As garden centres have been closed, many seeds and plants online were sold out, so I wondered what I could hack. I vaguely remembered growing carrot tops when I was a child, so I placed my carrot trimmings in a saucer and was very satisfied to see them sprout. I have now planted them out. I have been most disappointed to learn that I can eat the carrot greens (leaves), but they won’t grow another orange root.
I have also planted some seeds I found in the bird-seed mix I had. I didn’t have plant pots, so I used old plastic milk bottles, with some drainage holes poked in the bottom. I have some 5 cm high seedlings now – which I am hoping will grow into sunflowers. Or maybe hemp.
I’ve seen some great experiments online of people growing avocado stones, dried beans, and apple pips. I think when we are restricted in some ways, we crave being able to nurture something we do have some control over.
I saw recently that Sally Le Page did a YouTube video on making a wildlife pond – to encourage amphibians and insects and other mini beasts into the garden. I was impressed at the simplicity of her make – a pot, (could be an old washing-up bowl or a large flower-pot with no holes in it) some Hessian cloth and rocks – to help the beasties crawl in and out, some coir (coconut hair) and some pond soil and pond plants. Nice for a bird bath too. It’s now on my list of things to make.
