Out front has seen a lot of alterations over the years. When we first moved in this house it had two brick edge build in planters with an array of bulbs (still don't know what kind) and weeds. There was no real interest in it apart from springtime. I also really didn't like how they limited the use of the space. The way they were laid out meant you couldn't put a table or chairs there - let alone a little bench. It's a great sun trap and a lovely place to hang out in the setting sun. Apart from those two weird planter things it also has a honeysuckle and some type of holly on the corner. It gave a bit of privacy for people walking down the steps and past the house (downside of living on the corner is the amount of traffic past your front window). But, both of those had to go too.

Instead of the two big bushes I planted 3 buddleia in some gorgeous purple flowers. We removed the brick edging planter things and put paving slabs in the holes they left. They're not a perfect match to what is already there but it's close and fine enough. Last year (February 2021) I build 4 raised beds on wheels for the front garden to extend my vegetable and flower growing.

Last year was a bust. The soil mix I made was just not right. I wanted loose fluffy soil that drained well and had no big bits in, because I wanted to grow a variety of root vegetables. Varies types of carrots, some parsnips and salsify. Onions, beetroot and a rainbow worth of nasturtiums and calendulas were all direct sown.

Unfortunately the mix I made (bag of sand, bag of compost and a big block of cococoir) just wasn't rich in any nutrients, that and combined with last years wet and cold weather it just was a no show on so many things. The fact that even nasturtiums didn't want to grow there spoke volumes in my opinion.

So, for this year I sowed a green manure mix last autumn and I think it has done a world of good. It's basically the same base as last year but now with the added benefit of the grown and chopped down green manure plus a new bag of peat free compost on top of that and I've now got cauliflower, kohlrabi, chard, onions, leeks, celeriac, pink celery, cosmos, nasturtiums and even tomatoes growing in those beds. So far so good! I also think that planting out seedlings and young plants has helped over direct sowing. It does get really hot there.