It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

wendybird

We are trying /tried this for winter potatoes, but the tubers never sprouted? Very annoying as we paid for them, on the other hand our baking potatoes sprout right and left :rotfl: I intend to start taking over from DH in the gardening dept. in the spring - he's not very detail oriented and has a habit of planting seeds and then just leaving them for months to the elements/pests/etc! Bless him, he persists despite the fact that we've had about 3 tomatos and strawberries over the last 3 years I've left him to it, but am now more interested in actually getting some food for our efforts! We've also signed up for an allotment, but there is a waiting list so it could be a few years!

I'm looking into square foot gardening thanks to folks on here, think that may work for us if we get enough sun in our garden! :T

MRSMCAWBER

moanymoany wrote: »

On a blog I saw a way of growing potatoes in a large tub/compost maker. You start of with 6" compost in the bottom, put the potatoes on the top. When the shoots appear and form little plants you put more compost - just leaving a few leaves. This goes on till the tub is full. This is the proper way - from the wonderful RHS http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0506/potatoespots.asp

We are going to do this next year.

:j Thats how I grow mine :j ... I did them in tubs and dust bins this year but I use the same method -I did the plant em, let the shoots appear, cover most, leave em to grow, add more compost method.. I did this 3 times in every tub... I got the tip off seeing my grandad do it when I was little.. It still amazes me that I remember stuff he did -even though I wasn't aware I was paying attention at the time:T

painted_lady

Thats a good tip about the potatoes, I grow them in large pots and will do it this way next year. I might also get a big bin to grow some more.

D&DD

wendybird wrote: »

We are trying /tried this for winter potatos, but the tubers never sprouted? Very annoying as we paid for them, on the other hand our baking potatos sprout right and left :rotfl: I intend to start taking over from DH in the gardening dept. in the spring - he's not very detail oriented and has a habit of planting seeds and then just leaving them for months to the elements/pests/etc! Bless him, he persists despite the fact that we've had about 3 tomatos and strawberries over the last 3 years I've left him to it, but am now more interested in actually getting some food for our efforts! We've also signed up for an allotment, but there is a waiting list so it could be a few years!

I'm looking into square foot gardening thanks to folks on here, think that may work for us if we get enough sun in our garden! :T

Re Xmas Potatoes I need to have a dig around in mine thanks for reminding me!
My Mum has had loads off hers already
Our garden is south facing but we are down a hole :rotfl: with a house built sideways on to ours so we don't get much sun at all but manage to grow most things:D

moanymoany

The RHS site is brilliant for advice. Also, if you have a problem - like your potatoes not sprouting - you can give them a ring and they will give advice.

happytails

Just want to say a BIG THANK YOU to KITTIE for the reusable nappies you have kindly given to me They are wonderful and I cannot wait for my baby girl to be here so i can put her in them!

Love and Hugs xoxox

Sarah

Cinny91

Amazon prices have gone up this morning so much for 'savings'

Rachel Allens Book, Bake, has gone up from £9 to £10 (not much but I'm still peeved about it!) And the kitchen aid mixer I was hoping to buy next weekend (saving up for awhile) has gone up from £149.99 to £196.68. But my back-up mixer - Kenwood MX275 - has gone down £2ish.

Hey ho, swings and roundabouts.

oystercatcher

I did the potatoes in tubs this year, didn't have much time and just shoved some sprouted spuds into the pots which I grew tomatoes in last year(not advisable as they are related and pests/disease can cause problems but I found this out afterwards!) I forgot to top the pots up as well . Anyway , we got enough lovely spuds for about three or four meals for five us from six pots, so that was totally free really !!
Hopefully will do the whole thing properly this year.
Freshly dug potatoes are so much more tasty than the ones you buy!

I also grew tomatoes from seeds and had LOADS of plants, ended up spending a small fortune on pots and compost but the pots will last.
I'm not sure if I can reuse the compost though, what do people do ?
I only have a very tiny garden so don't have a home composter or anywhere to dig soil from.
I probably broke even on the price of compost over not buying tomatoes so it would be nice if I could reuse the stuff next year.
Would pouring boiling water on sterilise it a bit ?? I know some gardeners put seedling compost in the oven for sterilising but I'm not prepared to do that !!
Any ideas ?

Oystercatcher

Bargain_Rzl

Rachel Allen's "Bake" is £6.99 on the Book People website

happytails

Just wanted to say I have been practising folding the square nappies this morning, so chuffed - my nana will be thrilled with my efforts

Must get dressed and start my mass cooking afternoon! Determined to cook enough portions to last until xmas! :j

Sarah x