Every chance …

Day 190 #365DaysWild

Today planting broad beans (fava beans) 'Aquadulce' seedlings.

We're giving them every chance of success... 

They have been grown from seed we collected in our garden in 2023. The modern way is to leaf through a catalogue or a display unit in a garden centre and buy what you fancy. This is a relatively modern phenomenon.

Collecting seed was always necessary in my great grandfathers day. Buying seed was neither affordable or possible for many gardeners or farmers.

And there was another advantage too.

Vigorous plants that thrive in your own conditions produce seeds that are most-likely to produce healthy crops. They are suited to the micro-climate and soil of your garden or farm. They are likely to have less disease and to therefore be less attractive to pests.

They have been planted by the biodynamic calendar. The calendar has been developed over decades by the Thun family to tell growers just when is the best time to sow, plant or harvest by the phases of the moon. It is a practice used by growers all around the world and we try to follow the rhythms it suggests. I will post the surprising first results of my lunar-planting potato experiment 2023 imminently.

For some years now we've applied our composts direct to the soil surface. No digging. This ensures that soil invertebrates and mycology are not interrupted. Worms excrete their own weight in nutrient-rich worm casts each day.

Newly-planted seedlings are covered by environmental fleece to protect from frost.

These seedlings certainly look bonny and we have high hopes of a good crop.