My Home-grown Journey

gtx

hi everyone

turnip and cucumber seeds are starting to appear as well now - all my growing will be in some form of container, so i'm a bit worried about watering but it's only my 1st year so i'm bound to make some mistakes.

i'm keeping a veg diary, so i have a record of what has worked and what hasn't ready for next year.

hope everyone is well and everything is growing nicely.

sorry i'm not clever enough to figure out how to post photos but my house is a typical northern terrace with quite a large back yard ( think corrie and you won't be far wrong) and i plan to have as much space as possible used for growing

see you all soon

gtx

puss14

Hi Notenoughcash,
I just read through your thread and it is totally inspiring. I have always had something in my garden to eat and have fluctuated at times where I am crazy keen and grow heaps and then other times I just do bare minimum and grow herbs and maybe 2-4 things to eat. I have to say though that there is a direct correlation between my happiest times and when I am gardening most. The lowest times in my life is when my garden gets neglected and I think I should list gardening as number 1 job everyday as I find gardening so therapeutic. Anyway you have inspired me to start my own diary to keep me motivated and therefore happier:D I am Aussie so obviously our seasons are different but I will be popping in to say hello and keep up with what you are doing. Good luck with your journey:A

huxley

Hi, when I am planting in tubs, I remove the lid and cut the bottom off those plastic drinks bottles (water etc) and plant them upside down next to what ever is in the tub, I then water through this resevoir so that the water filters through to the root system and doesnt just sit on the top of the soil.

helenhugs

I was hoping for a little advice, we have 2 big planters & I wondered if we need to put soil right through or should we line the bottom with stones or anything?
Hugs
Helen

Primrose

helen - if you have adequate drainage holes in the bottom of your big planters, water should drain away effectively and you shouldn't really need any stones to line the bottom. However, a small layer won't hurt. Sometimes if we have really heavy rainfalls, the pots can get so full of water that it's difficult for it to drain away if the drainage holes get blocked up. I often save my used tea bags to line the base of pots - water can drain away through the drainage holes but the teabags form a kind of filter to prevent the soil seeping though. Eventually with time the teabags rot and disintegrate so I only use them in pots which are refilled annually, i.e. with peppers, aubergines and chillies. If your pots are going to be permanentally filled, then a small layer of drainage stones would probably be advisable.

helenhugs

Primrose wrote: »

helen - if you have adequate drainage holes in the bottom of your big planters, water should drain away effectively and you shouldn't really need any stones to line the bottom. However, a small layer won't hurt. Sometimes if we have really heavy rainfalls, the pots can get so full of water that it's difficult for it to drain away if the drainage holes get blocked up. I often save my used tea bags to line the base of pots - water can drain away through the drainage holes but the teabags form a kind of filter to prevent the soil seeping though. Eventually with time the teabags rot and disintegrate so I only use them in pots which are refilled annually, i.e. with peppers, aubergines and chillies. If your pots are going to be permanentally filled, then a small layer of drainage stones would probably be advisable.

Thanks primrose. As yet the pots don't have holes in but hubby will be making some before we put any soil in anyway. We'll line it with a think layer of stones aswell then just for the extra drainage.
I knew some clever person would know the answer lol. We are planting climbing peas or somethign in 1 pot but aren't sure on the other yet.
Hugs
Helen

mummyleads

HIYA ALL PLS COULD SOMEONE HELP US WE ARE NEW TO GROWING F&V BUT WOULD LOVE TO TRY POTS AND STRAWBS PLUS OTHER STUFF CAN USE JUST USE POTS THAT HAVE EYES ON THEM WHAT ARE THE BASIC THINGS WE NEED WE ARE ON A TIGHT BUGET TY :j

phizzimum

JayneC wrote: »

Planted leeks n broccoli outside and moved my spring onions into a Quality Street tin on my worktop! Do ya think that'll be big enough?! I might grow rocket in another?



jayne x

great idea! I've got some old tins that I wanted to plant up but had no idea what to put in them, so thanks!

notenoughcash

Can't believe this damn weather has change again, I've ended up putting the heating on again!! Although there has been one benefit and sign of spring today. We always get frogs hibernating under our garden shed, the warm weather last week must have woken them up and the rain today has brought them out. I've sat and watched at least a dozen of them today making their way on their steep journey up the garden to our little frog pond!! I had to put a brick on one of the steps as the smaller ones couldn't quite jump up. I'm not a big fan of frogs I'm afraid and the whole street is well aware if I happen to come across one unexpectedly, but they were so lovely to watch today. Hopefully we will have tadpoles before much longer. The boys will be pleased!

kerik4

apparently it's mating season - they are crossing our main road late at night to get to the water on the side and several times I haven't seen them till it's too late...:eek: