Spring is in the air

The blackbirds are singing their hearts out, the goldfinches and robins are going around the allotment site in pairs, and the cock-pheasants are fighting for death or glory. My windowsills are full of seedlings, and I've just spent a happy hour soaking away a day's digging with Mark Diacono's book, making a list of seeds to sow tomorrow.

I've already got underway

• Tomatoes - far too many varieties: Matina, Gardener's delight, red brandywine, gartenperle & mountain pride
  
• Chillies - the ominously named Inferno, and a "hot shake" mix
  
• Sweet peppers - Marconi red & Jolly Giallo (yellow, if your Italian isn't up to much)
  
• Celeriac - Giant Prague
  
• Coriander
  
• Sweetcorn - True Gold
  
• Aubergine - Calliope
  
• Cucumber - Marketmore
  
• Pumpkins & squash - Mars, berettina & butternut
  
• Courgette - Verde d'Italia
  
• Artichokes - Imperial star & Violet de Provence
  
• Cauliflower - Romanesco
  
• Flowers - many types, including but not limited to sweet peas, zinnias, dahlias, cosmos, nicotiana & sweet William - (the dahlias are going into the new coldframe tomorrow to free up some space!)
  

tomorrow's indoor planting list includes

• Beans - borlotti, French and possibly broad (I have broad bean seeds, but I'm not convinced I like them enough to bother)
• Brussels sprouts
• Chinese leaf
• Swiss chard
• Kale - curly and Italian
• Leeks
• Lettuce
• Peas & mangetout
  
• Purple sprouting broccoli
  

and outdoors

• Fennel - Romanesco (for bulbs - though it may be a little early yet)
  
• Swede
• Potatoes - King Edward & Pink Fir Apple are chitting on the bedroom windowsill, International Kidney went in a couple of weeks ago.

As well as assembling my new coldframe, I sweet-talked T into digging me a couple of new beds for my globe artichokes yesterday. Last year they were shoehorned in amongst the chrysanthemums, and three of the four I planted were devoured by slugs & snails. The last remaining survivor was transplanted into the herb bed at the end of the autumn, but this year's seedlings will need a home in a few weeks. So now I have a pair of 4 foot x 2 foot beds, generously manured (thanks to a plot-neighbour wanting to empty his last barrow so he could go back to his local riding school for more), tucked in between the herbs and the gooseberry bush: I reckon two, maybe three plants to each bed, Imperial Star one side of the path, Violet de Provence the other.


Busy day tomorrow, I best take myself off to bed!