All gardening books tell you that January is the time for sitting by the fire, browsing through the seed catalogues and planning what you’re going to grow this year. So like a good girl, that’s exactly what I did. Biodiversity is an important value for me. I joined Irish Seed Savers as a supporter a few years ago but had not ordered from them but this time I think I may have overdone it! I have Round Red Forcing Radish, Shetland Cabbage, Painted Lady Runner Bean, King Richard Leek, Erstling Czech Carrot, Luccullus Chard, Winter Roscoff Cauliflower, Elefantenrussel Chilli Pepper, Lipstick Pepper, Fino Fennel, Bloomsdale Spinach, Serafina Courgette, Pams Speckled Climbing French Bean, Canadian Wonder Dwarf French Bean, Thousand Headed Kale, Fill The Bucket Pea, Gilgil Coriander, Sacred Basil and finally, Sunflower Mix. Even the names of these seeds are enough to get anyone excited about growing!

I also put in an order at FruitHill Farm for some potatoes Casablanca – First Earlies, Alouette – Second Earlies and Axona – Main Crop and Sturon Onion and Red Sun Shallot. As you can see, I don’t do things by halves!!! I also signed up to GrowVeg Garden Planner, which for a techie nerd like me, is brilliant. I can plan out the garden, it will tell me when to plant and how and even helps with crop rotation. I’m also an avid follower of GIY and regularly consult their website and videos for assistance. I’ve already started chitting the Casablanca potatoes in used egg box trays ready for planting in mid-March.

Tadhg also ordered seeds, but he opted for the “herbal” variety – poppies and Morning Glory! His aim was to grow the flowers, harvest the seeds and make herbal remedies, not sure if his goal was truly legitimate though, but I didn’t have the heart to tell him they weren’t the “right” variety of poppies.