Hello,

A new growing season, the same planning book for my sweet peas, a new potting bench on the Garden Studio verandah.

Everything feels very Spring like a little early here, what about you? I’ve been spending some time going through my photo archive checking on when everything was blooming last year. Yes, some things are definitely early, and some are right on time.

With the first of September marking the first day of Spring I’m trying not to race off like a galloping horse planting anything and everything. I know this little Fairy Wren Cottage micro climate too well. Planting seeds too early equates to seedlings being planted into a cold garden too early. September through to mid October are our windy months, tiny seedlings would be whipped around by the wind. I’ll hold off another couple of weeks with planting zucchini, pumpkin, tomatoes.

 

Sweet Peas.

Mid August I sowed a couple of trays with sweet pea seeds just to test the growing conditions since the weather is sporadic and some things are blooming earlier. Last year I sowed sweet peas in mid August, it was too early and the sweet peas were slow to germinate and limped there way to being ready for planting outside.

This year there is 100% strike rate from the mid August sowing. The seedlings are strong and healthy. This week I’ll finish sowing the rest of the sweet pea varieties that are planned.

* I always use organic potting mix not seed sowing mix.

* The sweet pea trays are on the front verandah behind double glazing.

* We fill our trays with potting mix a few days before sowing seeds, this allows for the potting mix to warm up after being in a cold, dark bag. I’ve noticed seeds germinate faster if doing this.

 

Michael made my Potting Bench. You can read more about it here.

Until next time,

Jude x