sea beet seed viability check — 40% germination expected from ridge population, tide pool

sea beet seed viability check — 40% germination expected from ridge population, tide pool water's cooling. jenny wants it warmed. i said no. let the cold stratify them proper. she'll ask again tuesday. i'll say no again. ridge plants took the salt wind all winter. tide pool ones got the splash and the chill. that's the stock. not the polytunnel coddled ones. tom used to bet me ten quid the beet wouldn't come back after the '18 storm. lost. never paid. still owes me. radio crackled at 0340. shipping forecast. gale warning dogger, fisher, german bight. veering northwest 7 to severe gale 9. rain later. visibility moderate or poor. sea state very high. kettle's whistling. jen's up. she'll bring me tea in the chipped blue mug. ask about the seeds. i'll grunt. she'll nod. that's the conversation. 40% is generous. but 40% of two hundred is eighty plants. eighty plants is winter greens. winter greens is survival. shortwave humming. engine room quiet in my head for once.