Living in the midlands and wondering what you're doing now!!

heynonnynonny

I did a silly thing today and planted out some stuff earlier, should have waited til the forecast cold/snow has gone but will get a fleece to throw over. Bought a pack of little alpine plants last sunday quite randomly and was desperate to put them out, no order really, the only bit of good planting area is a 2 by 2 metre brick built bed thing but not brave enough do veg in it yet so sourced a planting plan -

At the back, a 'shrubby veronica' hebe and a 'harts tongue' fern which looked plain scary when it got delivered the other day (it had eyes :eek:) , some cranesbill 'brookside' in between then some viola to scatter in between, put the rockery plants at the front to drape down over the front of the bed, interesting little things.

Can't wait see what happens, no idea how anything will do - never had a garden before (first bought house with OH) so very little experience of any sorts of plants but completely into it now and loving reading everyones plans on this thread, keep up the good work

Kimitatsu

The upshot of the frosts we are all about to have though this week is it will do the garlic the wold of good. I was late getting garlic in this year, but the frost apparently helps them, so although my window sills are still groaning thats what I am telling myself lol!

If you have some fleece then potatoes etc should be fine, I have kept the seedlings back this year, as my gardenener was telling me that the winter has been so bad that even nurseries have extended their season to deliver out to the end of April - normally they wont supply after the end of March due to the number of failures they get, so I am going to root around for some more fruit trees and bushes.

Still seems weird though I was out in flip flops this weekend, and boots are coming out again tomorrow :eek:

tattonlady

I garden in the High Peak in Derbyshire .Cold and windy!!
At the beginning of March I planted chitted potatoes under fleece and peas,garlic ,onions and carrots in a raised bed,also covered with fleece!The tomatoes on various window sills are growing slowly !
Yesterday I planted summer bulbs and put liquid seaweed on raspberry,blackberry and strawberry plants. It was a lovely bright day, I can't wait to get out in the new garden !!Sorry if I sound a pain,don't intend to!!!!

Megansmum

just been on the following site and found out my predicted last frost is Mid May here in Derby.

Check it out, you can put your town in and it tells you your frost dates and has calenders for fruit and veg, when to sow, plant out, harvest etc all for your local area!

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/veg_planner.asp

Hope that helps someone else. I've printed them out, I want to buy a laminator now though!!

zarazara

I've planted the shallotts and have potatoes chitting on the windowsill,i have also weeded and hoed the veg plot. i am not planting any seeds yet,will leave til mid April and if its still wet and cold will leave later.

heynonnynonny

Megansmum wrote: »

just been on the following site and found out my predicted last frost is Mid May here in Derby.

Check it out, you can put your town in and it tells you your frost dates and has calenders for fruit and veg, when to sow, plant out, harvest etc all for your local area!

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/veg_planner.asp

Hope that helps someone else. I've printed them out, I want to buy a laminator now though!!

That's very good and all the information you need on one chart thank you x

Early May for Stoke

Needhelpsaving

Hi,

I'm in Birmingham, I am trying a veg patch for the first time. I already have some potatoes out and will plant some more in about 3-4 weeks. I have salad leaves and little gem lettuce going strong. I also have tomato seeds on the go, but they are a bit slower.

I have plenty still to plant (leeks, onion sets, carrotts, butternut squash and broccoli).

Would be greatful on any tips from more experienced gardeners!!!

Laura x

Steel_2

Its supposed to be quite cold tonight and I'm going to go and fleece some of my salad seedlings in a raised bed. I'm looking round the garden and thinking maybe I need to do some others?

I'm looking at the clematises, tree peony, dicentras etc..

Steel_2

Needhelpsaving wrote: »

Hi,

I'm in Birmingham, I am trying a veg patch for the first time. I already have some potatoes out and will plant some more in about 3-4 weeks. I have salad leaves and little gem lettuce going strong. I also have tomato seeds on the go, but they are a bit slower.

I have plenty still to plant (leeks, onion sets, carrotts, butternut squash and broccoli).

Would be greatful on any tips from more experienced gardeners!!!

Laura x

Is anything outside and vulnerable to frosts? If so, you might want to cover them over tonight just in case. I've just been outside and the temperature has dropped noticeably since I was out this morning. I'm in Northampton and the temperature is predicted to drop to 1 degree tonight but I'm taking no chances.

Needhelpsaving

Steel wrote: »

Is anything outside and vulnerable to frosts? If so, you might want to cover them over tonight just in case. I've just been outside and the temperature has dropped noticeably since I was out this morning. I'm in Northampton and the temperature is predicted to drop to 1 degree tonight but I'm taking no chances.

Thanks for the tip, but mine have not got any further than the kitchen windowsill. I wanted to wait until Mid-late April before them going out.

Ps, has anyone grown butternut squash before - does it griow across the ground or upwards???