This will be the third year growing vegetables for The Queen at Brandeston and I am going to try and keep a monthly update, this is the first.
The edible planters at the front are not looking at their most spectacular but the primroses are flowering and the tulips that I planted in the autumn are coming up. Yes you can eat tulips!
Here is one of the tulips and a viola. I don’t seem to have much luck with the violas. I used good, big plants this time. Planted in flower, in the autumn to allow time to get established, but still something eats all the flowers before they are even out.
Out the back, one side is ready to go. There’s a bit of overwintered salad under the mesh, salsify, rhubarb, autumn sown broad beans, wild garlic and empty beds waiting for spring to hurry up.

Winter salad leaves

The broad beans have survived all the cold weather.

The rhubarb will soon be ready to harvest.

Wild garlic planted autumn 2016.
On the other side of the lavender lined pathway, there is still a bit of work to do.
Some of the beds still need to be cleared and the gravel weeded. The nearest bed is for herbs and the chives are doing well but there’s more to add. The furthest has mixed brassicas, the winter kale is coming to and end but there are a couple of broccoli just ready.

Chives ready for picking.

Purple sprouting broccoli protected by mesh.
In the greenhouse, not on site, I have planted a few seeds as I couldn’t wait any longer but I am well behind on my plan. I am now bracing myself for a big rush as soon as it warms up a bit.

In the greenhouse, one beetroot seedling so far!