the daydream fund challenge thread

choille

Rummer - don't buy cheap compost, is like cheap flour - a waste of effort I think.

Alfie - sorry it caused a stir getting the map. good for you with all the bargains. Haven't been to a car boot sale in years.

I ache this evening as I got some ground dug over today - haven't been doing much physical lately so am feeling it tonight. Rain hammering down yet again but feels all cosy in the van.

Night night.

Winged_one

Morning all,
At long last we are seeing some wet stuff here - the rain butt had gone dry we had been so long without rain, and that is unusual at this time of year! And the plot was just dreadful. But now it has rained (and after I watered the plot yesterday, with my one watering can and a 5 minute trek to the tap!).

I managed to get 2 hours on the plot yesterday. The roots bed is now started - 5 rows planted (2 parsnips, 1 each of turnip, beetroot and spring onions), and some more dug. I have covered the rest though, to dig when I have more time. I want to plant more parsnips, and maybe even try some carrots there this year (between rows of spring onions). The other things are showing signs of growth - my broad beans have some brown spots on them, but I'll let them go a while yet to see if I need to pull them up. The peas are showing their shoots. The rhubarb is running wild there is so much of it. I brought home a decent bag of leeks too, enough for our favourite Tom Doorely recipe tomorrow and another night with plain buttered leeks or into a soup. And a handful of PSB shoots.

And I got LOADS of seeds sown too at home. I even had to go and buy another bag of compost (and found some seed garlic at last!, will plant that next time I'm on the plot). But I now have 6 pots with 3 seeds per pot of climbing French bean Sultana, and the same of climbing F bean Cobra. 8 pots with mostly 3 seeds per pot (last 2 only have 2) of borlotti beans. Another 8 pots of 1 per pot broad bean Witikem. And that was the last of my takeaway coffee cups for this year.

2 rows of calabrese, and 3 of spinach scenic, in one seed tray (I have a few that are divided into 5 "runs"), and another seed tray with 5 different types of flowers (china asters, night scented stock, hollyhock "black knight", catanache, and swan river daisies) - most of those are for the front garden but the stock is for the back.

And I started the squash family too. 1 last "Dill's Atlantic Giant" pumpkin seed, with 3 "Mars" pumpkins. 2 butternut squash (can't rem variety - Avalon or somesuch?). And another 6 pots which have either courgettes or summer patty-pan type squashes in them. I will put 1 courgette and 1 summer squash in the garden, perhaps 1 courgette and 1 pumpkin on the plot, but most will go to OH's parent's garden as they will nurture them (they have loads of space and FIL needs occupation in retirement!!! LOL!!). Realistically, he won't have to do much, just some watering, and he will be so excited watching massive things growing

I am not sowing PSB or brussels sprouts this year. I reckon I can't get to the plot enough in winter-time, and OH is even more adamant about that than me. But mostly because I may have to relocate with work, so I don't want to waste too much on the plot if I do. It wouldn't be until August, so everything there is fine. And I have an aunt who would galdly come to harvest whatever is left. But I'd prefer not to leave too much - I can always buy in a few plants this year if I don't go away. And I do have my leeks started anyway.

But I am looking at the opportunity of moving to acquire loads of bits to bring home, and squirrel away lots of extra into the DCF too.

Rummer

Currently sitting on the couch surrounded by hundreds of seed packets and trying to convince myself to dash through the pouring rain to the greenhouse to get the soil and seed trays. I am such a wimp!

Rummer

Totally exhausted but very satisfied . I have spent the last few hours getting seeds sown while watching TV and the rain lashing down outside.

Been soaked numerous times running out to get compost and taking things to the greenhouse. Now I am going to sit and relax for a while!

Davesnave

Winged one and Rummer, you sound so enthusiastic and organised with your seed sowing! Here, things are just chugging along, so I've no idea if we've done more or less than last year, or what we might have missed. The parsnips and leeks were so long lasting and straightforward, we'll definitely have more of those, and the sweet peppers were very worthwhile too, so it's likely we'll keep more and sell less small plants. On the tomato front we've cut down to just 3 varieties, as we still have loads of processed plum types and others in the freezer.

We put our new hens in with the others late last night. This morning there was no real argy-bargy, but I got 'em out at the crack of dawn!;) Two of the Vorwerks looked puzzled for a while when the new Welsummers joined up with the others, doubling the number of that breed. You could see them both, almost trying to count! They're smart, but not that smart. :rotfl:

Yesterday, I finally burned the rest of the weeds, waste plant material, leylandii and other organic rubbish accumulated over winter, so now there's just a dump run and we're straight. This a.m. I've been clearing out an old goat barn, where the poo had finally dried & hardened sufficiently to remove easily from the floor, and lo, underneath was exactly what we need to finish the bays in the front selling area....free scalpings! :)

We didn't sell a single Hellebore this year after problems in the last few years with Hellebore Black Death, but only a handful of plants were suspected of having the disease and removed, so it looks as if our previous woes with this are largely over. If they'd been badly affected again, I'd have scrapped the lot, but it would have been a shame after so many years collecting.

Rummer

Davesnave wrote: »

We didn't sell a single Hellebore this year after problems in the last few years with Hellebore Black Death, but only a handful of plants were suspected of having the disease and removed, so it looks as if our previous woes with this are largely over. If they'd been badly affected again, I'd have scrapped the lot, but it would have been a shame after so many years collecting.

I had never heard of them until you mentioned them on here and I googled them. They are stunning and I would like to incorporate them into my garden, what sort of conditions do they prefer?

Winged_one

Well done Rummer!

Dave'sNave, I'm not organised really, just that if I don't sow plants in pots at home, the slugs'n'snails get the babies on the plot. So the patio being covered in pots for a few weeks is the trade off. It is looking like I will have to buy in peppers and tomatoes though, as only 2 toms germinated so far (6 weeks on), both "Garden Pearl", and 2 chilli "Krakatowa", no other chillis, sweet peppers or tomatoes. And I had loads sown too....might try again next weekend if no further successes.

Rummer

Oh I am not organised, hence the hours spent today trying to catch up! I have bought more seeds than my little patch can handle so I am trying to plant things in phases so that I can have as continuous a supply of goodies as possible. I keep thinking about the money saving I will make on lettuce and soft fruit alone this year! Anything else from the garden will be a deliciously welcome bonus!

soupdragon10

Had to write off most of today between a job application and visit to Jobcentre. Now I have potting compost I can start more seeds - I completely ran out which shows how (dis)organised I've been. Have some toms and peppers coming up as well as peas leeks and brassicas so just waiting to be sure there aren't any more frosts before starting to plant out peas etc.

Rummer

soupdragon10 wrote: »

Had to write off most of today between a job application and visit to Jobcentre.

Good luck with the job hunting, my OH was out of work for 6 months last year and I know how tiring it can be searching for jobs and filling in the forms etc. We were losing hope and then he got the job he has now which was such a relief.