Seed Tins for the Garden or Allotment

At the weekend, I looked under the recycled bed-cold frame and found myself a tinsy*, teensy  bit annoyed.  Some of the plastic wrapping is flapping and not totally secure.  Silly me had forgotten about the joys of sowing seeds.  I was reminded instantly of the birds and the other small beasties in the garden (and allotment plots) that eye your seeds for nibbles.  Some of you may remember the acrobatic mice at my allotment a few years back.   

The seed trays with covering were fine, those without had all been nabbed, (except for the tomatoes).  The scented sweet peas and green peas are gone, the sunflowers husks floating above the soil and so forth.   I have just finished sowing and replacing some those seeds.  However, in some cases I don't have any more seeds.  As I mentioned I was making the most of my old seed packets from two - three years ago such as Gold Rush courgettes, Broad Beans, Scarlet Runner Beans and Scented Sweet Peas.  So along with the curly kale and purple top Milan turnips, I will have to buy them, but before I part with some pounds, I will check with my parents and see if they have any seeds going spare.  I should also mention instead of putting the seed trays back underneath the cold frame, I have decided to grow those without secure covering in the window sills.  When they are strong seedlings, I will return them to the cold frame.   The tomato seeds and companion flowers and herb seed trays have been put in the empty bath that I hope to fill up with compost and grow carrots.  I have covered them quite securely with plastic sheeting, so hopefully no beasties trespassing there. 

Today, I thought I'd share with you one of my seed tins.  I picked it up in Plymouth from a charity shop a couple of years ago when we were getting the ferry to Brittany.  I think its rather charming.  Each side has a different garden-growing related theme. 

Some of my seeds are definitely over two years old, so lets see if they do germinate.    Nothing so far, thanks to the greedy beasties.

Hope your seedlings are doing better than mine.

Tinsy - a silly slang word I picked up from my nephews and nieces meaning small as in tiny.