Act of hope

摘要

Sow broad beans in autumn for rich pickings in May. Ifind it enormously encouraging to be sowing at this time of year. It is an act of hope in the teeth of the damp decay enveloping the season. That first dish of tiny, gleaming beans is one of the highlights of early summer and by sowing some now I am slaking my claim for next May. I always aim to get a few rows into the ground by bonfire night. There is nothing significant about the date other than the chances of the ground being dry enough to work.