Becoming self sufficient from scratch-my diary

rhiwfield

Wind and rain again today!

Didnt know about potato aphid until Bees post, most leaf damage on potatoes here in S Wales seems to be from capsid bugs, that's until the blight strikes in a wet summer. Maybe I just havent spotted them before.

Seems to transmit potato virus strains:
http://www.bayercropscience.co.uk/content.pestspotter/711/717/e-Tools/Pests/Buckthorn/potato%20aphid.mspx?fn=output

Dont know whether its the wind but the June apple drop seems to have started.

rowsew

Moozle wrote: »

I'll try the grit and polutry spice, thanks. What exactly is chicken grit? Is it just like grit you would have in the garden? Our garden is very stony and gritty, or am I being stupid!! Another good egg and 3 very soft broken ones this morning, but at least my girls have started to lay now so at least I know they are happy.

Grit for birds is normally some kind of shell - not garden grit. Shells have a high calcium content, required for good strong eggshells. I buy crushed oyster shells for grit for my girls - most pet shops, and even some of the old fashioned green-grocer type shops sell it in plastic bags. As also mentioned you can feed them egg shells but they must be thoroughly washed & dried before you crush them (this is to stop them getting a taste for egg!). Although the pellets or mash you buy has some grit in it, I have found that from time to time it's worth giving them a bit extra - especially when you're getting soft shells.

Best wishes

rowsew

Blast the blasting blasty wind. It is also killing things in my garden - cucumber plant and 2 butternuts have submitted under gale force 'breezes' so far, and the potato plants aren't looking terribly happy from their sideways postion either.
Is it summer yet? Could someone mention it to the weather gods, in case they've forgotten!

Moozle_2

Oh gosh, the wind had wrecked my dwarf runners as well. What a mischief! Lets all hope for a little better weather in the pipeline. It would be nice to have a bit of summer this year as last was so poor.

TheBees

Thanks Rhiwfield for the link to the aphid information. I'm not sure what they are but they're not doing much damage. Think I read on one website to spray them with diluted washing up liquid so I'll try that when I have 5 minutes.

The sun finally came out here for a few hours this afternoon. :j

ALIBOBSY

Yeah finally got some sun here as well. Was lovely to spend a couple of hours this afternoon out in the garden. Mind you had to fight my way through the mud lol.
Gonna get down and pray for a sunny weekend .

ali x

bevan840

I have this 'stuff' growing in my back yard and even IN the shed!!! Everytime I dig it up, more grows back. I've tried using weed killer and didn't work and got no more idea's on how to get rid of it Any idea's anyone?







The photo with the blue floor is in the shed! They look like mushrooms when you let them grown completely.

My current garden:


Blackberry plant


Carrots


My potatoes (Thank you Mum)


L-R. Beetroot, Broccoli, Rocket and Turnip. Really need to buy some pots for these to go in now but need to wait till I have enough money.


Pea's


Strawberries


One little mint! lol


Iceberg lettuce's. They're a bit droopy as they had just been watered.

ALIBOBSY

Wondered how ev1 is getting on. We had quite a nice mostly dry bank holiday weekend. This week we have had some showers and lots of sun, but fri sat and today have been boiling.

The garden is really blooming and we even tasted our first produce apart from herbs (lettuce and radishes).

Over the bank holiday OH and I managed to fit an outside tap so much easier to water the plants now.

ali x

Gigervamp

I got a bargain in Homebase at the weekend. I needed to get some compost and was looking at bags of 50 litres. There were various different types, but they all worked out at £10 for two bags. Then I noticed a sign for their own brand compost, bag of 120 litres for only £6.99, but the shelves were empty. We noticed two torn bags on the ground and the guy that was working there said we could have them half price as they were damaged. So I got 240 litres for less than I'd have paid for only 100! Result!

Picked up some strawberry plants and a cucumber plant in Lidls and a red gooseberry in Homebase. I also got around to planting some seeds; runner beans, salad leaves, carrots, radishes, courgette and red spring onions. Will have to see if I can keep the slugs off them!

ALIBOBSY

Nice bargain Giger. Might have a look in our local HB this weekend as need to go get some bark anyway and can always use compost.
Excited here, the garden is bursting into life. Got my first bean pods, havested a few radishes and some salad leaves. Loads of green strawberries getting ready to ripen up, and toms are covered in flowers hurrah.

We have decided to definately go for chickens after our holidays at the start of july (just the one week) and a friend of ours has kittens ready for homes, picking up a little bundle after school . Been and got the food and litter tray etc ready really excited. I love cats but hadn't had one since I lost my 2 girls (one each winter in 2006 and 2005), but DD1 (age 6) is desparate for a pet and DS (11) is so excited as well. DD2 (18 months) will go mad when it gets here.

My friend has said she will take the kitten back for one week whilst we are on holiday so all sorted.

Just need a goat and it will be the good life here rofl.

ali x