Help MBE grow his dinner 2011

emiff6

Put down a weed suppressant membrane, then paving stones, and build yourself a cold frame. Looks the perfect spot for one. The inspection cover would act like a radiator, too, soaking up the sun and giving the heat back in the evening. Oh, and while you're at it, lift the rest of your paving and get some membrane under that, too. (Just a little job...:))

Mrs_Veg_Plot

I vote for weed membrane then gravel and hey presto a nice sunny spot for your pots.

Have potted on the toms today as well as the beans. No signs of any basil as yet but the turnips have started poking through the soil.

Have just given the garden a good watering as its very dry. Shame that the water butts are empty.

point3

Random slabs to complement your existing ones, gravel and planting pockets in between like this:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3336139/Your-garden-this-week-cracking-paths.html

And some taller pots for next to the fence.

mrbadexample

kittie wrote: »

comfrey (bocking 14 )for your compost and spuds

I do want some comfrey (and I think I've just spotted some in a pot round my mate's house ) but I'm not sure I want to grow anything just there. I need access through the door, so all I've really got is the space between the compost bin and the end of the new fence panel - most of which is filled by the inspection chamber.

Another mate's given me some weed membrane and enough timber to edge the third bed (now done - photos tomorrow if I get chance), so I've enough to cover that bit and round the gooseberry bushes. I spent most of the afternoon in his garden, helping him construct raised beds and planters, so we've helped each other out nicely.

I quite like the idea of a cold frame there though - it does need to be moveable if the inspection cover needs lifting.

mrbadexample

emiff6 wrote: »

Oh, and while you're at it, lift the rest of your paving and get some membrane under that, too. (Just a little job...:))

Tell me about it. My house was previously owned by Mrs Bad-Taste and Mr Bodge-The-DIY. There is nothing that has been done properly. :mad:

My next clearance job is the patio. I'm not lifting it though, as I am considering an extension. But the other side is weed heaven, and I need to get stuck in. Photos soon to show you what I'm up against.

Strapped

mrbadexample wrote: »

I do want some comfrey (and I think I've just spotted some in a pot round my mate's house ) but I'm not sure I want to grow anything just there. I need access through the door, so all I've really got is the space between the compost bin and the end of the new fence panel - most of which is filled by the inspection chamber.

Another mate's given me some weed membrane and enough timber to edge the third bed (now done - photos tomorrow if I get chance), so I've enough to cover that bit and round the gooseberry bushes. I spent most of the afternoon in his garden, helping him construct raised beds and planters, so we've helped each other out nicely.

I quite like the idea of a cold frame there though - it does need to be moveable if the inspection cover needs lifting.

Good grief, if you lived nearer you could come and help yourself to as much comfrey as you could dig out of my back garden which is one big comfrey bed. (Warning: it spreads easily )

mrbadexample

Strapped wrote: »

Good grief, if you lived nearer you could come and help yourself to as much comfrey as you could dig out of my back garden which is one big comfrey bed. (Warning: it spreads easily )

I understand the bocking 14 variety does not self seed. Is it still invasive?

So where do you live? I might be passing by sometime.

cheekyweegit

Having just googled "comfrey" (not very good at this gardening malarky - unless it's thistles or dandelions - champion at these). You have just identified a plant which I thought was a mutant potato plant which I've had in my garden for years.

Blooming hard to get rid of and I too have just dug a load up, it's tubers it comes from and if I'd known, you could have had some from me too.

It's really pretty when in flower, mine has yellow flowers.

This is the one I have

Edited to say cheekyweegit is fair chuffed her image worked and note it's taken from another website and not her garden as it's dark outside in Dundee now.

Sambucus_Nigra

It shouldn't spread if it is Bocking 14 - the only way it would spread is if you kept digging it up as it propagates through root cuttings.

What you should do is to put it somewhere that will never be used for anything else; I have a section on my lottie which is nettley - so I have shoved my comfrey there and I cut it every 3-4 weeks during 6 months of the year; it hasn't gone anywhere else [although I have seen other varieties around, they have got there through other people's seed and I just dig those up, I just want my Bocking 14 and that's that]. I always leave one to flower as the bees go mad for it.

mrbadexample

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

What you should do is to put it somewhere that will never be used for anything else;

Would it do well in a great big pot, or planter? I'm starting to get a bit limited as to where I could put it out of the way.