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

Thriftkitten

Just an update as I have been away for a week or 2, The birds are now coming to the feeding station, mainly blackbirds and magpies, but I don't care, any bird will do.... Just to sit and watch them enjoying it and knowing they will take some home to their young is satisfying.
I did germinate some aubretia and trailing lobelia which have popped up whilst we were away, they were put in about a month ago, I also did sweet peas, but none of them seem to of worked, not sure what I did wrong as they had the same start as the lobelia and aubretia in a little germination covered tray, hmmm will have to google it or if anyone knows how to start them from seeds, I'd be greatful, I unfortunatly lost my succulent, it did so well to be saved from the road after some thug had ripped it off the main branch, even flowered but I got caught short one night on a hard frost and it never recovered, oh well it's now joining all the succulents in the sky!! I purchased a beautiful climbing rose, a David Austin one called "Mortimer Sackler" its sooo pretty, however only a few twigs so I don't suppose it will give any flowers for a year or so, just need to find a huge pot and then train it to cover my bin shed attached to the front of my house as thats my most sunny area and will eventually decorate the front of the house beautifully.
I hope to see more posts here as I'm a learner in the gardening world, Although I have used my Mr T clubcard points as rewards to subscribe to gardeners world for a year and sooooo excited about receiving my first copy hahhah little things and all!!!!!
Happy potting everyone, looking forward to summer days tinkering away in the potting shed!:T

nannygladys

Hi everyone
Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but couldnt see anywhere else.
Anyway this morning I have been having a tidy and sorting old mags etc out and believe it or not I was looking at the Yellow Pages and it said there were money off vouchers in there,so in the new frugal way of living I went straight there and most of them dont apply to me, BUT there was a coupon for free 75 litres of compost from a local Garden Centre and also a free cup of tea and scone so tomorrow thats where I will be going as its up in the middle of March:)

So it may be worth all you lovelies out there having a look at the back of Yellow Pages to see what offers they have in your area

Jxx

Lotus-eater

nannygladys wrote: »

Hi everyone
Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but couldnt see anywhere else.
Anyway this morning I have been having a tidy and sorting old mags etc out and believe it or not I was looking at the Yellow Pages and it said there were money off vouchers in there,so in the new frugal way of living I went straight there and most of them dont apply to me, BUT there was a coupon for free 75 litres of compost from a local Garden Centre and also a free cup of tea and scone so tomorrow thats where I will be going as its up in the middle of March:)

So it may be worth all you lovelies out there having a look at the back of Yellow Pages to see what offers they have in your area

Jxx

Do'h! Throw mine out as soon as I get them. Next one, I'll look in it first

aliasojo

nannygladys wrote: »

Anyway this morning I have been having a tidy and sorting old mags etc out and believe it or not I was looking at the Yellow Pages and it said there were money off vouchers in there,so in the new frugal way of living I went straight there and most of them dont apply to me, BUT there was a coupon for free 75 litres of compost from a local Garden Centre and also a free cup of tea and scone so tomorrow thats where I will be going as its up in the middle of March:)

Mine was still in it's wrapping sat on the shelf where it's been for months.

Just opened it and there's 2 vouchers, one for a second carpet to be cleaned at 50% off and the other is for a free upgrade to heavy duty felt when you buy a shed.

I could really have used that compost.

Ken68

Been clearing the decks here, seed taters ready, will plant them Mid March probably. Just sowed some leeks and parsnips.
Light land so didn't dig it over, just a scuffle after clearing weeds.
My 40th year doing the same garden. Self sufficient in most fruit and veg. 2 Apple trees, 2 Plum, 2 Pear. Loads of runners every year. Plus the greenhouse and lawns.

radiohelen

Did some digging today. By the time I left there were loads of people beavering away. The soil is so warm! Properly nice to have your hands in. Then one of the oldies told me that snow is forecast for next week :eek: I've planted my garlic and I'm getting ready to put the beans in and the onions. If anyone knows of a good way of controlling twitch then you can have my life savings I've pulled so much out today it's silly and it's strong enough to use as bailer twine. I read in a Monty Don book that it doesn't like turnips. Anyone else heard this/tried it?

Lotus-eater

Lets take this one step at a time. Exactly how much are your life savings?

radiohelen

£6.78 at the last count. Is that enough?

Lotus-eater

radiohelen wrote: »

£6.78 at the last count. Is that enough?

I think I'd better let you keep it. Sounds like you need it more than me

You can try covering the beds up with something, then digging over to remove roots, then covering again, then digging over... etc.


What I find works well, is to go to a bed system and just keep each bed clear, it's hard work and you'll probably never get rid of it all. But it does work.

The better you condition your soil, the easier it is to dig up, so lots of manure!

radiohelen

I've got four big areas dug which kind of count as beds. The oldest two are pretty twitch free so I'm guessing the others will follow with cultivation. My lottie was left fallow for a couple of years and the twitch really got a hold! I managed to get two beds pretty clear but it was only about half the allotment and I got into trouble for not keeping it nice (oops). I nuked it with weedkiller before the winter set in and now I'm digging it over and pulling roots out as I go. The trouble is, it's coming back to life despite playing very convincing dead in the autumn.
The soil is pretty good for pulling it out - I've got no money for a load of manure and I don't know anyone to share one with (Oh and the bloke who delivers it squashed my gooseberry bush and my strawberry patch turning round! Grrrr!) There are huge piles of the stuff around the allotments and I know it's good for the ground but I'm not sure where else to get it. B&Q bags cost a fortune.