Help MBE grow his dinner 2012

mrbadexample

Well, for better or worse, I've pruned the gooseberries.

I sort of think I've got a rough idea of approximately what I should be doing. It would appear that most of their branches were growing in the wrong direction, so they've taken a bit of a pasting. I think I've left enough to get a reasonable, if not enormous crop though. Time will tell.

lisakay_2

I think I may have posted once or twice last year, but I'm a regular lurker:o. I hope you don't mind if I join in. I have a full allotment plot, with lots of well established fruit. |I seem to struggle with brassica, the ones that don't get clubroot still don't seem to do very well.

Tyadog, only 27? quick funny story. went to a market recently and bought (always gutted when i have to buy veg) 4 heads of brocolli and some other bits. The boot was full so some of the shopping went on the back seat between my 2 girls (aged 4 and 6). when I got home there were 2 broc heads and 2 little stubs of stalk. The packs of cakes and biscuits were untouched. strange children i have:rotfl:.

I have spuds chitting, but no seeds sown yet. I'm collecting some logs from a friend in the morning, some to make a hedgehog house and hopefully some to be used to grow shrooms.

I will post pics, i promise, just as soon as i get a camera...

Fay

Welcome lisakay-I love it when people post pics, it brings people's veg growing to life for the rest of us.
I'm intending a morning in the garden today before a roast dinner to warm me up...however, we have had a very small sprinkling of snow over night (not forecast) but I think it will be fine. Might be back with some pics later...

annie123

Fay wrote: »

I've read not to grow potatos on freshly made beds that were previously lawn-can anyone advise me on this? Annie??

mrbadexample wrote: »

Annie says that potatoes grown in beds that have been newly converted from lawn can be more susceptible to wireworm.

I'm impressed MBE

Got myself all ready to sow seeds then noticed I've not got any seed trays or saved containers this year :eek: have got side tracked with DD leaving home :j opps I mean:( bit of both really.
So it's either eat lots of butter and yoghurt over the next few hours or pop out and buy some, hubby preferred that idea.

Been out into the garden and have decided to redesign it this year, nothing major but my neighbours trees left me with 10' x 5' of full sun last year and a west facing border that gets a few hours only in the afternoon. For a south facing garden this is pretty poor.
So I'm considering a square foot gardening trial this year to see if it will maximise my crops. I have read the book and the web sites and it may be the way to go, or at least try it.
I've always grown things the traditional way and a few pots but always happy to try new ways.

Will pop back out and get pics of my small messy garden for your thoughts on it.

mrbadexample

lisakay wrote: »

I will post pics, i promise, just as soon as i get a camera...

Borrow one.

Oh, and hello. :wave:

mrbadexample

Today I tested my new toy:



Obviously, there was nothing there to trouble it but it's nice to know it ran smoothly, quite quietly,and didn't clog or jam at all. I even put the old, woody swede through it (sliced), as they take a while to break down in the compost bin.

I did the woody gooseberry prunings last, and my pear tree now has a teeny tiny mulch:



I'm ridiculously pleased with this. :rotfl:

mrbadexample

I've also weeded the gooseberry bush next to the compost bins. You might remember that a couple of years ago they were completely choked:



There's lots of couch grass in there, which manages to grow back right in the middle of the bush, so weeding it costs blood. Better now I've pruned it though.



I need to put the bin on the rhubarb to start forcing it.

Then I want to pressure-wash the patio and greenhouse, and lay a course of blocks to raise the height of the greenhouse by about 10". And all before I need to use it. :eek:

mrbadexample

I'm just popping out to give my mate Del a swift trouncing at Scrabble, and then I'll be back this evening to sow some more seeds.

djohn2002uk

mrbadexample wrote: »

I'm just popping out to give my mate Del a swift trouncing at Scrabble, and then I'll be back this evening to sow some more seeds.

He wouldn't be Welsh by any chance?
Might then be just like your RUGBY prediction....:rotfl:
I'll say no more until after next Saturday...lol

mrbadexample

djohn2002uk wrote: »

He wouldn't be Welsh by any chance?
Might then be just like your RUGBY prediction....:rotfl:
I'll say no more until after next Saturday...lol

Not Welsh, but my prediction was equally poor. Made a mistake on my last go to let him in to nick it by 7. :mad:

Oh well. Saturday won't be any better either, I suspect.