Help MBE grow his dinner 2012

mrbadexample

A few more things achieved today:

More cat-proofing (I hope). They climb through this at the lowest point:



Right of the door handle you can see a mucky patch where they put their dirty feet. That's not a huge problem, but when they come the other way they jump up on to the felt on the sloping roof, which is slowly being ripped to shreds. That will make the roof rot, so it's got to stop. If this doesn't work I'll see how they like anti-vandal paint. :mad:

mrbadexample

I went to Poundland today. Bought some raspberries, the last tayberry, some pots, two polytunnels, a sander and some screwdriver bits.



When can I plant the raspberries out then please?

Little_Vics

ok - this is probably a stupid question, but were the polytunnels £1???? Local gardening centre are selling similar things for much much MUCH more.

Little_Vics

also, it would be super useful for me to know the dimensions, if you would indulge me.

I mean the polytunnels - don't be rude.

mrbadexample

My mate's house backs onto a disused railway line. Over the years anyone living along that side of the estate wishing to dispose of rubbish has lifted out their rear fence panel and dumped the junk onto the railway property. It's quite bad out there, but it's also full of logs where people have chopped down trees and chucked it all over the fence.

I like logs. I have a woodburner.

Firstly I grabbed a few to put down the side of my shed:





Had to be a bit careful as I don't want rotting logs in contact with the shed or the fence, but hopefully this will provide a shelter for Mr Toad or someone else who might be passing. It'll be a bit better by the time it's covered with leaves. It'll also provide somewhere for other garden fauna - woodlice, centipedes etc. (and unfortunately also slugs and snails, but you have to take the bad with the good). I'm sure it'll be used by something, especially when I've done the pond. Another useless space made useful.

Then I went and bought this from Argos. Since I have a really quite considerable supply of logs, it should save me a lot of work. It's only small, but should be ideal for chopping up wood for the fire. I plan on putting a shelf up high in the side entrance to stack the logs on to season.

mrbadexample

Little_Vics wrote: »

ok - this is probably a stupid question, but were the polytunnels £1???? Local gardening centre are selling similar things for much much MUCH more.

It was Poundland. They're about 17" to the top of the metal hoop, so by the time you've stuck some in the ground you should have at least a foot of useable height. They are, as you would expect, quite flimsy and unlikely to last more than a season. Still, for a quid, who cares? I wanted it to give some protection to my competition carrots, but thought an extra one might come in handy.

Have a look at their range here.

I thought I did well to escape only having spent £14! :rotfl:

aliasojo

mrbadexample wrote: »

When can I plant the raspberries out then please?

Oh my. Are you telling me they shouldn't actually be out already?

I put my raspberry and blackberry out and they seem very happy.

Are they going to die now? :rotfl: < Slightly worried hysterical laughter.

mrbadexample

Oh, I got 1200 beetroot seeds too - 3 varieties. Gotta be worth £1.

mrbadexample

aliasojo wrote: »

Oh my. Are you telling me they shouldn't actually be out already?

How should I know? I've never grown them before! I'm waiting for annie to turn up and tell me.

gazza975526570

aliasojo wrote: »

Oh my. Are you telling me they shouldn't actually be out already?

I put my raspberry and blackberry out and they seem very happy.

Are they going to die now? :rotfl: < Slightly worried hysterical laughter.

They are best planted when still dormant - thats why generally when you buy them they look like a dead twig!!

So yeah - fine to be out now, and if you havent already got them out - get them out now!!!