The New Year has started off rather wet and dreary. The positive side of this is that the freezing weather has disappeared.

I was out in the garden on Sunday making the most of the window in the weather, and sowed my broad bean seeds.

I had intended to sow them in the autumn but by the time I had gotten around to the task, the weather closed in and the ground had become frozen, so I had to postpone the planting.

Instead of planting them in my vegetable bed, I have chosen a wooden planter, containing a bag of compost with added pelleted chicken manure.

I did this for a number of reasons. Firstly the broad beans would be in the ground until at least May and that would take up valuable space, which I would need for summer crops and secondly, I only wanted a small number of plants, as my family aren’t that keen on broad beans. I have a scrumptious recipe for them by Jamie Oliver, which uses new potatoes and red onions with a lovely dressing and I will use them in salads but as both my children are salad dodgers (where did I go wrong) there is no point in growing mountains of them.

I think my biggest motivation for growing them in a large container though, is that I can cover them in a blanket of fleece to protect them from the cold but mainly I can construct a permanent cloche for them to protect them from the dreaded blackfly.

I like to garden as organically as possible, so I am going down the prevention is better than cure route.

My planter was large enough to accommodate 9 plants so I am now left with a large quantity of seeds. Do you know of anyone who organises a seed swap in the Poole area? When you plant in small quantities, you are always left with seed and it would be really good to be in touch with people who like to swap their unwanted seeds.

The dark evenings are a time to peruse the seed catalogues and my Thompson & Morgan catalogue is a delight to thumb through.

I haven’t made any firm decisions as to what to grow this year apart from Tomato Legend, which is a must and I may try Ferline again or go for a different one this time.

Are there any vegetable varieties you found to have a good flavour or ones you just wouldn’t be without? If so then do pass on your recommendations, I would love to know what you are planning to plant this year.

In the vegetable garden my garlic is coming on a treat. I think the cold snap has spurred it into action but my purple sprouting broccoli is looking rather forlorn. I will persevere with it though.

I’m sure that as long at the centre leaves keep sprouting, they will be fine.

The sun on Sunday felt so warm and the thermometer got up to 25°C in the greenhouse.

At least we are heading in the right direction and I for one can’t wait until the return of spring.

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