In The Greenhouse with Lila Das Gupta

I have just spent the most magical first day in my new greenhouse.  The bulk of it was spent ‘feathering the nest’: sorties to the shed to bring in supplies of compost, propagator, labels, hand tools, trays, seeds, radio, riddle, watering can, seat. Then came the final moment when I could sit down and relax.  Let the work begin.
I have to admit I have felt a sense of trepidation – at the back of my mind I’m aware that greenhouses, if badly managed, can become a battleground full of pests, stressed plants and unthinkable horticultural disasters which I’ve been conjuring in my mind every time I find myself awake at 4am.

So glad to know that I was not alone. Helen Yemm ‘Thorny Problems’ columnist in the Saturday Telegraph and author of ‘Gardening in Your Nightie’, says she too had the same worries but has been fine just using her common sense.  I will follow her lead and use mine as well.
My husband did offer to smash a bottle of champagne against the greenhouse to launch her, but since it’s bad luck if they don’t break (the bottle, not the panes of glass), I decided I would get ‘Sir Max Hastings’ to do the honours. The distinguished historian and former newspaper editor, duly obliged (courtesy of Kerton Sweet Peas) .

I did go a bit mad at the RHS Inner Temple show last year and bought masses of heritage sweet peas from Pennard Plants.  I’m sure ‘Sir Max’ would be delighted to know that he is seated next to ‘Lord Nelson’ in the propagator.

"Max Hastings with the sweet pea which has been named after him"

Ideally sweet peas should be started in October or November, but with a greenhouse I’ll still make up for lost time and get a good show.  Once the plants are an inch high I’ll take them out of the propagator and acclimatise them in the greenhouse. (For fool-proof guide on growing sweet peas click here).

The thing to watch is that they don’t put on too much top growth too quickly or they won’t develop a good set of roots. If they are getting straggly or leggy it may mean you have to move them to somewhere cooler like a cold frame in order to slow them down a bit.  I never soak or score mine (there are different schools of thought on this) but I do pick out the biggest seed in the pack, as advised by Bernard R. Jones the sweet pea expert.

So, I shut the doors to my greenhouse when I’d got settled and lost myself in the pleasure of sowing seeds, feeling very glad to be alive.

I’ve been listening to John Martyn, the British singer who died today, a man who repeatedly pressed the self-destruct button while managing to bring so much pleasure to others.  If you know him already, he needs no introduction (but I’ve never understood why no one in America seems to have heard of him). If you don’t, click here . My favourite album ‘No Little Boy’ a re-working of songs from earlier years.

“Bless the weather that brought you to me, curse the storm that takes you away”

In The Greenhouse with Lila Das Gupta

I know that the sap is always supposed to rise in spring, but in January I always find that I feel more like a salmon swimming in a stream or the mole from ‘Wind in the Willows’.

I don’t quite understand what happens every year - there I am going about my humdrum existence when suddenly something clicks inside: “Spring was moving in the air above and in the earth below and around him, penetrating even his dark and lowly little house with its spirit of divine discontent and longing.”
Out come the seed trays and compost - I am the unstoppable salmon swimming up-stream to the spawning ground, or Moley, digging towards the light: “Up we go! Up we go!”

This year’s ‘moment’ is delayed for more pedestrian reasons: this week I am waiting for the electrician to wire up the greenhouse.
Meanwhile my bedside table is buried under seed catalogues and dreams.

Undoubtedly my number one catalogue is Chiltern’s Seeds based in the Lake District.  There are no pictures, but this a plantsman’s catalogue (where else would you find several types of Nigella?) and the gentle style in which it is written is always entertaining.

Thompson and Morgan are, as ever, varied and reliable.  As well as old favourites, there are always one or two surprises.  I am going to try out their climbing courgette ‘Black Forest’   as well at the Mayan Gold potatoes, which are already chitting in the greenhouse.

Having a greenhouse opens ups a whole new world.
Jungle seeds has plenty to set the heart racing, both ornamental and edible plants and seeds (only seeds can be shipped outside the UK).
Capsicum annum Numex Big Jim is said to produce pepper that are around a foot long and are used in Mexican cooking for stuffing. For children try Arachis hypogaea better known as ‘Monkey Nuts’.

Plant World Seeds also ships internationally.  Their catalogue always fills me with excitement.
They do a seed packet which is a selection of climbers which includes the gorgeous ‘Aristolochia Chilensis’

Gloriosa Rothschildiana a climbing lily will also be on my list of things to grow this year.
queen - the queen songbook mp3 download
Exotic seeds sometimes take a bit longer to germinate and in some cases a bit of experience in growing from seed helps, but it’s well worth having a go.

Unless you have a conservatory or warm, bright place to germinate seeds first, I would suggest investing in a propagator for the greenhouse when growing exotics.

Last, but not least, Seeds of Italy is another favourite.  Hot on my list is the courgette variety ‘Le Bizzare’ which produces mainly flowers rather than fruit, so you can enjoy more of them to cook with. If you know any children who would like vegetable seeds to grow at their school, the company also sends out free seeds that have been returned or have slightly dog-eared packets.

I am listening to the late, great Elizabeth Cotten ‘Shake Sugaree’, (… I’m going to heaven in a split pea shell…) Most of the album is instrumental and of a gentle nature, a perfect accompaniment to my seed catalogues.