Grow your own dinner 2014

zafiro1984

Want a laugh?
Was on the veg plot with the sprinkler watering the beans. I was busy weeding some distance away. Thought the wind had got up and it was blowing the water from the sprinkler over me - NO it was raining, first time in a month :j :j :j

Fruittea

Made on me laugh Zafiro. I've been tempted to turn the hose on and stand under it myself. But this weekend has given the lotty a real good soaking. Brilliant for everything.


I mentioned before that I'm trying to judge how much I save on shopping bills by running the allotment. Well I did the weekly shop yesterday - in Sainsbury's and costed up what I spent there and how much I saved. The results are amazing - so I thought I'd share them with you.




Bought from Sainsbury’s:
Lemons 1.50
Melons 2.00
Nectarines 2.00
Peppers 1.45


Total spent = £6.95


From the allotment:
Runner beans 1.50


Fine beans 3.00
New potatoes 1.50


Potatoes 2.00
Cucumber x 2 1.38


Tomatoes 1.50
Spinach 1.60


Onions 1.10
Garlic .30


Lettuce 3.00
Courgettes 1.80
Carrots 1.00


Chilli .60


Chard / Cavolero (not available)
Total saved £19.48
And that's not counting all the herbs that are around the garden which can be expensive like coriandar and basil or any other fruit like Rhubarb and berries. So I'm really pleased with that and hopefully it will encourage us all.

CAFCGirl

I've been a naughty veg grower an just left/ignored mine for the best part of a fortnight....

I now have aubergines fruiting, a sweet pepper come through, chillies galore, my standard size tomato plant is 5ft+ high and has a huge amount of toms on, one just starting to redden. The trough planter is now growing more aubergines and chilli plants and they look to be doing well. My basil is overflowing and I've left it to flower as it looks pretty. My bay tree has somehow managed to seed itself, and two seeds have taken in the bed and are growing me two new bay plants

My bush tomatoes in smaller pots are all doing well too, average of 25 fruits on each

Happygreen

CAFCGirl wrote: »

I've been a naughty veg grower an just left/ignored mine for the best part of a fortnight....

I now have aubergines fruiting, a sweet pepper come through, chillies galore, my standard size tomato plant is 5ft+ high and has a huge amount of toms on, one just starting to redden. The trough planter is now growing more aubergines and chilli plants and they look to be doing well. My basil is overflowing and I've left it to flower as it looks pretty. My bay tree has somehow managed to seed itself, and two seeds have taken in the bed and are growing me two new bay plants
My bush tomatoes in smaller pots are all doing well too, average of 25 fruits on each

Well done! And there was you wanting to give up some time ago .
It's been similar here, last weekend the weather was rubbish and I've not been feeling great since it came back to sunshine. Went into the tunnel to water last night and found a huge courgette, eat some red cherry toms straight from the plants and harvested 3 very large gherkins which will be pickled once I feel up to more than clearing out kitchen cupboards and watching movies...Definitely no bending down to weed or dig with a migraine waiting to explode :cool:

Jazee

I got my new planters to go where the ground just couldn't be dug and I've transplanted all my tomatoes in there. They seem much happier now. I'll probably use the planter next year for beans or similar at the back and lettuces at the front. Did I mention I've ordered my greenhouse? 6-8 weeks for delivery and installation though. My cucumbers will definitely go in there next year!

zafiro1984

Fruittree:- Just one word on your savings - wow. makes me want to be even more self sufficient next year

CAFCgirl:- I didn't realise you were going to give up, I know life gets in the way at times. How did you manage to get a 5' high tomato plant, I must be doing something wrong? I've sweet million and sungold and they are about 3'high - help

Happygreen:- I'm jealous, a tunnel is something I'm trying to strive for but I don't want to bite off more than I can do. I've thought of cladding some of the fruit cage in plastic as it could be a cheap way of starting.

Jazee:- a green house, bet you are :j :j

It rained last night, proper rain, it had been practising the day before just for a few minutes - I don't need to water today.

Today's job is pressure hosing the inside of a chicken house (I did the outside yesterday). The turkeys are arriving next week

Jazee

Zafiro - I am so excited about the greenhouse. I've been able to save up for exactly what I want since I became debt free and in my head, I'm already planning where everything will go in there.

I have a day off the paid stuff today and the forecast was awful, but it actually looks ok at the moment, so as soon as I've walked the dogs, I'm going to get out in the garden.

Fruittea

Hi Jazee - I wondered what one you opted for - as you sound as though you've researched it well. I must say it's good to have one. I have a small one down at the lotty. I'm planning to put some tubs of potatoes in when it's cleared of the tomatoes. I've just bought a pack of August Charlottes and will take a chance and see what I'll get.
Back to green houses - I got mine free from a chap who wanted rid of his. I managed to dismantle it and lost a few pains on the way home. Then I left it while and forgot how it fitted together - it was a !!!!!! to reassemble.


Jazee - are you having it assembled as well as delivered? Envious!


Zafiro - thanks for the wow. I agree it is surprising how it mounts up and how much we can all save. Having an allotment means I can grow more than I really need but it's great to be able to give veg away to neighbours and as mentioned before I sell any surplus at the gate (so far I have £54 in the pot).

Happygreen

Fruittea, with every handful of cherry tomatoes I'm saving about 50 p
It's been probably about £ 5 -6 for the chards alone I'm using instead of spinach, about £ 3 for the potatoes so far (more to come).
How much are giant gherkins worth :D:D ? 2 will fill a jar once cooked :rotfl:and there are 4 more ready to be picked.
Had about 1 small bag full of peas so far, maybe £ 1 worth?

It's a great time of the year!

Jazee

This is the greenhouse I'm getting (and yes they install it too). The one I've ordered is a little bigger than this one.