And we're off!

It's a red letter day: the day when the first seeds are sown. 

I always start now with the initial batch of brassicas: cabbages, red cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli, kohl rabi, kale, swede, as well as sweetpeas and silverbeet.

They are in seed trays in the germination area on the shelf above the cab in the truck (which is where the beans and walnuts were drying out until a couple of weeks ago), where they will remain until they are big enough to pot up and move to the tunnel house.

Today was also the day to go through my seed box and put in an order for replacements. 

There are some seeds that I buy fresh every year, because germination is too unreliable otherwise: parsnips, carrots (the seeds of which always used to be viable for two or three years, but no longer) and sweetcorn. Otherwise I replace seeds which are three or more years past their 'sow-by' dates. 

All the old seeds I mix up and scatter onto spare areas of the garden and let them take their chances. In this way I end up with some very unexpected 'forests' each summer. Last year it was tiny cauliflowers. The year before it was a mass of coriander. I have no idea what will strike and flourish this summer...

I have been busy all day, doing I'm not sure what. All that's left is to do the ironing and collect the eggs. Some days just disappear before my eyes and before I know it it's time to think about supper for me and for Bean. I haven't even really looked at Blip today: shock, horror!