My woad is growing itself, and it’s becoming a problem actually because I can’t always see the difference between first and second year. Except in this case:
I hope to remember and have the stamina and weather conditions all in one day, to dig up everything this year, so that I know whatever comes next year is good to use. It seems I don’t ever get many non-flowering specimens, so I think perhaps the mild winters allow the seeds to germinate in late autumn, meaning even the seeds from one year become 2nd year plants the next.
So while that isn’t very good for dyeing, it looks like I ought to be in the seed business! I wanted to share a few photos for Uglemor, who wondered if she had them in her garden. A 2nd year stalk, autumn sown yearlings (I could only find two, so what’s the difference between the seeds I throw and the ones they throw?!), and spring seedlings. Snails just looove woad too!
I was awake most of the night with the winds howling, of course thinking about how my greenhouse was doing, even dreaming it had come down when I did sleep. (along with a huge, splintered oak, which I have not previously noticed in my garden 😉 )
The promised high temps later this week have been adjusted way down on the forecast, so I’m not really optimistic about any sort of crop this year at all, unless perhaps I construct some small polytunnels over my boxes. I’ll have to assess the hassle vs. need vs. wish for a light maintenance garden. The weeds of course don’t care how cold it is. Alas, I can’t live on nettles!
For those who thought I do a lot of work in my garden…
Colour Cottage 
I know I could look this up but what color will the woad give you? I don’t know a single thing about dyeing . . .
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Woad is the indigo of northern climates and used in the same way. If you’ve seen Highlander or other historic movies from Scotland, you may have noticed how the warriors painted their faces blue – they were using woad.
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Really? That’s fascinating! I never thought I’d be interested in dyeing but . . . the curiosity is growing.
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Ok, rubbish, I didn’t mean Highlander. What’s the one with Mel Gibson?? William Wallace etc….
ETA: This is NOT Mel Gibson
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I obviously know more about dyeing than movies…
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Was it Braveheart? I didn’t see it but I knew that wasn’t Mel Gibson. 😉 I’ve been to the mill on Islay that wove the tartan for the movie!
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Yeah, that.
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So fascinating. I hope your crops stay safe and thrive.
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Nåh, sådan ser det ud. Nej det ligner ikke helt dem, jeg har. Gad vide hvad det så er for nogle … Jeg har kun læst om blåmalede krigere i Ranger’s Apprentice, så jeg har ingen idé om hvad filmen hedder. Lad os håbe på varmt vejt til dine planter og til os.
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