Help MBE grow his dinner 2011

mrbadexample

Today I have repotted the gherkins, and isolated 12 cauliflower seedlings from the tub. I've filled in a few holes where parsnip & carrot germination was a bit sparse.

I've repotted 16 tomatoes into flower buckets - two of each variety I'm growing this year. I'm going to have about 6 in the greenhouse and the rest outside along the fence.

It's a race against time for the radishes on top of the spuds. They are swelling, and I might get a few if I hold off earthing up for another couple of days. They are being pushed out of the way though.

I have a greenfly population approaching plague proportions.

I have removed two more lots of cat faeces, despite the fence spikes; one from my spuds and one from my onions. My next project will be an electric fence. This is one battle that the cats are going to lose. :mad:

I had a look at some preformed pond liners yesterday - think I should be able to get one for about £40-50. The only problem might be a large tree dumping huge amounts of stuff into it. It's a couple of gardens away, but the leaves, flowers, seeds etc all get blown into my garden. The greenhouse guttering is full of it. I don't want a choked pond.

I have also sown my giant sunflower seeds.

LilacPixie

what did you isolate your caulis into?? I have a load in a seed tray that need seperated but i have no idea what to use, earth or some paper pots?

Sambucus_Nigra

Lilac....I pr1ck out my brassicas into a different seed tray - about 2 inches between each, and leave them until they have 3-4 true leaves; and then they go into their final positions in the allotment. To separate, I take out a bunch with a spoon and just lift them gently with the seed leaves. It works really really well that way.

LilacPixie

Thanks sambucus... first real allotment year for me and first attempt at cauli. I have seeded up some all year around 3 weeks ago and now some snowball and some purple cape. Next year i fancy 'cheddar' i think.

mrbadexample

I've put them into individual 3" pots. I need them to get big enough to cope with lots of straw.

annie123

mrbadexample wrote: »

I have a greenfly population approaching plague proportions.

You and me both, this has been one of the worst years for it for me, the ladybirds that over wintered in my kitchen aren't interested, nor are the many birds who visit, but they are interested in eating all my baby cherries off my tree:mad:

A pond net (99p from the 99p store) keeps the leaves out.
I net my pond in September, held down with tent pegs (from the same store;)) remove leaves as they build up and remove net at the beginning of Feb so the frogs can start mating.

chicken wire or netting over the spuds will keep the cats off till the leaves are through. I have 5 cats visit my garden none of which are mine:mad:

mrbadexample

I had the fox in last night too. Damage to spuds, radishes and parsnips. :mad:

I am going to make an electric fence. I will not be beaten. :mad:

mrbadexample

I've had a team of sparrows helping me with my greenfly problem, hopping all over the beds and devouring the blighters.

If I net the beds to stop cats and foxes, the birds can't get in to help out.

lemonjelly

I have done very little. I have allowed the massive volumes of rain to do their job - I am hoping that the carrots & beetroot will now come forth!

My greenhouse is full, but owing to other commitments I haven't had time to get canes, so still haven't planted out my beans & peas. Next weekend though...

Rain forecast every day this week pretty much.

Massive hailstones here today!

annie123

what ever happened to sharing?, send some rain down south preferable to London