Who has stolen our spring?

Posted by Rosie

Last week I delighted in announcing that Spring had Sprung.  Twice this week we have woken up to sharp frosts.  We have had cold rain, hail and not a lot of sun. Someone has stolen our Spring!

March frosty morning

Frosty mint leaves

We are also in the time known to veg gardeners as "The Hungry Gap". Winter crops are all but finished, stores are depleted and spring/summer crops are nowhere near harvest.  In the veg garden at Eco-Gites of Lenault the kale is going to seed, we are down to our last bag of spuds and the pumpkins are all but eaten.  In the days before 24 hour supermarket shopping, imported strawberries and freezers this really was a hungry time for many people.

Sprouted Cavolo Nero and Kale

Don't worry (were you worried?!), there are few leeks and parsnips out there and we still have plenty of frozen veg.  We won't starve!

The last of the leeks

It is not all doom and gloom, not at all, despite what I have just written.  Jack Frost tried hard but to date I have not lost any seedlings with my plan of "seedlings in propagators in the cold frame in the polytunnel" keeping them above freezing point.  And when the sun does shine, the temperature heats up nicely in the polytunnel.  I took this photo at 10.15am (ignore the time/date of the thermometer, I've not worked out how to change it!). So on warm days the tomatoes, chard, beetroot etc etc put on steady growth.

Warming up in the polytunnel

Seedlings

 

Tiny sunflower and tomato seedlings

 
And don't these violas look lovely on the gite window sill?  They are ready to welcome guests from Paris tomorrow.  If you want to come and enjoy these flowers too we have some dates available between now and early July.

Violas on the gite window sill

So have you had lovely spring weather this week or has winter not quite let go with his icy hold?  I'm off to see what other gardeners have to say on Annie's How Does Your garden Grow linky.  Why don't you head over and have a look too.