Part of the Making Winter series started by Silverpebble and Thriftyhousehold.
Actually it's difficult to think about winter because today feels decidedly spring-like. The sun is shining and the forecast is for temperatures of 15oc, which is a far cry from the snow and freezing weather of early February. The warmer weather makes me want to get outside and tackle all of the garden jobs that I've been too wimpish to face in the cold winds. But first I need to do a little planning, so this morning after the children went off the school I got out my seed box and started organising my veggie garden.
Sitting and pondering what to grow and where is one of my favourite end-of-winter jobs and a nice way to celebrate the arrival spring (oh please say we're done with the snow for this year!)
So, after I finish my elevensies cup of tea and cheese scone I'll be donning my wellies and heading off outside. The beds need tidying up after the weight of the snow dislodged the protective plastic and I'll be digging in some chicken poo and composted kitchen peelings to top up the nutrient levels. Then comes the fun part of planting seeds into little coir pellets – they come as compressed discs and swell delightfully after you add water. Then they're ready for you to drop in a couple of seeds and get the magic started!
Hooray for the end of winter (hopefully!) and for the start of making some delicious summer veg!
PS: The herb labels and green seed tidy came from Sarah Raven x
little cotton rabbits 
I can’t tell you how much this lovely lovely post has cheered me this morning, Julie. Thankyou! What truly gorgeous, hopeful images.
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Snap! I’ve just been doing exactly the same thing…must be all this wonderful warm weather. What are you going to be planting?
Thanks for linking to the Making Winter Blog hop.
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Good for you!
The perfect day for getting a bit of fresh air. I’ve been enjoying the Spring feel too but I’m not as organised as you are and haven’t thought about outside yet and planning the summer garden.
Doing some spring knitting inside instead! You can see my spring inspired new knit over on my blog.
Happy gardening!
Fleur xx
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Here, here to this post Julie!! 🙂
I was in my greenhouse this morning and it was 20 degrees in there, so it’s definitely time to get the tomato seeds in. Such a good feeling, isn’t it. 🙂
Vivienne x
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We finally get the key to our allotment tomorrow … I’m so excited! So I’m hoping you’ll post again about your finalised plans as I need lots of tips and hints 😀
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Oh how I love Spring, I can’t wait for it to arrive!
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Oh I really hope the end of winter has come at last, I too have not ventured anywhere near the vegetable plot in the cold weather! Today though it’s been beautiful and I’ve planted my shallots, found some tiny starts to my purple sprouting brocoli and was amazed to find some lovely new potatoes that I thought had been a disaster, yay : )
I know what we are having for tea tonight.
Emma x
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Yes, it’s just gorgeous here too. Well done for getting yourself so organised. You pictures are great and your preparations look so, well, clean and tidy! Having just nodded off in the sun in the conservatory, I’m off outside to wash the car and wake myself up!
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huge smile on my face. Were recovering from a cold. But once Im well… this is on my list. Your photos are beautiful.
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Okay. Seriously. If I had that cute little box and those adorable plant labels I just might get excited about planting too!
The wind is howling like sixty today. Too cold to go out.
We’re supposed to be getting the dirt delivered soon for all of my planter boxes we made last year.
I’ve already been perusing seed catalogs for the veggies I want to plant this year.
The chickens are busy making fertilizer. 🙂
Just need some warm weather!!
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YAY, fingers corssed for a fruitful harvest this year.
I’ve only done veggies for 2 years, I’m a complete beginner. But I was SO proud of the pumpkin i grew last year, I’m DEF doing pumpkins again this year 🙂
And wasn’t it a BEAUTIFUL day today. Really cheering.
Enjoy!
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I love planning what to sow and grow, sadly the reality does not live up to my plans!!xf
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such a lovely thing to do! I should tell you that your top photo immediately sent me into a huge craving for an english muffin with marmalade.. I’m not entirely sure that’s what you have in the photo, but that’s what it looks like to me!
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Hope you had fun. It was 63 today in NY City — a beautiful day.
Enjoy your planting. Deb M
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Oh, I wish I loved to garden.
Phooey.
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Such a lovely day here yesterday and another one warming up this morning 🙂 – yippee! can’t wait to start the garden tidying & planting.
By the way, I spotted a familiar little hedgehog on page 7 of the April edition of Simply Knitting! I must make another one as I gave mine away to a little boy who took a fancy to it when visiting me!
Happy gardening!
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I’ve just watched a sparrow knock the top off my first (and only) yellow dwarf iris. Lots of blue ones, just the one yellow. Gone. Grr. Good luck with the plantings!! x
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Like the blog, appreciate the share!
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I indulged in a spot of sweeping and sprucing outside in the sunshine this week too. It’s such a pleasure after what seems like far to long indoors. And next month, my sister-in-law and I are going on a Sarah Raven gardening course, so there should be lots of inspiration to be had.
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Hi Julie,
It has been unseasonably warm here in the Southern United States as well. I love it when you post pictures of your baskets of animals in progress. It would make me so cheery to have those critters and their clothes around. Thanks for sharing and happy spring.
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i just came across your blog. your knitting is sooooo beautiful – i love your animals and you are a wonderful mama :)!
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I envy people who are excited about gardening. I tried. I tried very hard. Well quite hard. Well, I tried a little…
I tried growing vegetables in pot one year and it was okish untill we went to my parents in Italy and the husband was not very thorough with the watering.
Doh.
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Hey Julie, We here in Canada can not possibly think about planting lovely seeds yet!! Insert sad face here 🙂 We always get a late start here but we soon catch up-and with a vengence. But I am so glad that you have been able to start planning and pehaps clean up the garden- lucky one!! Thanks for showing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel we call winter!
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Your Basil plant looks so good I could smell the leaves…growing basil indoors is the only thing that gets me through the last days of a long winter! Happy planning! Jx
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Hi Julie, down here in the southern hemisphere I’m planning all our autumn and winter veg – we’re battening down the hatchets while you’re airing yours out – it nice to see one season out and say hello to the next. xx
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Your gardening plans sound so delightful and your photos are gorgeous as ever! I am beginning to get really quite excited about our new garden plans – I was reading one of my gardening books while getting my hair dyed today and planning all sorts of loveliness!
Lucy xx
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Can’t wait to see your labour of love!
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