Island Life – wasting time on weeds

I’ve just been out in the garden pulling out weeds. Not just any old weeds. No. These were pre-pulled weeds.

I’ve been meaning to weed the back part of the garden for ages, but every time I think about it, I find something better to do. That’s not hard as who enjoys pulling out weeds? But today, when I started nodding at the computer, you know that eyes-glazing-over, heavy-head feeling, I thought, should I just give in to it and lie down on the couch for 10 minutes? Would anyone even notice if I do? But the sun was out and I thought the fresh air would do me good, so out I went. I had to keep Humphrey inside as I had already cleaned his muddy paws once. He runs around like a cross between a gambolling lamb, running nowhere in particular, and a gymnast, doing forward rolls, jumping on the spot, rolling over, climbing up to the bar (the retaining wall studs) and swinging off them with one paw. Hilarious. Except he comes in covered in mud.

I dug up the patch where I had grown green beans, put in some compost and planted 2 punnets of broad beans which were threatening to get leggy on me. Someone is probably going to tell me that you shouldn’t plant broad beans in the same patch after growing green beans, but digging a new hole takes about 4 hours, so that was out. In they went. They’re looking perky so let’s see …

Then I set to weeding. The weeds seemed to be growing in clumps. I was puzzling about that, and at how easy they were to remove, just a grab and pull action which is very satisfying, and then I twigged. Oh damn. These were weeds I pulled out about 5 weeks ago, and as I didn’t have a bag or bucket with me, I just piled them up here and there. The rotters had replanted themselves! I have to say they were primo-looking weeds, I guess because only the really healthy ones survived as they struggled to replant themselves. Oh, but what a drag. And what a dumb thing to do. As if weeding isn’t bad enough, I was weeding the weeded! Lesson learned: always take a bucket/tub/bag with you when weeding because you just might not get back to pick up any weeds you pull out (and you’re doing double the work bending to pick them up later on). Maybe in summer it’s not so critical because they will dry and wither and can be raked, but with all the rain, the unexpected warmth and sun, they were growing really well.

One side of my house is now receiving very little sun (when it is out), so I’ve taken to growing things in pots and tubs. My new discovery is ‘picking’ spinach, a small-leafed spinach which you can pick as it grows. I’ve often gown it in the garden but it is thriving in a tub. I love adding a few leaves at the very last minute to an egg dish, omelette or fried, and on top of soups and salads.

My rocket, salad greens, sorrel, thyme, lemon thyme, chervil, parsley, coriander (cilantro) and nasturtiums are all growing happily in my courtyard in pots and tubs, and because they are within reach, I am using them regularly. I’ve still got chillies growing in the garden, which is fantastic for mid-winter, and cavolo nero, sage, mint and marjoram chugging along nicely. And even though it’s not quite G&T weather, my first lemons are nearly ready to pick. Now we’ve gone past the shortest day, spring doesn’t seem so far away.

After weeding, I really do deserve a lie-down on the couch. If Humpf would just stop his incessant biting!