Red Shed and Greens

The Red Shed is a focal point viewed from our kitchen window..it's where we go at this time of year to have a read, look through seed catalogues, share a glass of wine at the end of the day and talk about tomorrow's promise. Last Christmas, we opened our stockings there! If you have ached for a summerhouse, garden shed or outdoor "room"...go for it!! It will end up being more than you had ever hoped for, I am sure of it. We used recycled windows and doors to cut down costs, drew the plans up around their measurements and started building. A small heater inside keeps the chill away. You can start your seeds there, entertain friends who visit the garden in summer and so much more. It really is all about use..need, and want.

Two big wants for us, were starting our seeds early and, autumn growing on. We had great success with the spring seed starting but what about growing on? Thinking nothing would come of it..we dug out the last of the edible greens when the weather turned and put those in whatever receptacle we had available "just to see". Would they grow on or fail? Well, really, we were shocked to find, with  just a dressing of fish fertilizer every now and again how fantastic the growth has been. Here is a photo of the last harvest taken a few days ago.

Now we are spoiled. We want more! We have cut to come again and all seems to be growing well. Now, to try seeding a tray of greens...just to see if, with our lighting and marginal warmth, we can actually continue to have "summer fresh salads" in winter. Perhaps they will have to be germinated in the house where it is warmer but can be moved out to the shed later.

So, after many years of  wishing for it, the Red Shed cum Summer House already holds great memories for us. It wears our personality; inspires us to experiment and have fun with gardening. The sun was still shining when I closed the door today... the raised bed, bean wall, trees and blue sky reflected on the long glass panes.