12 month Grow your own planting plans

mum_of_4

Sylvan wrote: »

That's horrible. How can people be so mean?

We got an allotment:j. We weren't at the top of the waiting list but the 4 or 5 people above us didn't want an allotment at that end of town. More fool them! It's on a south facing slope so that should add to our growing season.

Starting to get excited now:rotfl:(Sad, huh?)

Brillant news about the allotment

Mine is sloping and south facing. As it's on a slight slop I find that the veg at the front of the plot doesn't dry so much as that at the other end so I don't have to water so much as perhaps if the plot was flat.

eandrdavis

I've pm'd you , thanks in advance

Sylvan

I discovered, when I was watering in the onion sets, that it's a good idea to stand uphill while watering.:rotfl:

I've heard that a 30 degree slope is equivalent to being 50 miles further south. That's maybe not so important in Bristol but up here it makes a great deal of difference!

Mind you I'm finding that moving 900 feet downhill - and having other houses and trees around to catch some of the wind - has made a vast difference:D. I'm going to throw caution to the wind and try my tomatoes and courgettes outside this year.

retrocircles

My cauliflower seemed to be doing well on my windowsill. They'd outgrown the propogator so I've potted them. The were growing nicely, but now one set of leaves on each plant seem to have died. The others look quite healthy?! I'm confused & worried about my babies!

Carrots seem to be doing ok outside! Have sprouts of about 2 inches!

Haven't started anything else yet.

Our garden is south-facing, but we are sheltered at the bottom by bushes. I'm desperately trying to think of the best layout & plan so I can get digging properly!

KathrynS

Hi, I have just PM'd you for your plan.

Thanks
Kathryn

mum_of_4

I've started a new thread but thought some you might miss it so I've added it to this thread.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/digin/holding/index.shtml

This starts early April and they will be giving away free seeds to get more people growing their own veg.

Get your children to join the green balloon club on www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies
as they will also be part of the campaign and sending free seeds.

fruit-loop

Thank you Maz, I recieved the plans earlier. :j I've only had a quick peep but they look great, I will have a proper look later.

I have loads of seeds just started and will be back to post my progress.

KathrynS

Thanks for the plan :j - it looks great. I can't wait to get going now - looking forward to warmer weather, then I will never be out of the garden. LOL
Kathryn

mum_of_4

You're welcome

How is everyone getting on?

I am a bit frustrated as it's been raining most of the day. Managed to get some raised beds made from pallet wood, I want to change over to raised beds so that i can change to the no dig option. When all my children are all at school I will have more time but I've found the last few weeks really hard work. My younger children just don't seem to understand how much work is needed down the plot during March and April.

My toodler (2) woke up on Tuesday and the first thing she said ' can we go to plopment' so maybe there's hope yet.

Going to try and grow 40 tomato plants this year. About 20 in the Pt with the rest being outside. Having had blight for two years running I doubt the crop outside will do that well but if it's true that we are to have a good summer it's worth a go.

If anyone wants to be par of a seed circle nextyear let me know as nearly all my plot will be filled with crops that I can save seed from. I am really hoping I can master this. It would be so lush to grow from your own seeds.

Remember those 16 reduced blueberry bushes, well they are going great guns so I should get a half decent harvest from them. Some are even coming into flower. Strawberry plants also seem to be growing well too so that's more soft fruit on the way.

My dwarf french beans are ready to go in the PT but it's too cold at night so I'm just having to keep them in the back bedroom (unheated). Basil seems to be taking over, think I sowed too many. They all appear to have germinated so if I pot each seedling up I'll have almost 90 plants so I have a few to giveaway or maybe I might try doing a car boot sale.

Fingers crossed Friday will be slightly better, I don't mind cloud as long as it's dry.

ALIBOBSY

Can't believe how far down the boards this thread has dropped, everyone is out gardening I guess .

Spent the weekend in the garden.
First job was OH finishing digging out/sorting drainage, mostly done now. Have 2 raised beds ready and the wood for the others we got at weekend.
We weedkillered the lawn about 6 weeks ago, and have weed membrane ready to go. Spent alot of time at weekend potting on seedlings and giving them time outside to start hardening off, and sowing new seeds. Set up two compost bins and DD1 has been really happy putting bits in all day lol.

Got alot of supplies from B&Q this weekend in the sale. Anyone else see the 75l of potting compost for £3 a bag.

Going to get the rest done over the long weekend next week hopefully.
Mind you Oh just rang and says he might try to do some each night so we can get going quicker.
Left a space for a greenhouse, but still debating which to buy. With 3 kids and one on the way glass isn't suitable and OH reckons he can take one of the cheap PC norfolk ones and by using silicone to stick the panels in, some extra bracing and fixing it down solidly make it solid. At least then we could get the GH now instead of saving some more (and clear out my window sills lol).

Think I will take some photos of the garden as is and then at each stage just for fun.

Also cut down some tree saplings which had dropped down behind a conifer hedge and were growing through it. Will make free nice looking "green" bean/pea/sunflower supports plus found a couple of old plastic dustbins up the corner (went to wheelies about 18 months ago) so going to pressure wash them out and plant up potatos in them.

Ali x
Plus the other good news hit 13 wks pregnancy and don't feel nearly as sick now so can get much more done hurrah!
Bad news is DD2 decided pulling up my seedlings that I had brought in at night (on the dining table) was a good game. Just spent 10 mins replanting them all.