Thursday 10 March 2022

I'm A Has-Bean!

For years I have read other people's blogs and marvelled at their gardening skills. Over at Small Moments, my dear friend E posted this week a picture of her broad bean shoots. Then at A Letter From Home, K posted pictures of her beans.

I have never really tried growing from seed before this last year. But I am ridiculously excited, and now able to post pictures of my seedlings. First up, the broad beans. Dear Huw suggests in his book that you plant 18 beans 'for spares, or in case any fail'

Well, out of my 1½ dozen sleeping in their blankety bed recycled loo roll tubes, just 4 have popped up thus far. They are on the lounge windowsill. This one is the only one large enough to be worthy of a picture. These are Sutton variety. Ideally I want 12 to transplant later into the raised bed. 

On the kitchen window sill, the story is a little different. No sign of the peppers yet. But a good number of tomatoes. These are Roma, and in the little brown pot at the back, 2 small seedlings grown from last year's tomatoes [variety unknown - these were 50p pots purchased from a neighbour]

But look at that huge plant at the back! That was a bean in the mixed pack of seeds which Kezzie kindly gave me when we met up in November. I do hope it is a broad bean but I am not sure [Kezzie, please clarify!!] I am ridiculously excited about that one.

These are the tomatoes which I grew last year- and the realisation that I ate them, and saved some of the seeds- and now I have new growth just blows my mind. I know gardeners have done this for millennia, but for me personally, this is a moment of pure joy in a bleak time. 

My lovely SIL&BIL in the Cotswolds have passed on a mini greenhouse, which Bob has erected against the south facing wall of the old garage [thank you all]. It survived Storm Eunice, unscathed and I hope I shall be able to raise some fine crops in here.

My enthusiasm is rubbing off on Bob - he has been buying seeds of his own, and hopes to grow some hot chili peppers, and also some salsify. 

Salsify [aka Oyster Plant] was a great favourite of his Belgian Mum, and my FIL always grew that for her, along with scorzonera [aka Black Salsify] 

This morning I am just happy with my tiny seedlings. 





26 comments:

  1. Ooh! I'm jealous. Salsify and scorzonera! Brilliant. Not too bothered about chilis though

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have yet to source any scorzonera seeds- but the salsify ones just arrived in the post

      Delete
  2. If it was a purplish/punky bean then it is a runner bean! In which case, it isn't allowed out until the risk of frosts has passed or might be better in the green house when it starts getting bigger. It will need to be persuaded up a cane!

    Hurrah for You!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes- it was purplish/pinky/punky. So A runner bean then. Thank you!

      Delete
  3. P.S. envious of the green house!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Def not a broad bean! Looks like a runner or climbing french.
    I'm hanging on a while longer before starting tomatoes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have only planted a few, the Gardener's Delight pack is yet to be opened

      Delete
  5. I'm excited for you and your seedlings, Angela! I hope they will all grow well and produce lots of good stuff for you and Bob to enjoy. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Bless - I know how much the fresh produce from your yard is appreciated by your family and friends

      Delete
  6. I don't think the novelty of growing things from seed ever wears off. I'm pretty sure the bean plant at the back is a runner bean or possibly a French bean.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is lovely having all these expert friends giving helpful advice, and encouraging my new found enthusiasm. Thanks. And Kezzie has proved you right - it IS a runner

      Delete
  7. I'm almost happier at seeing seeds come up than actually doing anything more with them. However eating peas straight from the plants (they never reach the kitchen) has to be the best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think I have done that for over 60 years [when I ate them in my Grandad's garden]

      Delete
  8. Def a runner bean! Mine havent germinated. Your Broad beans look nice and healthy and they will come, but slowly.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you. I suspect it is a little warmer where you are. I will endeavour to be patient

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love hearing about your sprouts. I enjoy your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wishing you success with your plants, especially that runner bean! I haven't grown any here for years and we don't find runners in the produce aisle either, and they are one of the most amazing treats. Time to look for some seeds, perhaps, but our plant beds will need attention to find a place to grow some, as we gave up on serious veggie gardening a while ago. Now we just buy 2 or 3 tomato plants and put them in next to the chives, along from the Rudbeckia and Echinacea in a small brick planter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a free packet of Rudbeckia seeds, but have yet to plant them

      Delete
  12. It's always wonderful to see growing things and know that you are nurturing them. I kill all green things, apart from our dratted fuchsia, and I'm deeply envious. I look forward to seeing more.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I LIKE fuchsias - what do you have against them??

      Delete
    2. They are all thugs and the one father planted grows to the size of our bathroom in a very short time if not ruthlessly pruned. The one we had growing up (which father planted) cracked a main sewer pipe, which was buried deep. That one used to overgrow the path regularly.

      Delete
    3. Oh wow, I'd not heard of thuggish fuschias before

      Delete
  13. Anything we plant is eaten by the deer who sleep next to the garage or the other critters! I have given up.
    I have got to the point where I am actually proud of a couple of unusual weeds which showed up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The plants are OK inside on the windowsill. Not sure what will happen when they go out. Fortunately no deer browsing round here.

      Delete

Always glad to hear from you - thanks for stopping by!
I am blocking anonymous comments now, due to excessive spam!