Rocket Gardens?

cootambear

lostinrates wrote: »

Part of the whole fun of it is seeing a plant where you put a seed. Also, its much more affordable. Buying plants simply to grow bigger will probably cost you as much as buying veg in shops.

Even experienced gardener's make mistakes, so don't feel a flop when things don't go to plan.

Only a tiny fraction of the seeds wild plants produce ever make it. Even a novice will do much better.

Lotus-eater

lostinrates wrote: »

Part of the whole fun of it is seeing a plant where you put a seed. Also, its much more affordable. Buying plants simply to grow bigger will probably cost you as much as buying veg in shops.

Even experienced gardener's make mistakes, so don't feel a flop when things don't go to plan.

Yes, that's absolutely right. Many people start off alot of seeds in pots and transplant, gives them a better chance of surviving.
I would write down what you are thinking of growing and research each one by one. Have a look at http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/index.php for a good knowledge base and ongoing advice.
Make a sowing chart, of when you want to sow things, fill it in bit by bit as you go along and find out new things.

Take each bit of your garden slowly and as someone else said, don't go digging up anything without knowing what it is.
You've got an amazing chance to keep an established veg garden going, don't waste it!

Seakay

woodash is good for soil, coal ash is good for gritting paths.
I agree that you should not dig anything up and throw it away before you have identified it. This is true for all areas of a garden generally and means that with a mature garden you wil probably do maintenence and identifying for the first year, during which time you can also make a note of where the sun shines the most etc.
As stuff comes up/fruits find out what it is and if you like it or want to keep it.
By next year you witll have load of information and a good plan of your garden and how much space needs something planting in it.

Clytemnestra

Is there any chance you can get in touch with the previous owners and ask them questions about the garden? I know it's not conventional, but it sounds like they were very keen gardeners, and would probably be pleased that you want to keep the garden going.:)

Tulip09

I cant contact the previous owners but i have spoken to the neighbour who were there friends and i should have asparagus popping up that a few people in the village seem to think they can just appear in my garden and dig up:eek: which seems to be a 'normal' thing round here. The asparagus bit is apparently near the garage at the back. I thought it was a huge wild area!! That will explain some woman stripping the damson trees & cooking apples with her own bucket the day we moved in!! Im not a 'country' person and i guess this is normal and will have to get used to it.

ceridwen

NO - Do NOT "get used to it".

Any arrangements that the previous owner had with neighbours are nothing to do with you. Its a "clean slate" now that someone else (ie you) has bought the house. If people wanted to continue with an arrangement the previous owner had then they should have come and knocked on your door and introduced themselves with a small "welcome gift" and asked if it was okay with you to continue with the arrangement. Unless specifically told an arrangement continues by yourself - then the default setting is that it DOESNT do so.

I would let it be known all round "NEW owner in residence" and that is sufficient for everyone to realise that previous arrangements are now "revoked".

If you see any sign of someone trying to help themselves to your produce - then it would probably be best to go up to them and say "Hi - I'm the new owner. I guess you didnt know the house had been sold. Did you have some sort of "barter" arrangement with the previous owners - whereby you took x (ie whatever it is they are trying to help themselves to) and in return you gave them something for it?".

hopefully - they will just look embarrassed and apologise profusely for not realising the house has a new owner and say "yes - I gave them so-and-so in return for taking this". At that point you can then either say "Well thats fine by me - shall we continue the arrangement?:)" or "I would prefer not to do that - thanks all the same - but I've got other plans:)". If you make response no. 1 - then you've got yourself a good barter arrangement set up with no effort on your part. If its response no. 2 then you are entitled to expect them to keep off your land in future and tell them off for trespassing if they come on again.

I would personally make response no. 1 and leave existing arrangements in place. BUT people have no right to just assume that things continue as normal (particularly if they are only taking - and werent planning on giving you anything for your produce).

I would certainly go round specifically and knock on the door of the woman you saw helping herself to YOUR fruit on the day you moved in. It was obvious to her that its a new owner now in the circumstances - so I would knock and say (pleasantly) "Excuse me - I noticed you taking fruit from my trees on the day I moved in. Can I ask why you were doing that? I dont know if you had some arrangement with the previous owner saying that was okay - so I just thought I'd tell you I'M the owner now. So - was there some sort of barter arrangement you had with the previous owner?........." (and continue with conversation as per previously suggested re those helping themselves).

EDIT: Re the asparagus patch - I would keep it if I wanted asparagus myself (which I do) - provided the would-be "takers" gave me something I wanted in exchange for the surplus at some point. If I didnt want asparagus myself - then I would remove it - no point in having a large patch of one's garden growing stuff you don't require yourself.

cootambear

Tulip09 wrote: »

I cant contact the previous owners but i have spoken to the neighbour who were there friends and i should have asparagus popping up that a few people in the village seem to think they can just appear in my garden and dig up:eek: which seems to be a 'normal' thing round here. The asparagus bit is apparently near the garage at the back. I thought it was a huge wild area!! That will explain some woman stripping the damson trees & cooking apples with her own bucket the day we moved in!! Im not a 'country' person and i guess this is normal and will have to get used to it.

Tell them that this practice is fine, and you will be popping round the next day to their driveway to take that car of theirs that you fancy.

cootambear

Up to you but I would think its best to make clear all previous arrangements are off. This gives you time to find your feet gardening wise, and to know what you want to keep and what to trade.

BTW, all standard housing sale contracts have a clause that states who owns garden produce. This means you, unless it was altered, though your conveyancer would have alerted you to this.

Linda32

Hi,

Its like you have a pretty good fruit and veg patch there, its just that, thats the way it looks in the winter.

The strawberries and fruit bushes will be fine. Asparagus is a great plant to have as well. :T

As for the neighbors, get that knocked on the head ASAP, as others have said. Its not normal practice anywhere as far as I'm concerned.
Wait and see if anyone turns up, then go out and ask them clamly what exactly they are doing, and see what the answer is.

cootambear

Absolutely, and you dont have to excuse yourself either. If they question you, you can say `thats the way I`m going to do it`.