No. 35: The lid on it

My 3 weeks in Bali and Lombok were fantastic; more on that in the private chat at the bottom of this Newsletter. (No, don't scroll straight down now!) These kinds of trips are also very useful for me to learn about plant growth.
Because I see the plants and crops first, and only then the people, animals, and buildings (much to the amusement – if not annoyance – of my wife and children), I learn a lot about tropical agriculture, species diversity in the jungle, and species differences at various altitudes.
Bali's irrigation systems are world-famous and certainly worth many photos! This way, I can give even better advice to the many customers who come to buy seeds for the tropics. When I unpacked my backpack, it turned out that some special cuttings (neatly packaged) had stowed away…

During the holidays, it was mainly strawberry season for us: carts full of plants have changed hands and are now in your garden, promising a delicious harvest for 2014. We are still receiving plants, as the historical varieties were late in producing runners (and thus young plants). For the first time in years, we have the "black" strawberry 'Hansa' back in stock, and in the "offers" section (see below) I will be presenting some attractive packages.

From July-August, the Utrecht Shallots were in stock and I recently managed to buy a few more crates: the tastiest and easiest shallot for your garden, winter-hardy and a reliable harvest every year. The Egyptian or Tree Onions have (unlike last year) given a good harvest, we have plenty in stock and I am already fulfilling your (old) orders. For the tropical enthusiasts among you: fresh Tajer leaf tubers are also back in stock. Pot them up and let them grow nicely, outside for now, indoors as a houseplant all winter, and back outside in the spring. I am very enthusiastic about our new introduction (unique in the Low Countries) of the ultimate Italian taste experience: Lampascioni. Facebook followers already read about it last week, read the text from this link for the description. You will also find a collection of these above-mentioned varieties in the "offers" section of this Newsletter.

At the end of September and beginning of October, we will again receive our harvests of garlic, leeks, (grey) shallots, and (hopefully also) elephant garlic! The recipe: plant before winter on a raised bed, fertilize well with compost, and cover with mulch. The varieties that I am already sure will arrive, I have made "available" on the site, so you can already order them. Please note: there are also varieties that will only arrive in January, which is clearly stated!

I never hear anyone say that; after all, everyone is happy with a long summer. Still... once it's here, I enjoy it. Autumn brings flower bulbs and mushrooms. Our assortment of flower bulbs, which can be planted at this time, is divided into 2 groups:

1) The autumn bloomers, such as autumn crocus, saffron crocus (yes, the real edible one) and other autumn bloomers, really need to be planted in September. We still have plenty of them, click here for the full assortment.
2) The spring-flowering bulbs (Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Crocuses and the many "companion plants") have already arrived for at least 60%. Due to the cold spring, some varieties are a bit later, but everything should be there by mid-September. The entire assortment is already available for order, and orders are already pouring in, see here for the entire chapter.

Mushrooms are back on the menu in autumn. Growing these special fungi yourself is a fun adventure. Our fresh "spawn" will arrive again mid-September, then you can order them again. Once again, we have purchased a large quantity of Stropharia (a cousin of Porcini), so that the offer (€ 6.90!) can be extended. New are the extra large sets for white or beige button mushrooms. For all mushrooms: look here.

As this beautiful September gives way to a cooler autumn, the colours in the garden become warmer, the cobwebs sparkle in the morning mist; in short, it's time for harvesting and preparing for winter. Is it really all over then? Not at all, there's still plenty to sow, some varieties germinate at just a few degrees above zero! A greenhouse or "cold frame" offers even more possibilities, but there's also plenty you can do in the open ground. You can find an overview on my homepage, but now also here. The list is not entirely complete; I am working on an online sowing calendar for our entire assortment, but that is a major, multi-year project.

Last year, I was on the verge of starting with Worm Bins: a fun and natural way to turn your kitchen waste into beautiful compost. Composting worms are easy to keep, bring you closer to nature, and efficiently do their useful work. Due to busyness, I didn't get around to it. After a surprising number of requests from customers, I was constantly reminded that a worm bin simply belongs in our assortment. Well then... we'll be getting them in soon, I've chosen a sturdy, well-known bin. A preview of the how and why can be found in the following links:

1. Setting up a Worm Bin
2. Worms and Worm Bins: A Quick Introduction
3. Worms and Worm Bins: Frequently Asked Questions
4. Other Critters in the Worm Bin: Is it Harmful or Not?

From the bulbs and tubers described above, we offer a beautiful collection:

20 Utrecht Onions bulbs worth € 11.60
10 Tajerblad tubers worth € 6.90
50 Lampascioni bulbs worth € 8.90
20 Egyptian or Tree Onion bulbs worth € 2.90

Whole collection (worth € 30.30) € 25.00

Order here

Consists of 3 special strawberries, which we are extra proud of:

10 plants Black Strawberries 'Hansa' or 'Schwarzer Ananas'
10 plants White Pineapple Strawberries 'White Temptation' etc.
10 plants Climbing Strawberries 'Mount Everest'

We offer these 30 plants exclusively, you cannot order them separately on the site: while stocks last. Collection price € 39.00

Order here

My grower still had some stock, so I can make a few more customers happy:

Consists of 4x10 plants in 4 different harvest types: early, mid, late, and everbearing.

These 40 plants (our choice) normally cost € 45.00. Collection price € 29.00

Order here

Because we are still receiving plants, we can offer this package again:

The package consists of 20 plants of at least 5 different varieties (our choice), which we (due to the small scale) cannot offer too many deals on.

Normally they cost € 35.00. Collection price € 29.00

Order here

I anticipate this will be a real bestseller for our bulb sales: well-conceived, expertly executed, and attractively packaged (gift!) Early flying bees and butterflies do not yet find an enormous variety of flowers in spring. Together with the Dutch Beekeepers Association and the Butterfly Foundation, these 2 flower bulb packages have been put together to help these beneficial insects. Take a look at my site.

As a warm-up for the just-started bulb season, I am offering both packages together at a slightly sharper price.

Collection 2 packages € 17.50
Collection 2x2 packages € 29.90

Order here