It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

kidcat

Elizabunny,I knew it couldnt just be me thatwas in full blown spring clean mode./ Thank goodness I am not going totally crazy. Sorry to hear you are in pain. I often find that my enthusiasm is much greater than my actual capabilites, having a weak back, I push on with a job then regret it later. Hope you are feeling better tomorrow.

Maxjessdru

I still have a job! So pleased - its been a really stressful day though. The lady who was chosen is so well liked by everyone that half the office was in tears. But it is a relief that its over (for now anyway) and I hope everyone else's situation comes good sooner rather than later. On a brighter note, got some nice goodies for my birthday - lots of smellies, flowers, chocolates and a necklace. All the cakes went down well at work, especially twinks hobnobs - have said I would take the recipe in for about 8 people!!

rosieben

for anyone wanting to grow their own veg, Lidl have a gardening special coming up on 5th March including mini greenhouse, cold frame, grow tunnels, propagator kits and what looks like a good selection of pots, tools and some pretty stuff too - I'm hoping for some of the wooden decorations

elizabunny

Hi rosie -I had an email about this as well. Their compost is quite good too, I am using this at the moment. I just checked my GH this morning and I have Broad Beans, Leeks, Tomatoes, Lettuce and Radish all starting to come through quite well -I'm willing them on.

I feel like I should be out there today but after my ricked neck yesterday I don't want to set it off again and it's a bit cold here today as well. DH's raised beds are coming on well and it's making me impatient to get growing seriously, but I need to get some Manure in first and let it settle for a couple of months.

I had a really good crown of Rhubarb last year and it's completely disappeared so I'll have to start again with that as well. Oh.... roll on Summer -not wanting to wish time away though.;)

mardatha

So can I start tomatoes on my windowsill now ?
It's absolutely baltic outside so I'm not touching the garden yet. Our snowdrops r just out nicely now.

elizabunny

mardatha wrote: »

So can I start tomatoes on my windowsill now ?
It's absolutely baltic outside so I'm not touching the garden yet. Our snowdrops r just out nicely now.

Hi mardatha -I would definately start some on a warm windowsill now. If you put your seeds in some damp, but not wet compost and cover them with something just to keep them dark until they germinate, you should be able to grow them on slowly until they are ready to go out after the frosts. I have just germinated the variety 'Tumbling Tom'. I love these, because I grow them in hanging baskets in a sunny spot. They don't take up much room, don't need staking and produce lovely cherry tomatoes. Sorry if I am repeating myself here:o

BB1984

Further to my earlier post about my new sewing machine, I went out at lunchtime to the local haberdashery shop. Well I must say the ladies in there weren't particularly welcoming - made me feel like a right moron for asking so many questions!
Anyway, I bought some bits and pieces to start me off, and picked up some curtains from a charity shop to experiment on...hopefully that'll be ok - I didn't see the point in wasting my money on "good" fabric that I'll prob just ruin....!
Once I've got the hang of it, I'm planning to make a whole load of bunting, to decorate the barn for my wedding reception...!
BB

Primrose

elizabunny - don't give up on your rhubarb too soon. If you haven't grown it before, it completely dies back to below earth level in the winter and sprouts back up again in Spring. If you've got a large plastic pot, turn it upside down and place it where the rhubarb crown was. It may encourage it into early growth again.

daska

For those of us sowing seeds at the mo 4 and 6 pint milk containers are great.

Cut the bottom off and punch a few holes for draining to make a tray, fill it full of half loo rolls, block the bottoms of the loo rolls with used tea bags before using the top half of the bottle as a funnel to top the loo rolls up with compost.

Stick the top back on to use as a propagator and then as a cloche when your seedlings move outside.

If you cut the middle of the bottle to make some rings you can use these to help protect your plants from being nibbled and poo'd on.

There are probably a hundred more uses for them at harvest time but I haven't got that far.

elizabunny

daska wrote: »

For those of us sowing seeds at the mo 4 and 6 pint milk containers are great.

Cut the bottom off and punch a few holes for draining to make a tray, fill it full of half loo rolls, block the bottoms of the loo rolls with used tea bags before using the top half of the bottle as a funnel to top the loo rolls up with compost.

Stick the top back on to use as a propagator and then as a cloche when your seedlings move outside.

If you cut the middle of the bottle to make some rings you can use these to help protect your plants from being nibbled and poo'd on.

There are probably a hundred more uses for them at harvest time but I haven't got that far.

daska -that's such a good idea thank you, I always save loo roll & kitchen roll middles, but have never thought of using milk bottles as trays:T

Primrose -thank you for that, I will put a bucket over the spot.:T When you say the crown dies right back to below earth level -would that be well below earth level? Because if so, that may be the reason why I think it's gone? I must admit I was a bit surprised because it was doing so well last year (its 1st year)............................perhaps me being impatient yet again.

BB1984 -All this chat about sewing has made me drag out my machine. It's a Frister Rossmann which I was so pleased to inherit from my Mum because it does a few fancy things, like buttonholes , smocking, ziz-zag, etc. I haven't made anything constructive on it yet, but I've done a couple of alterations and I am now considering taking up clothes making again. I did a little bit years ago when my boys were small, but always felt that it all looked home made and people knew. However I have just checked out a couple of web sites and some of the fabrics are georgeous so I'm thinking ......why not have a go. The only thing is -I know I'm not that good at it and don't want to waste money on fabric that I then end up ruining. Oooooh what to do................