To try to cut back on throw away plastic we grow a few veg in troughs in the back garden. Today I planted some kale which will provide us with tasty leaves next spring.

The trouble is I was too busy to start off my own from seed this summer, so had to fall back on plan B, which is not completely plastic free.

Taking the long view though, it will save us from buying kale wrapped in single use plastic next year.

Plan B:

My plan B was to order kale seedlings from Thompson and Morgan, an online nursery £8.94 for 10, including cost of postage. They arrived in a cardboard box yesterday.

Here comes the plastic bit – the box is secured with a plastic strap, and the individual plugs are held in a moulded plastic tray which is recyclable.

This variety of kale called Reflex and will grow to have Frizzy edged leaves that you can cut individually, allowing the plant to keep on growing new leaves right through the spring and summer.

The plugs are small enough to fit in the palm if your hand.

It is frost hardy so great for growing outdoors in winter.

Simply dig a small hole and plant up to the first set of leaves, about a foot apart. Then water in.

To keep the slugs off them until they establish I sprinkled some organic slug pellets around them. Yes, in a plastic bottle

Then To keep the pigeons off you must cover them, or you’ll wake up one morning to find stalks! Use netting thrown over a support, or a cliche. This lovely one was hand crafted for me by Barry (Thank u!)

I shall update on progress with the coming months.