Countdown to Freedom

shala_moo

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS wrote: »

As the day is glorious, we will be making some inroads in the garden, in terms of prepping for planting, plus my tom and chilli seeds will go into pots inside today. I LOVE this time of year when the planting gets kicked off.

Will be keeping tabs on your gardening tips Tilly.. have just moved to a new house with large garden, greenhouse and veg plot and can't wait to get started. Hopefully planting some lettuce leaves, chillis and peppers this week.

Hope everything goes ok with your ebay stuff..

TwinnyD

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS wrote: »

Yay, all items sold this evening on eBay. I have a feeling I may have a problem with one, as they paid for the item and not the postage - fingers crossed

Garden is looking lovely after a fair bit of work and ready for improved weather and planting.

I hope everyone has a good week ahead - best wishes Tilly x

Glad all your stuff on ebay sold Is the no postage one close to you that they may want to collect?

Have a good week

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi GG, we had to use yesterday for the garden as, like you, the next few weekends are mad. I hadn't realised it was getting so busy. Enjoy Spain. We are not off until the summer as DD has GCSEs so we are staying t home for her studies. First year for 8 years though, so I can't complain - can I?

Morning Shala_Moo, happy to help on the garden planning front, and my advice would be - what do you use a lot of which is expensive? If you can grow it then do, ie basil, coriander, unusual toms, plus mixed salad leaves are so cheap. For the cost of 1 bag of mixed leaves, you would have 2 or 3 weeks worth of salad. I find that puts it into perspective. if you don't have a compost heap then start one off ASAP. Heat is the key and a mix of dry/wet 'ingredients'. I love the fact that all the kitchen scraps (no meat) goes in and helps the garden. Also always sow seeds over a few weeks, don't bung them all in, in one go.......easy to say but when you have the seeds in your hands, it's easy to just put them all in.

Looking back on my diary I have noticed there is a theme, I often talk about things being good for the soul. I find with my work which is quite cold in some respects, I look more to the outside to balance those feelings. When the weather starts to change I will be in the garden every evening and even some mornings before work. They do say if you want something done, ask a busy person, but that's one of the benefits of Spring, when weeding, watering, replanting etc, I take time out to stop and think which is glorious.

Morning TwinnyD, thankfully they have now all paid for the items and postage. They will go off today and that's it. Another pile out of the house and £44 ish in the OP pot - all helps.

Have a great week, Tilly x

Radish72

Having a garden that can be attended to each day is one of the things I'm looking forward to.

My garden gets ignored as it always seems to be raining and 90% of weekends are spent at BF's

He hasn't got time to potter every evening with working late so we have given up providing slugs a 3 course banquet every night

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi Radish, you will love it when you do - I grow lots of your namesake and LOVE them. I can think of nothing better than popping into the garden, picking a handful of leaves, radishes etc and 2 mins later it's on the plate - marvellous.

Have a good week, Tilly x

frugalfrog

Hi Tilly

I'm also planning on starting a veggy patch in my garden this week

CathT

I really wish I was more motivated to grow my own veg, having failed miserably with tomatoes and peppers in the past I am put off. Would love to have a raised veg patch in a nice sunny spot of the garden.

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi FF and CathT, I promise you when I started I knew nothing about growing veg and most years now, I have around 20-30 different things growing through April - October. You don't need much space as raised beds can be used really well. PM me if you want any advice not that I am an expert but I started out as a complete novice 4 years ago.

Best wishes Tilly x

Imelda

Hello!

I've not been around for a while but thought I would pop in to see how you are doing. Can't believe you about to switch to FD- it seemed like such a long way off when you started talking about it, that mortgage will be gone in no time!

I also feel so utterly lazy reading your thread, all this cooking, ironing, exercising and full time working- I can just about manage two of those things...... you rock!

shala_moo

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS wrote: »

Morning Shala_Moo, happy to help on the garden planning front, and my advice would be - what do you use a lot of which is expensive? If you can grow it then do, ie basil, coriander, unusual toms, plus mixed salad leaves are so cheap. For the cost of 1 bag of mixed leaves, you would have 2 or 3 weeks worth of salad. I find that puts it into perspective. if you don't have a compost heap then start one off ASAP. Heat is the key and a mix of dry/wet 'ingredients'. I love the fact that all the kitchen scraps (no meat) goes in and helps the garden. Also always sow seeds over a few weeks, don't bung them all in, in one go.......easy to say but when you have the seeds in your hands, it's easy to just put them all in.

Luckily our previous owners left their two massive compost bins, full to the brim so we have a ready made garden just ready to plant really.:T Will be getting raised beds maybe next year..

Berries, peppers and salad leaves is our thing i think.. really expensive and really easy to grow!

Hopefully seeing the motivation of others and their gardens pushes us all to have successful veg patches..