It begins...

Last year, my kitchen and dining room in the late winter, early spring were awash with seed trays, propagators, misters, spray bottles, and pots. It was Lockdown 1™ and my wife and I were both either working from home or furloughed (we've been a combination of both since March 2020 and it's *checks watch* nearing the end of January 2021). We have always loved gardening but never dared to grow anything from seed. 

Seeds were a mystery to me, that only "real" gardeners, true experts could handle. They were what my Dad collected on walks and kept in film canisters (showing my age here) or little envelopes. They were unbelievable to me: how can this dry, tiny thing become a luxuriant plant? I'd side-eye them, like, surely not? But we bit the bullet and started growing tomatoes, sweet peas, beans (French and broad), nasturtiums, calendula, and sunflowers. All of a sudden our (very tiny) kitchen and (built-for-two) dining table were cluttered and bursting with promise.

We had tin foil reflectors, daily spritzing schedules, light rotation systems, and most of all: hope. We were mostly positive but it was difficult to be fully confident. At times we'd look at absurd, spindly little tomato seedlings and say "Please don't die!" 

We did well. For first timers, we learned a lot very quickly. I tried the if-kids-can-do-it method of growing broad beans by germinating them in wet kitchen roll inside an old plastic grape container. It bloody worked, and soon I was potting them out in the garden before they started to stretch and reach up a wigwam of canes.

It was thrilling, instantly addictive, and at times, quickly gratifying. 

This year we've got more experience under our belts so are branching out. My wife is growing microherbs that have sprung to life in 24hrs, now reaching up to the light on the kitchen windowsill. I'm planning more beans later on, along with more flower this time, but for now during this 'I can't wait for spring' time, I'm going to try and germinate some living stone seeds. My parents bought them for me for Christmas, and I've just received delivery of some silver sand which I am assured it essential. I'll no doubt be posting the progress on my instagram (@between_clarkandhilldale). Wish me luck!