Willow Planting Finished, Seed Sowing Underway

At last, I have finished planting all the willow cuttings purchased, some 450 or so, and I can move onto other jobs, and as the nights are drawing out seed sowing can start in earnest. Hardy annuals in the green house popping up in the mini soil blocks - I am having another go this year after having a dabble an unsuccessful dabble with them couple of years ago. So far, the germination rate has been excellent with tiny seeds sprouting up nicely. This could be because I am adding more water to the potting mix and making better blocks or due to the extra bits and pieces I am putting into the mix. I have become slightly obsessed with the whole symbiotic relationship that exists between the soil life and plants that result in really healthy plants and so have added to my mix LAB (lactic acid bacteria made from the water you rinse rice with and milk which is left to ferment a bit like kefir) and worm poo from my compost bin. Whatever the reason I shall keep on doing it. I have also sprayed a very diluted LAB onto some of my sad looking plants outside and they all seem to have responded.  It may also be the time of year – perhaps I should have done a proper test and left some plants unspayed? There is lots of fascinating information out there and people are experimenting all the time; it is an inexact science. The soil, and the life within it, is so complicated and varies massively, and to consolidate my knowledge I have invested in yet another book on growing ‘The Regenerative Grower’s Guide to Garden Amendments by Nigel Palmer’.  It is a great book which I’d thoroughly recommend if you are growing anything, providing recipes and an overview of the science of how the plants uptake minerals etc. in exchange for sugars. Next on my to-do list is to have our soil tested to determine the levels of life within it.

Along with preparing for the coming season I am still attending the award-winning Farmers Market in Kendal and will be providing an offering of seasonal fresh flowers (including my pussy willow) and dried for Mothering Sunday / Mother’s Day, come along and say hello.