The Potting Shed - come on in, the kettle's on!

Keiss_21

kittie wrote: »

wow

inspirational

http://www.allaboutallotments.com/index.html

Wow, what a lot of work he did in setting his plot up...but was worth it in the end, his general maintenance must be pretty low nowadays.

We have 1.2x2.4 beds too....but only 6 behind the greenhouse. Two have a walk-in friut cage over them. I have three blackcurrant bushes, one redcurrant bush, two blueberries (in pots) and loads of strawbs around the bushes in there. The rest I rotate my veg about.

DH has currently re-edged the narrow raised beds along the side of the garden. Now he is going to change 4 x 1.2 square beds infront of the greenhouse next. Three will be converted into an L shape, and the other we might gravel (or pave) over, and have some pots there. This will make it a much more useable space...here's hoping. The washing line was moved last weekend and looks great, it's now vertical and higher, so spins round more freely...also further away from the proposed veg-beds, so won't interferer with the plants there later in the season.

Right, off to do more potting up today, as well as seed sowing. Also want to get my boys out in the garden to do some weeding. I got a tooth out yesterday, so I still feel a bit weird when I bend forward too much.

Have a great day...enjoy the sunshine. I think if you don't have the sun yet, you should do by this afternoon.

angelavdavis

I have just been up to the plot to water in some new seedlings, throw a couple of cloches over some newly planted courgettes that I naughtily planted in the border yesterday and shut the window in the greenhouse as the temperature is dropping tonight.

I hastily wrapped some fleece around the canes surrounding the newly planted peas but I suspect the wind will do its best - I forgot the clothes pegs!

Hubby and I spent yesterday at the plot. We planted peas, beetroot, spinach, chard, spring onions, lettuce, pak choi and herbs. I planted some okra in the greenhouse and succumbed to the temptation and planted two courgettes into the gaps left by the broad beans that didn't survive winter. Planted the first of the calendula companion plants to edge the beds.

I think the temperature is dropping to about 7 degrees here tonight, so not freezing, but it is better safe than sorry I guess!

I have stacks to pot on in the conservatory.

Anyone else been busy in the sunshine?

Dustykitten

Just thought I'd drop by and see who's doing what.

We have finished the pond now and put in the pond plants, just need to plant around the edges, really need some rain to top the pond up.

My dahlias are all ready to plant out and give away to friends as just about every one I potted up (probably 30) has grown.

I've transplanted out my beans and acorn squash, still a couple of orange squash to find homes for and toms and corn still indoors. I any tips on using grobags for toms. I've always grown mine in the ground but have had blight in the front garden the past couple of years so want to try them in the back. How many plants per bag? They look very shallow, does it matter which I get? What about staking?

Hoping for some rain soon here as the soil is so dry.

[Deleted User]

I hate this constant wind, is anyone else so windy? I think we get the wind from over the bristol channel and it just doesn`t let up sometimes

Courgettes and sqashes went out last week and are settled now, looking fine but I made a windbreak down one side this morning, just canes and builders mesh.

jenie_2

kittie wrote: »

I hate this constant wind, is anyone else so windy? I think we get the wind from over the bristol channel and it just doesn`t let up sometimes

Courgettes and sqashes went out last week and are settled now, looking fine but I made a windbreak down one side this morning, just canes and builders mesh.

We are almost constantly windy here kittie, but we are very close to the river Humber/North sea and I tend to blame that, don't know if i'm right though . I bought a cute little acer a cpl of weeks ago and it was starting to look a bit battered so i've moved it to a more sheltered spot in the garden (its in a pot).

My veg, all in containers and grow bags are in a sheltered spot between the garden shed and the house wall, are all growing nicely, got my first few peas showing on my meteor plants, tomatoes (tumbling toms) are all about a foot high and runner beans are climbing nicely up the canes. I've also got a few radishes ready which i'm going to pull for tea, so i'm looking forward to tasting them.:D

Keiss_21

Dustykitten wrote: »

Just thought I'd drop by and see who's doing what.

We have finished the pond now and put in the pond plants, just need to plant around the edges, really need some rain to top the pond up.

My dahlias are all ready to plant out and give away to friends as just about every one I potted up (probably 30) has grown.

I've transplanted out my beans and acorn squash, still a couple of orange squash to find homes for and toms and corn still indoors. I any tips on using grobags for toms. I've always grown mine in the ground but have had blight in the front garden the past couple of years so want to try them in the back. How many plants per bag? They look very shallow, does it matter which I get? What about staking?

Hoping for some rain soon here as the soil is so dry.

Dustykitten - well done on doing so well with your veg, though keep an eye out for possible low temps overnight, and have some fleece standing by to cover them if need be.

I grown all my toms in the greenhouse in growbags. I use the bigger ones, planters they are sometimes called. This year I am only growing two per bag, I usually have three, but last year I had a couple with only two per bag, and the plants were much better. So this year I will have "only" 12 toms, rather than 18 in the greenhouse. I also use grow pots on top of the grow-bags, they give an extra amount of soil for the plant, and makes watering easier. I did try cutting a growbag in half lengthwise and stood them up as big pots, but wasn't too happy with this method, they kept toppling over, and were too high for my drip-watering system to work effectively.

Also, if you have had blight, the very small fruited toms seem to be more blight resistant. I plan on putting Matt's Wild Cherry and Estonian Yellow Cherry outside...they ramble a bit, so can take up too much room in the greenhouse. They both seem to love being outside...might have to use growbags, rather than the ground, as filling up the garden fast!!

If you are planting in the ground, or have other plants that are needing lots of watering atm, then "plant" a 5" pot, a piece of pipe, or a 2L bottle with the bottom cut off and the lid removed about 6inches away from the plant. You can them pour the water into it, so the water goes direct to the roots and doesn't run off or evaporate.

I've potted up loads of plants this morning, off to do weeding this afternoon and supervise DH setting up wires to train my apples into cordons....getting excited about this! Have always wanted apple trees in the back, cordons are the way to go as the garden is only 20 feet wide, but 200 feet long!!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Lotus-eater

Keiss_21 wrote: »

I plan on putting Matt's Wild Cherry

Have you grown those before? I am growing them for the first time. I was planning growing them as a cordon, as that's what the packet said do. How do you grow yours then, as a bush?

Dustykitten

Keiss thanks for the tips. What is the best way to stake in a growbag if our side? Where I had planed to put them there is no wall behind for support.

Today I have been removing forget-me-nots, hundreds of them as they are starting get mildew and to try to limit the self seeding for next year. Also prunned the rhodi and did some more work on the front hedge renovation - do not worry bird loves it was being done by hand I know there are no nests in this bit.

Blue tits in the wall cavity are starting to be a bit of a burden. I keep having to bring our young male cat in as he is setting them off squarking. Trouble is he then goes into the bathroom and sits listening to them from the other side of the wall. They are so busy feeding the young that I have put up a suet ball for them today as a bit of extra energy.

mutley74

any advice for young sunflowers? i planted some young sunflowers from seedling sout,there were about 10" high. But after a few days one had numerous ants all over and leaves had wilted all over, whereas another was okay. Any reason why sunflowers are so sensitive when planted out?

[Deleted User]

my cucs were harbouring a few aphids today so I have sprayed them with insecticidal soap

http://www.organiccatalogue.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=61_181&products_id=550

it is quite economical to use as it is diluted 1:50 and I only used 5ml. It worked brilliantly on the broad bean blackflies last week

How do you all cope with gardeners nails. My cuticles are raw and bitty, in spite of using gloves most of the time. I think it is to do with scrubbing my nails several times a day