Seed sowing starts

The snow has gone now but I rather like this detail of my Buddleia (and I haven't taken any new photos this week).

First of all an update on my new little pond. I have researched suitable native plants and have come up with a short list of four. But I obviously cannot have four plants in such a small space so I think I'll have Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris) next to the pond with Bulrush (Typha minima) and Water Soldier (stratiotes aloides) in it. I've discovered that these plants won't be available for a month or two but in the meantime the pond weed should keep the water sweet.

A week on the seed potatoes (Swift) have already starting chitting with tiny green shoots. They are in an egg box in the light, but away from direct sunlight. I'm going to grow them in an old compost sack and I've been researching how best to go about it. I'll say more about the method I adopt when it comes to planting out time.

Today I sowed my first lot of seeds and it felt good. On the edible side I sowed Chilli 'Trifetti', Chilli 'Pretty in Purple' and Alpine Strawberry 'Mignonette'. And on the ornamental front I sowed Asclepias incarnata 'Swamp Milkweed', Ensete Glaucum 'Snow Banana' and Sweet Pea 'Cupid Mixed'. With the exception of the Sweet Peas - which went into the greenhouse - the rest are in 9cm pots on the kitchen windowsill covered with a small plastic bag secured with an elastic band.

Georgie