Have you ever been to your local garden centre with one (or two) purchases in mind and come away with a trolley full of goodies? Of course you have. You’re a gardener and you love all things gardening related, especially the joy of introducing new plants to your garden. Let’s face it, most of us are self-confessed plantaholics.
But I honestly thought, given the time of year, I would be able to restrain myself last weekend when I popped in to my local garden centre for a few seed potatoes and some ‘top-up’ packets of veg seed.
I had been through my seeds and was delighted to find that most of them were still in date for this year. I made a list of essential replacements, which comprised 6 packets of seeds: aubergines, cucumbers, mixed lettuce leaves, cabbages, radishes and Busy Lizzies. And I fully intended to stick to the list.
You would think after more than 50 years I would know myself a little better!
So many options
Presented with row after row of colourful, enticing seed packets, all restraint went out the window.
It started slowly. I bought my usual outdoor slicing variety of cucumber, but what’s that? A long variety of cucumber that can be grown outside as well? Ooh, I need to give that a go!
But then it started to gather momentum. Why buy one packet of mixed lettuce leaves, when there are several varieties to try?!
I already had courgette seeds and three varieties of tomato back at home, but wouldn’t it be nice to grow some yellow courgettes as well? And I’ve heard Sungold tomatoes are delicious. And, as we eat peppers and mange tout on a regular basis, why not try to grow those this year as well? Not sure where, but hey, I’ll find space somewhere!
Before I knew it, 5 packets of ‘top up’ veg seeds had become 12 exciting possibilities.
So, I needed to be more reserved with the flower seeds then. Just a packet of Busy Lizzies right? Wrong! To be fair, I did manage to resist quite a few, and put several packets back before reaching the checkout, but I finally came away with 7 packets of colourful awesomeness.
It could be worse
My husband hung back from the till, decidedly unimpressed with the thought of ‘extra courgettes’ (sorry, my love) and not daring to view the final tally. But, hey, it’s cheaper than jewellery, right?!
So, let the sowing commence. I may need several lifetimes to sow and grow everything I’d like to, but it promises to be a fun year in the garden.
Happy sowing everyone!