Growing ur own fruit and veg, worth it?

Parsimonia

valk_scot wrote: »

Umm..you can't just go and help yourself to this, you know. Unless the wood belongs to you of course and maybe not even then. Otherwise even if it has public access you're not actually allowed to go in and destroy part of the ecosystem, it may be a managed woodland or a valuable natural habitat that's being conserved. It may even be a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and you could be prosecuted for causing damage.


Best to make your own leaf mould using swept up leaves, and buy bark chippings from the garden centre.

Thank the Lord you told me! I honestly didn't realise! I didn't intend to take barrow loads (just a small carrier bag full) but now I know better I'll leave well alone. Thanks for the heads up....!!!

Luckily the house opposite ours has a huge oak tree in its front garden that dumps most of its leaves in our garden...I still have three bin bags full from last Autumn (I use the dried leaves to make oak leaf Christmas garlands)....if I soak them they may make a half-decent mulch....

Mojisola

Parsimonia wrote: »

Luckily the house opposite ours has a huge oak tree in its front garden that dumps most of its leaves in our garden...I still have three bin bags full from last Autumn (I use the dried leaves to make oak leaf Christmas garlands)....if I soak them they may make a half-decent mulch....

Read up on making leaf mould - https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/factsheets/making_leafmould.php

If you talk to your neighbours with trees, some will be pleased to let you collect their leaves and use them.

Parsimonia

Mojisola wrote: »

Read up on making leaf mould - https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/factsheets/making_leafmould.php

If you talk to your neighbours with trees, some will be pleased to let you collect their leaves and use them.

Thanks for the link...I'll read with interest!

ALIBOBSY

RAS wrote: »

Hi

I disagree with the posters you are quoting and refer you to someone who HAS grown the things that you want.

Go to LIDL and buy the seeds you want for £1 for 5 packs.

Stop buying pots; you can get very large polystyrene boxes from the behind restaurants used to import tropical veggies and herbs. Or the large canisters in which they buy veggie oil.

Check out municipal compost; if you are in rural Norfolk check out leaf mould, odd bits of soil dug up by highways, make "trench compost" from you own household waste. You can fill the bottom of pots with twigs and alsorted rubbish and just use good compost for the top 6 inches.

You do need to work out which way each wall faces. Go out at midday next time the sun shines. Stand back to the wall and work out where the sun is.

If it is ahead of you that wall faces south; behind it faces north. The east facing wall will have the sun to the right and the west to the left hand side.

I also often add torn up newspaper in the bottom of tub and pots, helps drainage and makes the compost go further.

Ali x

Parsimonia

Great - I'll try that - thanks!

ALIBOBSY

Parsimonia wrote: »

All your replies have provided great food for thought.

Despite your warnings about this not being necessarily good economic sense, I think I'll have another go this year at growing a few simple staples, namely salad leaves, tomatoes and beetroot, as well as a few strawberry plants.

We already have lots of well established herbs, which tend to pretty much look after themselves; I'll supplement those with others throughout the year.

If I can manage to get the lettuces and toms reasonably cheaply, this should lead to a genuine cost saving. We still have lots of salad leaf and spinach seeds left over from last year - would they still be usable this year???

We also have 2 unopened large bags of John Innes organic vegetable growing compost. We have a SMALL amount of home-grown compost. We have our 1.5m square trug and an abundance of sturdy pots and bags, ranging in size from 6" to about 2' in diameter.

Mulch isn't an issue - I have access to as much bark and leaf mould as I need, as I live really close to a wood.

If I need manure, I live close by a riding centre.

We have a full water barrel....

Presupposing I can get some tomato and strawberry plants cheaply I'm good to go; then I'll have to shop around for cheap tomato food...

Is there anything I've overlooked (that's going to cost me money that I haven't thought about???)

I really appreciate your insights and advice, everyone!

Regarding toms and strawberries gardeners world have a couple of offers on.

