sown some Gaura and Knautia, as well as some more Cosmos. The garden is blooming well though - lots of Cranesbill Geraniums coming into flower, along with an abundance of Sweet William, some white and some purple Sweet Rocket and an orange Geum.Carrots
I am going to try and grow small carrots in containers because, quite frankly, the ones in the supermarket are tasteless at best.
- Sowing time is March to June (think I can probably keep this going longer
- Plant three seeds 1 cm deep, 5-7cm apart
- Succession sow every 2-3 weeks
- Germination takes two weeks (apparently)
- harvest 10-16 weeks (must be patient)
Other things to note - carrot fly is the biggest issue, so don't thin, put the pots near something strongly scented (this will be rosemary for me) and cover if possible
Shouldn't need too much water and feed a couple of times
So, until March when I will need to buy some new compost - I already have the seeds