The 2013 'Growing' Chat Thread

Tiglath

I'm definitely not sowing anything yet - I usually do stuff mid-March otherwise I find the seedlings get leggy and weak.

TallGirl

Totally agree here not to sow anything yet they just get too leggy on my window sill. Did peas last year and planted them out so early I had to protect them. To be honest the next lot I did caught up so quickly there really wasnt that much in it.

Ordered some tiny plug plants from T&M so need room to pot them on as I dont have a greenhouse.

Best advise I can give to newbies is sow little and often much much better and have a go seeds are really cheap so if they dont work out bin them and try again.

claireforest

Im very interested in learning about growing- i have no clue lol im planning on trying runner beans, onions and something else easy i havent decided, ill defo be keeping an eye out on here for tips

coldcazzie

I'd like to join in. I bought some seeds and rooted out the ones I had left from last yr. I'm not planting anything soon except for stuff I plan to grow indoors so can sow all yr. However, before getting into the growing I need to sort out the garden.

I've a patch of ground behind the garage between the path and the fence, it's about 3 foot wide and about 20 feet long. Doesn't get a huge amount of sun. The bits directly behind the garage have the water butt and the compost bins on. Not sure what to do with rest tbh. I thought about chickens... also thought about veggies but suspect it doesn't get enough sun.

Anyhoo, will bob in to read what folk are doing

Captain_Bluebear

Hi Coldcazzie!
I've kept chickens in the past and they are amazing fun! But they will wreck and eat whatever is in reach! We had three female chickens and my boys loved them. (My twins were about 12 yrs old at the time) but they scared the hell your of our cat!

They were really fun to look after and they will eat any veg/kitchen scraps etc but I think I went too easy on them and gave them totally free roam of the garden until we had no lawn left!.... If you go down the chicken route... just make sure you are more firm than I was! (also...there are hidden costs when keeping chickens but I'm sure you've looked into all that) Also...chickens need sun to produce eggs. They like to bask!

Oh gosh! I just read that back to myself and it sounded quite harsh! sorry...that was not meant to sound that way! Sorry Coldcazzie. Keeping chickens is ace! x

bluemeadow

What a great thread I think will be popping back and catching up on what your all upto. My allotment is saturated so not much point trying to get anything done until it dries out i think. Also with the cold weather finaly on the way dont think I will be trying any seeds for a little while, just lots of planning for now.
I would like to know which flowers people have had success with for cut flowers I would love to grow some but last years were disasterous, slug resistant is a must as we are over run with them, thankyou.

coldcazzie

1derwoman wrote: »

Hi Coldcazzie!
I've kept chickens in the past and they are amazing fun! But they will wreck and eat whatever is in reach! We had three female chickens and my boys loved them. (My twins were about 12 yrs old at the time) but they scared the hell your of our cat!

They were really fun to look after and they will eat any veg/kitchen scraps etc but I think I went too easy on them and gave them totally free roam of the garden until we had no lawn left!.... If you go down the chicken route... just make sure you are more firm than I was! (also...there are hidden costs when keeping chickens but I'm sure you've looked into all that) Also...chickens need sun to produce eggs. They like to bask!

Oh gosh! I just read that back to myself and it sounded quite harsh! sorry...that was not meant to sound that way! Sorry Coldcazzie. Keeping chickens is ace! x

It's ok :rotfl: I read it as it was intended. They couldn't be truly free range unfortunately, foxes and cats... bad idea! I was thinking that strip of land could perhaps be a pen. Been and measured it today: 3*24 feet. It gets sun late afternoon and evening, but not morning.

We have some garden work at the twinkle in our eye stages... but the want to grow things would spur me on. Would just have to convince him its a good idea... and hire a skip! The people who owned our house before us were lazy So-and-sos that's for sure...!

sammyroser

This year I plant to expand my growing space and have some more structure to it.

Plus grow some really unusual things.

I will start sowing mid to late February for carrots and tomatoes but everything else will be sown from March onwards.

I seem to have more luck with fruit and veg rather then pretty stuff. Still trying to grow/keep lavender alive.

Captain_Bluebear

Phew Coldcazzie! I'm so glad I didn't offend you. it sounds like you've got a bit of work on your hands there!

Hi Sammyroser! I'd love to hear what your "really unusual things" are....that sounds great! (I also struggle with getting lavender going.)

Evening Katholicos!...I have never been in one of these threads before but is it possible that we could share photos of our gardens? I'm really excited to start planning but I'm sure some of us could do with a bit of advice. I'm really not sure if this is allowed. x

katholicos

1derwoman, sharing photos is an excellent idea! This thread is for anyone who wants to write or post pics!

I have some videos of some of my previous growing years on youtube if anyone wants to view them i will put a link up. I did vidz last year but never got around to uplaoding them.

I would LOVE to view other peoples photies of their gardens and their growing endeavours....cos i am quite nosy, erm, i mean, inquisitive!

Can't wait!