Planting beds spring 2016

Thursday evening

The remaining calendula seeds went into various beds along with some old sweet peas, a packet of sunflower seeds in front of the compost and a scattering of clovers over the lawn. The first crocuses are raising their heads and this year there are more flowers and less munched-off blooms.

First spring bed 2016

After revamping the main vegetable bed with a layer of dense soil from our compost bin and waiting out two heavy weekends of snowfall, this season's first companion plant trial is in the ground.


Broccoli, cabbages and cauliflower were hardened off on the roof terrace and planted already with heads beginning to grow. They were circled by a row of chard, a row of coriander and a border of cosmos, nasturtiums and calendula; as well as two small rosemaries and the artichoke plant that has maintained its perennial rights in the corner.

Notes:

Calendula / marigolds (calendae meaning calendar). Are traditionally used as culinary and medicinal herbs and the petals can be added fresh to salads or used to colour cheese and other edibles. 

Garden Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus). All parts of the plant are edible and the flowers look beautiful atop salads. Great companion plant especially for broccoli and cauliflower. Contain vitamin C and highest lutein content for any edible plant.

Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) a good pollinator and useful to grow to encourage beneficial insects.