Building your compost heap

For this you will need 7 pallets, some posts, nails and a hammer.
Here is a video of how to do it from BBC Gardeners world. You will need to fast forward to 22.01 until 25.00.  They use 5 pallets and then a slatted front, but I keep it simple with extra pallets leaning against the front instead.

This weeks photo is of my Broad Beans which I planted out a few weeks ago. I put a few sticks and string in to keep the birds off and to offer some support when the beans get a bit taller.

Sowing salad leaves

I find that one of the quickest and easiest salad leaves to grow is Mizuna. I sow the seeds in modules first and then plant them out about 6-7 inches apart, rather than broadcasting as suggested in the link. They are ready to eat after about four weeks and can be cut several times, they will eventually produce flower heads and need to be pulled out. They can be sown in a shallow planter, old polystyrene fish boxes are good as they are light to carry around and offer some extra warmth. You could put a bit of glass or plastic across the top until they start to come up. Rocket is also very easy to grow.
Lettuces are very popular with slugs, so sowing they in a shallow planter can be less frustrating than sowing them in the soil. I prefer to grow varieties like Salad Bowl, which are 'cut and come' again. You can just pick as many leaves at a time as you want.

Last weekend I went to Leonardslee gardens and came across this model of a Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden, every gardener's dream to have somewhere like this !

This week I have been eating more salads which overwintered in my unheated greenhouse:
American Land Cress
Lettuce

Sorrel, chives and parsley from the garden

First rhubarb is ready
Rainbow chard too.


And here is a recipe for nettle soup, why not eat those 'weeds'!