I'm eating out of the freezer and cupboards challenge

VfM4meplse

Kirri - some advice plse. How do you keep vermin away from your produce? I would love to grow strawberries and cherry tomatoes but am seriously worried about encouraging rats, squirrels and foxes - all of which I know exist here. Do you think that growing them in hanging baskets will make the slightest difference? What put me off previously was coming back home in the evenings to a step-full of red birdy-poo and fruits pecked to the nth degree.

I posted something similar on the greenfingered forum, slugs seemed to be more of a concern - well I can deal with that. I can't bear the thought of creating a rat problem though (bearing in mind I live in London).

Kirri

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Kirri - some advice plse. How do you keep vermin away from your produce? I would love to grow strawberries and cherry tomatoes but am seriously worried about encouraging rats, squirrels and foxes - all of which I know exist here. Do you think that growing them in hanging baskets will make the slightest difference? What put me off previously was coming back home in the evenings to a step-full of red birdy-poo and fruits pecked to the nth degree.

I posted something similar on the greenfingered forum, slugs seemed to be more of a concern - well I can deal with that. I can't bear the thought of creating a rat problem though (bearing in mind I live in London).

The foxes go across the plot all the time judging by the footprints and poo! But don't think the foxes really eat much there. Even the birds haven't eaten the strawberries most years, though last year in the really dry spell they did start to eat more so did have to cover them up then - I don't like the stringy netting though as the birds can get caught in that but the more mesh like stuff is safe. There are squirrels on the allotment but again don't seem to eat much, they do bury a lot of acorns though as I've dug them up this week.. the main problems is the pigeons eating the brassicas so that is the only thing that I really have to protect and loads of slugs but I won't use slug pellets due to the chemicals. Have seen rats there and had a mouse in the shed all winter but again no noticeable damage from them. Have had sparrows eating the chard but only in Spring. There is a cherry tomato designed for hanging baskets, tumbling tom or something?? but I have tomato plants on the allotment and my parents have most of them in their greenhouse but both seem ok, more risk of blight than of having them eaten when outside. I have so many strawberries though there is probably enough if the birds do eat a few, I have a 12m x 1m patch just of strawberries!

Edwardia

I live in the South and although we regularly get 30C days and 40% less rainfall than the national average in summer, the Mediterranean plants I grow to deal with dry summers tend not to like wet winters and frost. Seriously contemplating putting more plants in containers and overwintering them indoors - the canna bloomed a second time inside

Sausages from freezer this morning ! My mother gets me Korkers mmm.
Going to see her tomorrow hope we don't spend all day in supermarkets !

Lynsey

Kirri wrote: »

Lynsey, shame about the weather but at least nice to get away whatever the weather

Yep ^ frosts can continue into May even in the South.

The Algarve needed the rain and we brought it to them!!! We always do!!!!

I'm a tad worried about the frosts, but would love to get those tomatoes outside - they are getting bushy now.

brighteyes1987 - thank you................didn't realise you were getting a bed............must have missed a few posts.

Not too sure if I told you about my holiday?? No?? 6 weeks on Tuesday then..............need a break and a bit more luxury this time (4* h/b).

NSD today and never went into a supermarket, just DIY shops.

Tomorrow is going to be a veggie day, back to porridge and veggie spag bol and just bits.........get sorted for the next veggie day, but want to get 1st one out of the way. Stir frys for next weeks veggie meals and some sausages lurking in freezer (Tesco cheese and leek).

Lynsey

katskorner

bit of freezer food used today - YS oragnic beef joint, roast veggies and pots (not frozen - hubby made) and then tapas from the freezer for supper.

shopped today in B&M and Cooltrader and spent just under £50 in total - mostly food and beer offers (ok a fair bit of beer but it will last me!).

the couple of drinks outside a pub on the way home cost far too much!!! but what a lovely afternoon and the pub has a lovely playpark and fishing lakes - the kids love it there as they can adventure .

Kirri

Lynsey wrote: »

I'm a tad worried about the frosts, but would love to get those tomatoes outside - they are getting bushy now.

There's actually a snowflake showing on the forecast for my area for Tuesday night :eek:

Dinner tonight was a hm pasty out of the freezer... was going to have bread with it but it was furry when I got it out of the box!! Need to make some more tomorrow. So dinner wasn't the most exciting but a) freezer needs emptying and b) I'm very skint. I forgot I could have done a veg couscous with it instead though.

Dinner this week will be frozen every day - so probably between stir fry frozen Quorn or tofu and beans, more hm pasties or hm morroccan stew and rice, though the rice is getting very low. I may make some sort of veg burgers.

katskorner

Lynsey wrote: »

The Algarve needed the rain and we brought it to them!!! We always do!!!!

I'm a tad worried about the frosts, but would love to get those tomatoes outside - they are getting bushy now.



Lynsey

Don't put toms outside yet - too many frost risks and they will cop it. Wait until the end of May at least - later the further North you are. Mine are not even up yet!! lol x

brighteyes1987

Just reading about what everyone is growing, maybe I should start :cool: (very unlikely lol)

Had such a lovely day with dd, spent the whole day in the garden which is the best sun trap ever, playing board games, doing jigsaws, drawings & even squeezed in some easter crafts
PHEW!!!
So didn't go over to mum's, so we had pate on toast instead, nothing like a roast but dd requested it & it's a fav in this house so win win, she had a yoghurt & twinks for desert.

Half the tin of twinks have vanished I blame myself dd has only had 2, will be devoured by 2moro as I have my niece & nephew for an hour or so 2moro....

which is when my bed is being delivered :rotfl:

NSD today also, mum popped in for a cuppa though and she's bought me 2 new books as a 'treat' as she know's how skint I am, one is Call the Midwife, loved this on the tv so can't wait to read it

BE X

Lynsey

I sowed my 1st 6 tomato seeds on January 3rd, hoping for early tomatoes and another 6 seeds at a later date.
When do you think the 1st ripened tomatoes will be available??

We have heard also of the snow warning, hope they are wrong, though Lip_Stick will be able to get that sledge out again. :rotfl:

Made my veggie spag bol, ready for tomorrow - Quorn mince goes a long, long way - used 1/2 bag (originally fresh and then frozen).

I'm also thinking of making some bread, scared to use the Wright's mixes now though I have left (3 packets), they feel "tainted"!!! Got some flour and loads of dried yeast, maybe a good thing the Wright's issue was highlighted, or the yeast would probably have just sat there!! Trying to stay away from couponing for a few weeks, though 1 or 2 to use if I go to Tesco.

I'm going to write a list for this week and try and be frugal, only fresh stuff and a bag of sugar really needed. Stock cubes are getting low and last bottle of ketchup, vinegar low also. A trip to Home Bargains looks imminent.

Lynsey

Kirri

^ you need a polytunnel really for early toms

Sains. have golden caster sugar for £1.44, much cheaper than anywhere else for the same

BE hope your bed turns up on time! Let us know what you think of that book, I really like the tv series but the book is supposed to be better I think?