Help MBE grow his dinner 2011

Mrs_Veg_Plot

MBE how is the cat situation going?

OH is just raising a net cage over veg plot 2 as up till now we just laid the net over the soil to stop the cats using it but have checked it out today and carrotts and beetroot are sprouting.
Plot 3 arrived last night, have filled it with a layer of partially composted leaves followed by some top soil and topped off with some compost. Will put some net over this one to stop the cats using it. Just need to plan what to put in it now. It was going to be a strawberry bed but I have so many seedlings that the strawberry bed might have to wait until next year.


Spring onions now sprouting in plot 1 next to the raddish. I started the broad beans off in pots in the greenhouse then put them in plot 1. They have loads of flowers on them now. I have also planted some atraoght into the soil inbetween the plants and these are shooting now as well.

I planted a goosberry bush last year and I am amazed at how quickly the gooseberries are growing this year. I can not wait for my first gooseberry crumble.

mrbadexample

Mrs_Veg_Plot wrote: »

MBE how is the cat situation going?

I've only seen the one today.

Operation Spiky Fence is nearly complete - but I've run out of spikes. I would probably have had almost exactly the right amount if I hadn't done the one panel into the neighbours' gardens at the back. I've got 1½ panels to do.

So, how about a few photos of your stuff then, eh?

mrbadexample

Spiky fence:





New side thingy:





(actually just new doors and roof on existing sound framework; felt and flashing tomorrow, hopefully.)

Including the spikes, this has cost me about £525 (neighbour paid half the cost of the fence). I would like the end of the month and payday to hurry along now, as I'm skint.

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Side thingy looks great. This was someting we planned to do when we first moved to this house 10yrs ago (it's not happened yet).

Will ask DD to take some pictures tomorrow, but the plots will look empty as the seedlings are only just beginning to show.

Worked hard in the garden today and fire up a well earned BBQ only to have the heavens open. The garden is getting a well earned water and as we are on a meter (plus both water butts are empty) I quite pleased really.

Something ate one of my cucumber seedlings in the greenhouse last night so they have had a liberal sprinkling of crushed up egg shells today. I have not tried this method before so will let you know if it works.

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Can not get pictures on here for some reason despit 14 and 17yr old helping. Will try again later. Off to start painting the fence now.

By the way the egg shells seemed to have worked on the cucumber seedlings. Found a huge snail in with the french beans. It is now a deceased snail. There is also a huge amount of ants in the greenhouse. I'm not sure it this is a problem or not. One of the cpmopst bind is currently home to a large collection of ants as well.

Sally_A

Ants in the compost are a bonus in my book, I chuck rock hard clods of clay in the compost bin, and they break them down a treat, and as I'm now starting the bins off again for next years soil prep they will be a real help, leave the lid slightly ajar in July for flying ant day, and they should be mostly gone by the time you come to use the compost in Autumn 2011.

mrbadexample

Well, for the first time in ages, rain has actually stopped play.

Which is actually a bit of a problem because the builder can't fit the flashing, and I can't paint a coat of sealant onto the new doors.

Garden desperately needs it though, so it's no bad thing.

mrbadexample

The nearest it's been to weed-free since I've lived here:





I'm quite tired now.

Mrs_Veg_Plot

MBE how do you get your pictures on the thread?

Impressed by the weeding by the way.

mrbadexample

Mrs_Veg_Plot wrote: »

MBE how do you get your pictures on the thread?

Impressed by the weeding by the way.

I upload them to Photobucket (other file host sites are available), and then post the am winning, aren't I?