Yesterday I visited Jekkas Herbs on one of her open days. £5 to get in - you have to book online.
One of the best days out I've had in a long time.

We got there for 9.15 ready for opening at 9.30. Walked around and looked at the tunnels/glass houses and raised herb beds. Jekka herself was walking about chatting to everyone and giving info on which ones to choose. She was very helpful in my search for some mint varieties

There was a bee talk held by a lady named Jean Vernon, she had a great knowledge and a love of bees and was an absolute joy to listen too. She could write children's novels! I'm not really into big lectures but  she caught a few bees, while she walked around the plants giving her talk. She gave the tale of the bee life, a few garden bees and interesting facts - which flowers were most beneficial for food this early in the year etc ... did you know hellebores held more nectar than most other flowers at this time of year? She really told a tale. She has a book out, unfortunately I couldn't afford it yesterday but maybe will get it for my birthday.

Then at 11, Jekka gave a talk. Also very casual and she is a fabulous person to listen to - extremely knowledgeable and very approachable whi just wants to talk plants!

The plants were well organised, fabulous quality. A bit pricier than your bog standard herb selections but I think that was to be expected.
She is planning to do a planting scheme to showcase more varieties on the farm and is looking for volunteers - if I was a little younger maybe

I think we left around 12.30. Armed with a few purchases, there was an interesting seed collection. Books, tools and other garden related items in the shop. Her herb book is very good. Looking forward to reading that. Coffee and cake also available.
Well worth a visit.

Given that the cost of gas and electricity is rising rapidly, I wondered what ideas you have for meals that do not require "energy". I don't mean takeaways or ready meals but something you would prepare yourself. 
On your marks, get set, Go..................

This caught my eye. "Cucumber crisis: surging energy prices leave British glasshouses empty"

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/...022-03-31/

Hope everyone has cucumbers, sweet peppers and other such planted or scheduled for planting this year.

African frog found in bag of mint after 5800 mile trip. 
The unbelievable thing is.................the UK are importing Mint from Ethiopia for sale, bagged, in shops.
Surely, the UK can grow enough mint without having to import it from Africa. Everyone has room for a pot of mint. 
The world's gone Bonkers.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ty...wales_news

So how many of you have tabs open on your computer/tablet with a basket full of seeds just waiting for you to press the big button that says go to check out? 
How long does that tab stay open before you A. Cave and buy said seeds B. Close the tab and pretend you don’t really want more seeds     .
I have 2 tabs open. Been open for about 3 days now.
One has just the 1 packet 
The other has 4 packets.

Come on. Tell me it’s not just me.

These 2 are similar because they come ready-wrapped in their own little papery husk. Tomatillo taste, in my view, like lemony tomatoes whilst Physalis are more like pineapple.

I've grown both outdoors - the tomatillo were very productive and I was giving them away to anyone who looked in my direction, but I didn't eat many myself!! I'm going to grow them again this year as they can be dehydrated so I won't need to waylay passing strangers. 

Physalis are different - I can never grow enough of them to eat by the handful - certainly not enough to give away - but, on the day like today, when I've just picked 2 in the GH - they've been a delight. Need to grow more.

Anyone else growing them this year?

Does anyone grow this? Veggie? I'm counting on you having grown it. AKA love-in-a-puff or balloon vine. Will it thrive in the Midlands? It's tropical, so has to be grown as an annual, so I'd like to know if the season will be long enough to get it to seed, as the seed pods are the showy part.

Which beans are you growing in 2022?
Broad, French, Runner..............whatever! 
Please tell us how the grow for you and whether you'll grow them again.
Photos welcome, of course.

I’ve been given some seeds the scribble on the packet says “like rudbeckia 3ft tall with large leaves “
I’ve sown some but I’m not sure how to start researching what it might be?! Any idea?
Just so you understand fully what we’re dealing with. I also got a packet of seeds that say garlic onions. I’m guessing, these will turn into garlic chives.

I think it’ll turn out to be rudbeckia. But thought I’d ask.

I'm not shouting, its the title of a book. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Do-Grow-Books-A...1907974024
I acquired it recently and it "speaks" my language, its small, simple and to the point - bit like me apart from the last bit!!

Basically, the author, Alice Holden, recommends 10 vegetables (or groups of veg) that are easy to grow and give the best return according to the space you have , be it a window box or an allotment. The veg are in order of preference of ease of growth and intensity of flavour when picked fresh.

1. Hardy herbs - sage, rosemary, thyme, margoram
2. Tender herbs - parsley, basil, coriander, chervil. dill.
3. Summer salads - lettuce, endive, chicories
4. Winter salads -  rocket, landcress, red Russian kale, mizuna, mibuna, pakchoi, tatsoi, mustards and a few others
5. Chard & spinach
6. Beetroot
7. Courgettes & cucumbers
8. Tomatoes
9. Beans - French, Runner & Broad
10. Winter greens - Kale & Purple sprouting broccoli. 

I could have written this list myself as its what I grow - because its easy and productive! It also doesn't include all the veg that I struggle with - root crops, onions, cabbages & caulis.

There's a simple growing calendar that covers all of these that I may try to follow. If I have the energy tomorrow, I'll let you know what I should be doing now!!
This could be my New Plan.