Its tough, it will get better and guess what its freezing brrrrr!

NualaBuala

:rotfl:at mardatha and ginny doing their guerilla style shopping!

Hippeechiq

mambury wrote: »

Call me a cynic but I can see ALL food prices rising as supermarkets using the VAT rise to hide their own price hikes.....

Cynic no. 2 here.....there will be no escaping it.

maryb

Hippeechiq wrote: »

Cynic no. 2 here.....there will be no escaping it.

They won't wait until January - prices will go up very soon so they can be 'reduced' for Christmas and then for a 'we'll pay your VAT' promotion

Cynical is another word for realistic where supermarkets are concerned

Lindy_-_Loo

Ive been very good toay and sewed two slits I suppose you would call them in DS1 lunch bag. Being in school reading today with his class, I discovered that the lunchbags are just thrown in a tub!

A few months ago I would have bought a new lunchbag rather that repair it - u can see the stitching but Im not good at stitching so its better than I hoped!

Very tired this week, DS2 is not napping as hes over tired from pre school, therefore he doesnt eat tea and 3 walks to and from school since wednesday has tired me out. OH off tomorow and wednesday - he knows he has to pick up the slack now Im helping at school. We are going through our 7 year itch and although I could cope without him, the boys wouldnt be happy. Guess weve both taken each other for granted and grown apart slightly aaron is 5 years old and we havent had a night out together as even though we have large families no one helps.

Enough moaning - busy day again tomorow, 12 loaves of toast to do for the first time without a 3 year old then quick 45 min dash to the bank and xmas shopping if I cant persuade OH to do it once hes finished the list of chores I shall be leaving him

Nargleblast

Just caught up with the new thread.

Sammykaye, I don't know you but I have built up a picture of a young woman who has been through difficult times but who has always tried to do her best and has survived by sheer hard work and strength of mind. There are lots and lots of people reading this thread who are sending you lots of love and positive vibes. I hope you and OH work things out, but if not then que sera, sera. You will survive, whatever happens, and your children will cope with whatever is around the corner because they have you as their role model and protector.

Tough times indeed.

Hippeechiq

dreaming wrote: »

When I was looking around for suitable (cheap) containers I realised those rectangular storage boxes (about 15 ins x 10 ins and 8 ins deep)were ideal, and picked some up in a supermarket (or Wilkinsons - can't quite remember). They were something like 4 for £2.50, and I managed to grow some good toms. in them - 2 plants to a box. This year I used them for peppers and chillies, although they spread a bit more than the toms. so I split them out into 1 plant per box. Just line them with a plastic bag with a few holes in.
I've also used old buckets where the base had split (ok with a plastic bag liner) .

Thank you for that idea dreaming, I think I know the ones you mean. They sound like a fab idea. I particularly like the idea of them (or buckets) matching.....I'm a bit on the OCD side when it comes to things like that......I even work out what order to hang my washing out, so that it's all colour co-ordinated on the line!

I'd like to say that was a joke, but it's not. Sometimes I think to myself, "get a grip woman! does it really matter?!" and hang it out any-old-how, only to find 5 minutes later, that yes, it really does matter, and re-peg it so that it's co-ordinated...........goodness knows what the neighbours think! :rotfl:

Having discussed this with you and ChocClare, I'm pleased that you've enlightened me to the fact that I don't have to splash out on some expensive containers from H0mebase or the like, but can grow things in just about any container.......provided they match of course

Sorry to be dense, but why do you line the containers/boxes/buckets with a bag/liner with holes in?

I understand the plants need drainage, but when watered, or when it rained, would the water not then seep through the holes in the plastic bag/liner and stagnate in the bottom of the plastic box? Or do you drill holes in that too? and if so, then why the plastic liner? .......sorry for all the questions but I really am a total novice

charlies-aunt

NualaBuala wrote: »

I'm DELIGHTED to see you back Ceridwen! Great advice too!

:j :j Me too! :j :j

Fruball

I've successfully grown stuff in builders buckets from B&Q £1 each Other than those, I use recycling plastic boxes, growbags, ice cream tubs, hanging baskets (tomatoes) etc. Love the idea of using old olive oil tins from restaurants... They would look really good - as would all food container type things IMO... Must try to find some

Carrots are better grown in containers as carrotfly flies beneath 18 inches, so if the top of your container is higher than that, mr carrotfly can't get at them

mambury

try Morrisons (if you have one nearby) they sell the plastic buckets the flowers come in for 99p for 8!!! A little drilling and bobs you uncle, 8 very cheap , matching and very servicable large pots!! Mine will probably do a few years worth of growing.... great size for toms!!

HTH

Mambury

charlies-aunt

Hippeechiq wrote: »

I understand the plants need drainage, but when watered, or when it rained, would the water not then seep through the holes in the plastic bag/liner and stagnate in the bottom of the plastic box? Or do you drill holes in that too? and if so, then why the plastic liner? .......sorry for all the questions but I really am a total novice

Hippeechiq - try using a hot skewer to make the holes - an old metal skewers heats up to red hot in second using a low light on a gas ring and stays hot for long enough to make 2 or 3 holes. Plastic is tough but can be brittle too and its easy to split it if you try to drill holes

Rather than making holes in the base - try positioning them around the sides - about 2 inches from the base - that way you still ge a reservoir of water at the bottom which will encourage the plant to put roots right down to the bottom of the pot and anchor itself better and any surplus water will run off rather than gathering and turning stagnant.