No. 32: Sperm caves

A historian, as well as a meteorologist, would not affirm this title, as every era is unique and every year unfolds differently. Nevertheless, my Newsletter from last year recounts a similar cold start to the season with associated problems and headaches. My growers (even when cultivating under glass) see plant growth stagnate, the rooting of grape cuttings doesn't take hold, cold-sensitive plants yearn for the sun… in short: gardening remains a challenge! But let me start at the beginning. Wonderful: the busiest period is over again, of course hundreds of orders still need to go out, but almost everyone has their seeds. As every year, there are unexpected bestsellers and sold-out harvests: we've never sold so many sweet pea varieties, and red-flowered broad beans were nowhere to be bought... just to name two examples. Of course, I will take measures for 2014 in that regard, only to be surprised again by your new unannounced interests!

Every day we work hard to create an engaging and diverse store. Many new products that I purchased this spring will appear on the website and Facebook in the coming weeks. You've already found us on Facebook, haven't you? If not: look us up quickly and "like" us! Our seed collection remains available all year round, many vegetables can still be sown, though it's getting a bit late for fruiting vegetables. Annual flowers can be sown until mid-June: sowing late means flowering well into autumn. Now is the time to sow biennial and perennial flowers.

It is possible to plant asparagus until the end of June. We store the plants in a cold room, allowing for a long planting period. For our assortment, see our website or click here.

A group of passionate growers provides us weekly with their latest special (and sometimes rare) edible plants, spices, herbs, etc. Common and special vegetable plants for those who forgot to sow: you'll find them with us! Dozens of different tomato varieties and soon a similar collection of peppers are now arriving, resulting in a sharp offer, which we will publish later in this Newsletter (offer 4).

Our potatoes are attracting more and more attention; growers and hobbyists praise our efforts to maintain the traditional European assortment. Next year, we hope to add at least 20 more varieties to this collection. To continue doing this, we need to clear out our remaining stock: seed potatoes can still be planted until mid-June. The harvest will, of course, be later than a primeur hunter would prefer, but after 2-3 months of growth, a delicious harvest can be dug up!

For an attractive offer, see our “End-of-Year Package”

Anyone who plants these bulbs, tubers or rhizomes in June can enjoy their blooms in late summer. We could plant them ourselves, but we'd rather let our customers benefit from a 50% end-of-season discount. Choose from various price ranges from our " Full of Bulbs " packages

Do you have a particularly large space available? I'm offering a special 60% discount for larger gardens: 1 package worth €200.00 now for the special price of €79.00 (maximum 3 packages per customer!)

Known and unknown species: Ulluco, Oca, Mashua, Multiplier Onions, Garlic, Madeira Vine, Wild Potato, Indian Potato... all easily grown bulb and tuber vegetables. Around this time, we pot them to extend their selling period. Before then, I'm offering a round of discounts: a beautiful and varied package (I'll also include some special potatoes) worth €30.00 for just €15.00

Get yours now!

The grower, who supplies most of our tomato and pepper seeds, is providing us with plants in dozens of varieties this year. Grown with love and organically, no two varieties are the same, some we don't even have available as seeds! Each package contains as many different plants as possible, a harvest full of discoveries! We are putting together various packages, which you can already sign up for, delivery in June.

Click here for the contents of the packages

It's no trouble at all to provide you with fascinating contacts that I gather annually.
On my Facebook page, I will regularly share various interesting addresses.

In this Newsletter, 3 tips:

1. First, a great garden blog from an English garden enthusiast: www.mytinyplot.co.uk, always surprising and well-maintained.
2. A "super good" vegetable garden course is given by Janneke Tops: www.gezondemoestuin.nl, invite her to your garden club!
3. Who is that kind man who hosts our shop in the winter? Pleased to meet you: Paul Sanders.
   He manages a garden with atmosphere in France, so if you are looking for a nice holiday destination... here is his description: For anyone who enjoys being in nature and wants to experience the pleasure of silence, you can holiday in Paul's edible garden. The garden, based on permaculture, is located in the beautiful Perigord Vert in the southwest of France. With seeds from Vreeken's Zaden, a beautiful vegetable garden has been created, with forgotten vegetables and novelties. Throughout the garden, you can pick berries and other small fruits.
   The gîte "Le Papillon Rouge", suitable for 4 people, is available for rent per week from mid-April to the end of October.
   For information: leroseau.sanders@gmail.com and check: www.leroseau.nl