Preparedness for when

maryb

Kittie, I treated myself to the 30 day January forecast from Piers Corbyn with a view to subscribing to an annual one if he turns out right. Have to say that so far for London it has been mild rather than cold but his confidence was only 70%. As a matter of interest has he been right so far about your part of the world?

Suspect you and 2Tonsils are right about the cold weather heading our way. Now I'm retired I thought I wouldn't have to worry about not being able to get into work but DD1 is now in the ranks of the wage slaves and she has an important exam in the third week of January. Living in the Kent bit of London on the edge of the Downs, our trains are always badly affected by snow. Not a lot you can do to prepare for that(though I did get her some snow boots when they were on offer from Cotton Traders) Fret, Fret!!

mardatha

Just talking about all this to the RV - he says even if you grew a whole field full of green veg then it wouldn't fill you up. I said no but it bulks up a stew and lets you use less meat in it or makes a great pot of soup. He thinks green veg is a waste of space. I always knew that one day, after 46 years, we would find something we had in common! :rotfl::rotfl:
If I could focus on stuff that we eat, and learn properly and do it right. That's the challenge for this year. I do like a challenge .
Turnip, leeks, onions, some tatties. Onnit.

sb44

meme30 wrote: »

Goodness me , you really got my brain going last night. I loved the seed company website.
http://www.realseeds.co.uk/index.html

It had never occurred to me that places like the Ukraine and the Czech Republic would be growing hardier types of veg than us! Daft really, because when you put your mind to it it's obvious!
There was so much stuff that will grow in the north and further north than I am.
Last year I managed to grow some stuff in an Ik*a blue bag and grow tumbling tomatoes in a couple of T*sco wine bags hanging on a south facing wall.
Fennel did well but the slugs did for the courgettes.:(
I am inspired to grow an outdoor cucumber and the Pak choi and Kale will grow here and we love them stir-fried.
Although we have a big garden, physically a couple of blue bags will be all I could cope with. Mind you I could put some of their Beetroot in amongst the raised border. Oh my brain is whizzing!:rotfl:

OMG I just read this!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-20911373

Just terrifying! :eek:

Not sure if this will be of use or not, I posted this https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4254201 in the gardening forum a few months ago.

I intend to give it a go this year.

sb44

Popperwell wrote: »

Speaking of food increasing in price...

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/store-boss-warns-food-price-rise-053835990.html?bcmt_s=m#7VNvtXi

"Basic food items may rise to as much as 5%".

They are having a laugh, 5%? Whenever I go shopping things are rising by a hell of a lot more than that every week!

[Deleted User]

That is a very, very clever idea sb44 thank you very much, will run it past He Who Knows these things and see if he will play!!!!!It's as close to vertical gardening we are going to get without having to part with several limbs!

I am making a wartime vegetable stew today which is basically 2 lbs of mixed root veg and 4 rashers of streaky bacon cooked in oxo with herbs for flavouring. I am making parsley dumplings to go in it and finishing it off with Comptons Gravy Salt to thicken it all up. It seems just the right thing to have on such a dull, grey and dismal day.

There was just a hint of colder weather for later in January mentioned on the BBC Weather this morning, I'll confess to feeling a little smug that we already knew and had preparations in place. Thanks KITTIE and 2T it's so good to know savvy folks like you, Cheers Lyn xxx.

sb44

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

That is a very, very clever idea sb44 thank you very much, will run it past He Who Knows these things and see if he will play!!!!!It's as close to vertical gardening we are going to get without having to part with several limbs!

For those who want to grow on window ledges but forget to water , this may help http://skruben.blogspot.ca/2012/03/how-to-self-watering-seed-starter-pots.html .



I had better get some more tonic in so that I have spare bottles (we don't drink any other soft drinks).

[Deleted User]

10 out of 10 again sb44, brilliant and useful ideas and costless and easy, many thanks, much appreciated, Cheers Lyn xxx.

sb44

I can't grow anything in the ground as we only have a small lawn and a couple of small patios so will be growing in pots.

This chart may be helful for anyone new to growing veg (not in pots).

http://www.thegardencentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/growing-vegetables-chart.jpg

Well, that is me done for the morning, best I go and get some shopping done .

westcoastscot

GreyQueen wrote: »

PMSL! Love it!

There's a perplexed version of me, too; I see her every time I look into a mirror.........:rotfl:

Haven't looked in a mirror for ages, but i'm pretty sure i'm slim, young, non-arthritic and fab

westcoastscot

Pink Thrift have noted those varieties and will give them a go, along with some perpetual cabbage. GQ have not grown chard for years but sounds worth a go – maybe in a tub? Mar am going to try *your* toms too.

I agree with RV you cannot fill yourself up easily with vegs, and we don’t have room to grow pulses to a stage where they will dry – (I remember my dad growing a soya bean way before they became trendy, called Visky V). I do think they stretch the meat ration though, and bring a different taste to the same bit of meat!

SB44 great idea for the windowsill planters!

Grim news about food prices, although not unsurprising. We need to get growing guys!! I’m like a few on here, healthwise and energywise, but I’m going to try and do an hour a day on days I’m not working (I work 2.5 days) – it’s surprising how much you can get done in an hour and little and often, hopefully, will mean my wee patches don’t get over-whelmed.
WCS