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Help MBE grow his dinner 2010

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  • mama67
    mama67 Posts: 1,387 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    This is my first year of grwoing in recent years but did use to years back.

    I always pinch out the side shoots on the tomatoes so they don't get too bushy.
    My self & hubby; 2 sons (30 & 26). Hubby also a found daughter (37).
    Eldest son has his own house with partner & her 2 children (11 & 10)
    Youngest son & fiancé now have own house.
    So we’re empty nesters.
    Daughter married with 3 boys (12, 9 & 5).
    My mother always served up leftovers we never knew what the original meal was. - Tracey Ulman
  • kirsty822001
    kirsty822001 Posts: 414 Forumite
    Hey fellow gardeners!!
    I have been busy,,not done much apart from water and try to get a strawberry before the birds,,and there is net on them,,watched a blackbird pull the netting back to get to a straw that was ripe!!!
    Goosegogs are ready but had no time to harvest,,,garden is overgrowing,,went to nec yesterday to gardeners world show and of course bought lots of new plants and have no idea wher i am putting them!!
    This weekend will be a huge tidy up,tying stuff up beans and sweet peas need fastening,,weeding and a huge sort out,,cant wait as it is long overdue!
    Happy gardening all
    Life happens when you are busy making other plans ;)

    Sealed Pot Member #1149 (£340 saved 2011)
  • lemonjelly
    lemonjelly Posts: 8,014 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Mortgage-free Glee!
    kirsty822001 wrote: »
    Hey fellow gardeners!!
    I have been busy,,not done much apart from water and try to get a strawberry before the birds,,and there is net on them,,watched a blackbird pull the netting back to get to a straw that was ripe!!!
    Goosegogs are ready but had no time to harvest,,,garden is overgrowing,,went to nec yesterday to gardeners world show and of course bought lots of new plants and have no idea wher i am putting them!!
    This weekend will be a huge tidy up,tying stuff up beans and sweet peas need fastening,,weeding and a huge sort out,,cant wait as it is long overdue!
    Happy gardening all

    You've been gone a while! :wave:

    My courgette plants have some big yellow flowers on them.

    Tomato plants appear to be taking a while to really flower, though there are some flowers.

    I'm waiting for the beans to really kick in. They have climbed a fair way already...

    Though I want to plant out the cucumbers, I still worry they are a little small, & vulnerable to our slimey enemies...:o
    It's getting harder & harder to keep the government in the manner to which they have become accustomed.
  • mrbadexample
    mrbadexample Posts: 10,805 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
    Today I sentenced myself to a day's hard labour. Time to test the Mantis tiller.

    So I started by removing some turf:

    DSCN1107.jpg

    I then used the tiller to dig a deep trench along each of the long sides, and buried the turf upside down in the bottom. I then dug up the middle bit. After a bit of tidying, it now looks like this:

    DSCN1110.jpg

    I have a pair of very happy blackbirds currently going over the new bed to find their tea. :D

    Whilst using the tiller was MUCH harder work than I expected (I'm sure I'd feel no worse if I'd dug it all with a spade!), the results are impressive. It has broken the compacted soil down to a fine crumb - I was surprised at the amount the volume increased - it's piled a good foot high in the middle. Now, of course, I need more edging material.

    I took out the extra strip along the fence between the two beds for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I'd never get the flippin' mower into that bit, and secondly, I bought a couple of small lavender plants at the Gardener's World Show on Thursday, so that's where they're going. Hopefully, I'll be able to make more from cuttings once they're established. :money:

    I have at least six blisters, and my back is absolutely killing me. I think I might be due a wee drop of anaesthetic. :beer: ;)
    If you lend someone a tenner and never see them again, it was probably worth it.
  • Tibbie's_mum
    Tibbie's_mum Posts: 998 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Great job Mr B! I was also clearing a patch of undergrowth to extend our veg patch yesterday, wish it looked as good as yours, but unfortunately it was all dug by hand. Have planted out my courgettes in it, they'll soon cover it over!

    Keep up the good work.
  • lemonjelly
    lemonjelly Posts: 8,014 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Mortgage-free Glee!
    mrbadexample wrote: »
    Today I sentenced myself to a day's hard labour. Time to test the Mantis tiller.

    So I started by removing some turf:

    DSCN1107.jpg

    I then used the tiller to dig a deep trench along each of the long sides, and buried the turf upside down in the bottom. I then dug up the middle bit. After a bit of tidying, it now looks like this:

    DSCN1110.jpg

    I have a pair of very happy blackbirds currently going over the new bed to find their tea. :D

    Whilst using the tiller was MUCH harder work than I expected (I'm sure I'd feel no worse if I'd dug it all with a spade!), the results are impressive. It has broken the compacted soil down to a fine crumb - I was surprised at the amount the volume increased - it's piled a good foot high in the middle. Now, of course, I need more edging material.

    I took out the extra strip along the fence between the two beds for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I'd never get the flippin' mower into that bit, and secondly, I bought a couple of small lavender plants at the Gardener's World Show on Thursday, so that's where they're going. Hopefully, I'll be able to make more from cuttings once they're established. :money:

    I have at least six blisters, and my back is absolutely killing me. I think I might be due a wee drop of anaesthetic. :beer: ;)

    Fair play to you chap! Enjoy the anaesthetic!:)

    I firmly believe that the reward will repay the effort you have put in.

    Weather forecast for the week is a lot of warm & sunny weather. Last time I looked, some showers were forecast for wednesday. Don't forget to keep watering!:beer:
    It's getting harder & harder to keep the government in the manner to which they have become accustomed.
  • zarazara
    zarazara Posts: 2,264 Forumite
    I love this thread,its so inspiring.
    "The purpose of Life is to spread and create Happiness" :j
  • Soubrette
    Soubrette Posts: 4,118 Forumite
    Where did you get the wood for the raised bed MrBE?

    I'm thinking of doing a small herb garden next year and they look a really good height :)

    Sou
  • mrbadexample
    mrbadexample Posts: 10,805 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
    Soubrette wrote: »
    Where did you get the wood for the raised bed MrBE?

    I'm thinking of doing a small herb garden next year and they look a really good height :)

    Sou

    Scaffold boards. Try a local company to see if they've got any spare, that are maybe split or something. ;)
    If you lend someone a tenner and never see them again, it was probably worth it.
  • scotsaver
    scotsaver Posts: 824 Forumite
    Haven't posted for ages but been keeping up with the Posts, MrBe hope your blisters are healing and your back is better - looks like you did a great job with that bed. Gardening is just so addictive, I love it and even better now we are starting to get some produce, had strawberries, radishes, salad leaves so far and plan to pick some Gooseberries today to make some Chutney. Also going up the Allotment as my cabbages, caulis, brocolli, swede etc ready to go in. Have a great day everyone - weather looks fantastic again.:D
    "WASTE NOT, WANT NOT!"
    GC for OH, myself, DD18 & DD16 includes Toiletries, cleaning stuff & Food.

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