Grow your own dinner 2014

suzeesu2000

I am aching for a big garden. I am dreaming of beds of potatoes, walls of climbing beans, a greanhouse, a mini orchard....oh what a lovely dream. At the moment, if i can grow enough veggies to make a difference to how much we have to buy, I shall be happy.

mrsscattercushion

rather late but can I join in too? We got our "allotment" towards end of last year, a lady in our village has v kindly given over some of her garden to the allotment society so we've been lucky enough to get it whilst awaiting our own allotment (which we'll probably get when I'm about 80!). Her husband used to grow a lot of veggies etc, so have access to outhouses, greenhouse, water etc and 2 main growing areas with flagged paths and pole/wire structures already on place.




Some of it had been dug and still had plants in from last people who had used it, inherited some potatoes and some raspberry canes (although need to work out whether summer/autumn fruiting to know what to do with them re pruning etc as never had fruit before) also some rhubarb in an overgrown area that may benefit from some TLC.


We had an allotment at our old place, before moving here, also come from a family of fab gardeners so the call of home-grown produce has always been there. managed to clear enough space to plant some garlic, shallots and over-wintering broad beans as a trial.


Since the New year, one thing and another has meant we've not been able to get down to continue working (the weather has been vile too). Popped down during the week to find the garlic looking healthy, some of the broad beans come up and not yet been totally munched and the odd shallot ~ possibly too wet for them? Some weeds had grown back but not as bad as fe


Due to ill-health, I've not been able to be organised with getting seed potatoes started or other seeds going. Luckily, seem to be slowly on the mend so hoping to make a better start this weekend with some more clearing and getting going on the growing ~ have used the time to sketch out the plots and plan rough sketches as to what is going where, although want to go and measure it all again to make the sketches more accurate...


Weather looking good so hopefully will be making some progress and seeing how much I can resist buying in the shops....at least this is the stage that DH is interested in, he'll do the big jobs but is rubbish at the weeding and smaller things ~ his interest perks up again at the picking and eating stage.


Will be good to read how everyone else gets on this year, good luck!

the_worm

Lovely day here today.. managed to get some soil turned and planted out onion sets..with fine weather forecast for a few days can really crack online

the_worm

Suzeuss. You can plant your potatoes at the same time...the differences are the time they take to mature...

annie123

djohn2002uk wrote: »

Annie.
Do you remember, I posted this in Jan?

Annie. I trawled through last years thread and found this.
On the 6/04/13 I wrote:-
"Annie.
Did 27 holes and 3 seeds in each today. May do another half doz tomorrow after I cut the grass. Then get my Runner Bean canes and the pea net up. That'll be enough for tomorrow methinks. "

But, the magazines I read are saying, if it's not too cold, sow them now but I still have around 18 in the ground. I think I'll do mine about first week in March this year because thinking about it, I was probably a bit late because of the cold spring.
Just read on the net that Gladiator, which I think is the best, needent be planted untill April/May. So think I'll go with last years date.
Still going to keep to that date as I'm not able to get on the garden at the mo due to Athritis in my knee. Still got 2 to dig for Sunday. Got visitors comming for wifes birthday.

Hubby said thank you, April's fine with him
Wishing your knee a speedy recovery and a happy birthday to your wife, hope you all have a nice time.

annie123

suzeesu2000 wrote: »

Thanks for help. I have Winston first earlies which have chitted beautifully! I am looking forward to a super crop from them. Then I have Maris Piper main crop which are now in the process of chitting as - probably wrong here - I plant them a bit later.

Ignoring the few that get planted early, 1st,2nd and main are planted at the same time. They are then harvested a different times with main being in the ground anytime until the autumn.
Main aren't usually chitted as they're in the ground for a months but it does no harm to get them off to a quicker start.

Jazee

Welcome mrsscattercushion.

I have put into larger pots radishes, coriander and basil. I've started off radish, leek, parsnip and pepper seeds, and also planted out 50 lily bulbs. Had a bit of a tidy up outside, it's not looking too bad but that is it for today as I've started aching.

mrsscattercushion

Thank you for the welcome Jazee!


Today has been a productive day as I test out the strength in my arm (recently had failed cortisone injection in elbow/trapped nerve hence little progress on the growing). Managed to get small bags of 3 types of potatoes (Wilja, Charlotte and Desiree) which are now chitting, and some onion sets and replacement shallots for the ones that didn't make it over the winter. Got some leeks and sweetpeas sown and made list of all else needed to get started. DH helped cleared out the shed so I can actually use it and founds loads of pots/trays etc from when we had our previous allotment, which wil come in handy.


week ahead looking lovely, so hoping to get down tomorrow for some more clearing, getting the sets in and planning where everything will be planted, depending how much we can get cleared.


Hope everyone else has a productive weekend

Little_Vics

Where on earth do all you lot live to be able to do stuff? Or am I being a wimp by not going out in the rain?

mrsscattercushion

sunny Yorkshire....


well sunny for once, round this time last year we had 2 ft of snow fall in 2 days ;-)