Am I going to miss this gardening year?

Health and recovery come first.

@Clueless 1 v2 , would you be interested in exploring something new this season? Container gardening (interesting herbs, quick crops of unusual varieties and first season fruiting strawberries come to mind) or wildlife photography or house plants or tool maintenance perhaps extended to volunteer to do that for neighbours/ nearby charities...?

Or how about free garden consultations for nearby beginners or charities? With your knowledge and experience that could make a big difference and give a workout to your garden brain even if you can't do the digging.

The season will definitely not be wasted, just different. You (and the garden) will be just fine

 

Good idea. I like a lot of herbs. I grew coriander in the window last year. I find herbs quite difficult to look after in open ground. Except my rosemary bush which is massive. I might get some thyme on the go in pots. Outdoors I find it quickly gets swamped by grass and weeds.

As an aside, through a friend of a friend, I used to be acquainted with a local lad who is a chef. When he once asked if he could scrounge some rosemary, because the bush is so huge and grows rapidly (it keeps growing across the front door), I told him he can just come and get some whenever he wants, as long as he doesn't harm the bush. Then our mutual friend got dumped by his missus and moved away, so now the chef lad doesn't seem to come by, probably feels awkward about it now our mutual friend isn't about having been dumped by his missus.

 

Why not utilise hanging baskets for your herbs, place at height to suit. Away from rain/ soil splashing, slugs and simple to prepare growing medium to suit .

 

Chilterns have a good range of interesting herb and veg seeds Vegetables and Herbs - Chiltern Seeds secure online shop

I usually go halves, some supermarket bog standard herb pots to harvest all summer and some seed grown interesting things. I have a 50cm permanent patio pot for the things we use all the time (Chives, Thyme, Parsley, Marjoram), and summer planters for Basil and experimentals (lemon grass is a fine new find, Agretti a bit of a disappointment, but fun).

Supermarket pot herbs do very well when ripped in half and planted into a large container.

I leave most of my herbs to flower, a sprig of flowering Thyme looks brilliant as a garnish or on a drink and bees love herb flowers. A lovely excuse to drink Gin or white wine.