I have ordered 24 strawberry plants delivered for £4.95 here:-
http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/GD14FEB/#.UwdBSIWl04h

and am considering this offer here:-
http://offers.gardenersworld.com/3220/T-M-Six-free-tomato-and-chilli-plants.html

where you get 3 tom and 3 chili plug plants delivered for £3.

Otherwise Lidl and Aldi usually get both plants in for not very much or go for seeds as there is still plenty of time-I will be growing some toms from seed that will be starting on the windowsill shortly. Apart from parsnip seeds keep really well although germination rates can go down so you can use the seeds from last year no problem.

Ali x

ALIBOBSY

trollopscarletwoman wrote: »

Last years seeds should be fine
Lidl is good on seeds-3 packs for a pound on number 1 -(packs have different numbers and cost.

A trick to check for germination for the larger seeds such as runner beans, broad bean is to place some moist compost in a clear plastic bag, threw in the seeds, cover them-place in a warm place. Give them about 10 days, tip them out and see which ones have started to sprout with the little white tail.

Those that have pot on. Those that haven't put them back in. This method takes out some of the hit and miss of starting them in pots or ground. Shows if they are still viable.

Generally the larger the seed the more its longevity.

Runner beans can be grown in pots particularly dwarf varieties such as Hestia.

Tomato feed such as Tomorite can be bought at shops such as B&M, Wilko. You can also make a drink by putting stingy nettles in a bucket, cover with water, put a lid on, leave for 2-3 weeks, stir and dilute in the watering can about 10-1 but opinions vary on that.

Living in a seaside town I also add seaweed. Toms and cucumbers love that.

If you really get into growing I would suggest joining your local horticultural society. Here its £4 per annum and money well spent. You can fertilisers, loose seeds, onion sets cheaper than mainstream. And you will meet fellow gardeners with a wealth of knowledge.

Any more advice please just ask.

Even the smaller seeds can be pre sprouted like this to check for germination. Get a small plastic tub or plate. Put 2-3 layers of kitchen roll in/on pot/plate. Wet the paper and sprinkle seeds on top. Cover with clingfilm and put on sunny/light windowsill.

Will be doing this with some of my older seeds, even the parsnips as I hate waste and will plant on any that sprout.

Ali x

ALIBOBSY

BTW if you do go for tom plants remember when you pinch out the side shoots to keep them growing and fruiting well you can plant the side shoots-just shove em into pots of compost. They grow on really quickly and fruit early as genetically they are the same "age" as the parent plant.

I would definately look up seed saving, for most plants its pretty easy, I find most annual herbs are unbelievably easy.

Beware though gardening can become very addictive lol.

Good Luck
Ali x

silverwhistle

Just a heads up that next Thursday (27th) Aldi have various gardening stuff: compost, manure, seeds, sieve, pots, etc. The 1m square raised bed at £6.99 looks reasonable value, now that I've used the scaffold boards some workmen left me..

As to the original question.. well, I tend to grow higher value or more perishable things. Living on my own both whole lettuce and salad bags incur wastage, but cut and come again salad wastes less, and of course, tastes a lot better. The same for toms and hot peppers: a few juicy peperoncini in decent olive oil with pasta makes a tasty and cheap lunch, and they dry well for the winter.

trollopscarletwoman

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

Regarding toms and strawberries gardeners world have a couple of offers on.

I have ordered 24 strawberry plants delivered for £4.95 here:-
http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/GD14FEB/#.UwdBSIWl04h

and am considering this offer here:-
http://offers.gardenersworld.com/3220/T-M-Six-free-tomato-and-chilli-plants.html

where you get 3 tom and 3 chili plug plants delivered for £3.

Otherwise Lidl and Aldi usually get both plants in for not very much or go for seeds as there is still plenty of time-I will be growing some toms from seed that will be starting on the windowsill shortly. Apart from parsnip seeds keep really well although germination rates can go down so you can use the seeds from last year no problem.

Ali x

The gardeners world offer looks good value to me.