Tom from the kitchen garden talks about what is happening in the kitchen garden this year.

February comes with excitement and promise at The Torridon as the new year gardening resolutions are firmly in place.

The garden has been hit by this spell of unseasonably warm weather and the days are lengthening which has been sure to stimulate plant growth; the daffodils have already made an early appearance and the spring-cropping purple-sprouting broccoli and rhubarb are nearly ready to be harvested! The first of the seeds have been sown in the greenhouse while the ‘Pink Fir Apple’ and ‘Arran Pilot’ potato varieties are chitting away on the bench. The Polytunnel has been cleared and space made to start growing this year’s delicious vegetables.

Meanwhile the grapevine is sapping, showing the first signs on life; we’re hoping for a bumper crop this year! I have also been planning to establish our very own Arcturus gin garden which will showcase the local botanics used to produce the gin along with the garnishes to go alongside.

We have a lot of expectation for 2019 in the kitchen garden and I am looking forward to sharing the fruits of our labour throughout the year.

Tom