How to Get Through The Tough Times The Old Style Way.

Hippeechiq

jackieglasgow wrote: »

hippeechiq I raised my potatoes in those bags the year before last and had a bumper crop, last year I used those bendy buckets but the cros was not as good, whether it was just a coincidence or not I don't know. I used black bags and the bags which the compost came in, inside them too, to keep them as dark as possible as I was told this would help.

Sorry Jackie - do you mean the H0mebase grow bags, or the Te$cos carrier bags?

jackieglasgow

Sorry the Tesco bags, we must have been typing at the same time. I had two particular potato plants (Orla and Arran variety from memory I think) which took off very well, and I cut the bottom out of a second bag and slipped in down on top of the frist one and stuck it with c
Duck tape to make a deeper planter. The other varieties were OK in a single height bag.

blackandwhitebunny

Someone mentioned something about adding more soil to the potatoes as they grow foliage? how much do you add?[/QUOTE]

I don't have enough space to grow loads of potatoes but do a few in buckets which we use for salads. I put about 2 inches of compost in the bottom of a flower bucket add a potato (usually a sprouty one that got forgotten in the bag) and cover with another 2 inches of compost. When the leaves come through I add more compost to cover them again and keep doing this until I reach the top of the bucket and then leave until the plant flowers or I decide they're ready.
As a child in SA we used to grow potatoes in car tires the same way, adding another tire each time till it was nearly as tall as we were. To harvest the potatoes you kicked it over:D
If you're in a really frugal mood you can grow potatoes just from the peelings.:)
Hippychiq - if you take a grow bag and bend it over in the middle with half the compost on each side of the bend and then cut it in half, you have two mini planting bags that are deeper than using the growbag flat. I used to put a tomato or chilli plant in each half.

Hippeechiq

Lol - I think we were, but thanks for clarifying Jackie
Clever idea of cutting the bottom out of one bag to double the depth for your potatoes. If I'm successful this year, I'd like to try potatoes next year, but as it is, I'm a bit overwhelmed (although very grateful to my Dad) at having 24 plants to look after at my first attempt!

blackandwhitebunny wrote: »

Hippychiq - if you take a grow bag and bend it over in the middle with half the compost on each side of the bend and then cut it in half, you have two mini planting bags that are deeper than using the growbag flat. I used to put a tomato or chilli plant in each half.

Oh right - well that's excellent! I've got loads of choices now then :T Thank you

Frugalista

:idea: Hippeechiq have you any boarding kennels nearby (or know any dog breeders)?

We have dozens of empty, very strong, plastic sacks from all the dog food each week. I would imagine they would be ideal for growing stuff in. I empty at least two sacks a week and OH has used them for taking rubble and other heavy waste to the tip.

How moneysaving is that, LOL :money: .

[Deleted User]

I just got this from the gardening thread. There is a sneaky move afoot to get rid of present or future council allotments. A petition has been started against the move so please send it around as many as you can, even if you have no personal interest in an allotment at present. Big society!! my foot

http://www.petitions24.com/keep_the_obligation_to_provide_allotments_for_those_who_need_them

maryb

EEEEWWWW

I saw something NAAAASSSTTYYY , not in the woodshed, but in the bottom of the fridge. Normally I am fanatic about composting but that just got decent burial straight in the bin. 'Sfunny but I just didn't fancy disentangling the plastic from the slime

However you will be proud of me - I used bicarb of soda to wash down the fridge and get rid of the smell. Aren't I the Old Style One?

Anyway now I have put away the shopping I must hie meself up to the allotment and water everything. Back is almost completely better now, thanks for all the good wishes

bertiebots

I am starting to worry that I have missed the whole veg growing boat this year..as the sun has hardened the earth in my raised beds to concrete like un-diggableness . I haven't planted any seeds direct (never mind in pots). I am actually hoping for a bit of rain so I can get some salad planted in the next few weeks so I can at least have some home grown lettuce.
Unfortunatley my kneck/back doesnt like the hard labour that is sorting out rock hard ground so unless I am willing to loose a few days (being unable to move my head) I will just have to wait! I just wasnt prepared for this wonderful early hot weather

floss2

kittie wrote: »

I just got this from the gardening thread. There is a sneaky move afoot to get rid of present or future council allotments. A petition has been started against the move so please send it around as many as you can, even if you have no personal interest in an allotment at present. Big society!! my foot

http://www.petitions24.com/keep_the_obligation_to_provide_allotments_for_those_who_need_them

Sorry Kittie, but with no information as to who has started it and whether the Federation are supporting this, I won't sign. Will happily sign if it has their name at the top though!

ginnyknit

Bertie bots if you have deep window ledges you can grow cut and come again salad leaves on there, much cheaper than resorting to shop bought and you won't hurt yourself.

hippicheeq, you can grow in absoltely anything that drains and holds soil. Old tyres stacked up, poundshops do lots of cheap planters that will fit a couple of plants in, I even use Dgs 's old baby bath with the plug out. Is there any waste land near you? you can sometimes find old buckets with a crack in - perfectly useable. Old waste paper bins lined with a bin bag. As someone said the leaves cover the buckets and if you arrange them with the nicest pots at the front no one will see.

Well finished Dgs's birthday card, Beatrix Potter quilted cushion and just have to paint the edge of a frame from Dunelm, pop the pics in and his first birthday pressies are ready. In between taking Oh to doctors, nurses and psychologists this week I have finally planted out some seedlings. i think so far I have saved about 15 pounds on compost by using my own and my leaf compost! Am pleased with that total. i have only spent 4 pounds on growbags and all the seed apart from some cute squash seed is from last year. So my expenditure to date is 5.18p :T

Maryb very proud of you - true O/S style