Huw Done It

I am trying so hard to be a gracious learner. But this week I have got rather frustrated with dear Huw and his book, which has become my vade mecum. My first problem was Row 10 of the raised bed. March instructions say plant two rows of radish seeds, 2 weeks apart. So I did that...

You will observe that the first line has germinated 😊👍.

At the very end in the centre of the row is one miserable garlic shoot. But in October I planted twelve fat organic cloves. Where are they? I gently probed the other end of the row, but can find anything. I read through the book, and I'm supposed to harvest them in June/July. I don't eat a lot of garlic, so I guess I am not too fussed. But I have a question - Huw says the 'regular' supermarket garlic is treated so it will not sprout in storage. You have to buy organic if you want it to grow. But if that's the case, and I did have 12 lots to harvest, how could my organic ones be stored? K sent a picture of hers, planted last autumn in a pot. I think she really likes garlic, and I am genuinely pleased for her.

Next thing. Kale. I'd diligently gone through the book and listed all the plants and varieties suggested, and sent off for my kale seeds [and these are National Trust recommended so I have high hopes] Then I got a little bit carried away in a garden centre recently and bought two packets of seeds' off the list' [This 'buying for the garden' thing is a slippery slope isn't it?]

I had some white kohlrabi seeds- now I have some purple ones too, for planting later in the summer. I also purchased a packet of kalette seeds.

I was quite taken by the description - "kalettes have a texture like kale, with the nutty flavour of a brussels sprout. The cross pollination of these two vegetables means you get a crunchy and earthy addition to any dish"
The packet says I can plant them now. I have done so.

Then I got to wondering, "so when do I plant my actual kale seeds?" Answer- I don't - Huw suggest purchasing some actual plants in a few months time.
I acknowledge that was my mistake, I didn't read the book carefully enough. But I wish he'd put a note in the March section saying "If you want to grow kale from seed, plant it now" 

There's a tray of kale seeds in the greenhouse. If they don't germinate, I shall just and buy some plants when the time comes. I notice that the East Anglian seed company of Mr Fothergills has just been sold in a £100million pound deal. John Fothergill, son of the co-founder, has just left the company [presumably, a very rich man!] I hope they don't put up the prices of their products too much.

But I am still confused about storage of organic, sprouting, garlic!

One other thing- this name kalette - is meant to represent a cross between Brussels Sprouts and Kale, and they are sweet little things on a stalk.

I get 'little kale = kalette' but shouldn't the sprout get a mention? I suppose that would make it a bralette, which is a completely different product from M&L lingerie dept.