The seeds I planted just 5 days ago have all germinated! The extra warmth on the kitchen windowsill has obviously done the trick. They are now growing so fast, you can almost see it!
Sweetcorn seedlings
Courgette seedlings
And the crops outside have done pretty well this week too...
The other jobs I did in Monday's sunshine (that didn't last long did it?!) were planting another 8 seed potatoes (Sante - main crop) and potting on the more tender crops.
I pricked out the chilli, pepper and aubergines that finally germinated inside (see here and here). The courgettes never did show themselves, so I've ditched them and started again - a new packet of seed, covered in vermiculite, in a propagator on the kitchen windowsill. The other disaster we had was Amy's first sowing of sweetcorn. I think both of these were too cold outside, and by the time I'd realised and brought them inside, the seeds were no longer viable. We did manage to get 1 to germinate - nicknamed "Sally"!
Phew! - after all the rain we've had over the last few weeks, I was beginning to wonder if the sun would ever return, but today's been glorious. I've put the salad plants that were in the greenhouse out into the raised bed. I'm not sure I'll bother planting them inside next year as those I planted outside 2 weeks later seem much bigger and healthier already.
One of the most pleasant surprises about having transformed our front garden has been the social aspect. I've lost count of the number of conversations I've had with passing neighbours. All are interested in what I'm up to, and many have expressed an interest in buying any excess produce later in the year! Today I got chatting to the couple who deliver our parish magazine each month; when they offered me a thorn-less blackberry plant I couldn't say no!
When the garden was mostly lawn and shrubs, I'd be out there for a while and would wave to anyone passing, but this has brought it to a whole new level. Lots of people talk about the social aspect of allotment growing, but I say try front garden growing!