Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

[Deleted User]

We went to the allotment this afternoon and we now, it was in doubt before, actually got 6 whole rows of parsnips up, we thought we'd had a faliure so planted more seed, looks like a parsnipfest this winter.

janb5

Hi Rosanna- does Vhalla live near you. She`s in Lincolnshire- near Louth I think. xx

GrannyKate

Hi Rosanna I am in North Lincolnshire. A very amateur gardener but enjoy pottering. I put some cucumbers out in grow bags and all but 1 have died. The cold winds seem to have delayed germination and increased impact of drops in temperature.

On the plus side herbs are all looking good and we have a bumper rhubarb crop - just had a delicious HM rhubarb and apple crumble for pud. I put several acers in pots last year and they have all survived the winter - none were expensive £2-3 max.

Small area of raspberries and Tay berries have lots of developing fruit but small plum tree is bare.

misstara

Hello all, seems like ages since I last posted but have been reading along and enjoying everyone's posts as always.

I've just come back from a hen weekend in Edinburgh which was lovely. I did go a little over my budget but only by £10 so not too much. The wedding is in two weeks time so really looking forward to that. I must try on the dress that I'm planning to wear as I've lost a bit of weight recently so hope it still fits ok.

I'm still sticking to meal planning which is definitely reducing waste and keeps the costs down. Although I'm definitely not getting as many YS bargains now I've gone gluten free. I feel my diet has improved a lot though as I think more about what I'm actually eating.

camelot1001

Good to hear of all your gardening successes. I have planted out courgettes but I put them in a grow bag and unfortunately there has been so much rain they were getting a little waterlogged.

I bought some wooden troughs from a wood recycle charity, put a couple of coats of marine varnish on and have re-planted the courgettes into those. Hoping as they have drainage holes the plants will pick up. It would be a shame to lose them now as they are some of the first things I have ever grown from seed.

The peas are also doing well but the tomatoes are still quite small. I've bought a little growbag greenhouse so will put that up tomorrow and some of the plants can go outside in that.

It's all very exciting!

Floss

silvasava wrote: »

Fuddle ( & anyone else new to gardening) I've got Carol Klein's Grow Your Own Veg & I've found its become my 'go to' book. I consider myself to be a more enthusiastic gardener than experienced but I do manage a healthy crop of fruit & veg through the year - lots of lovely gardening tips on the forum too.

I also have the Carol Klein book, she's done a GYO Fruit book and a Cook Your Own Veg book too.

villagelife

Carol Klein also has a joint fruit and vegetable book which is very good and has been well used. It has loads of practical advice.

vulpix

Good morning chums.I am missing out on gardening chat this year.No point in doing much here,there will be a lot of work at the new house.Hard landscaping ,stone wall removal,new boundry fence,extending the patio,moving steps and then removing the gravel and making a garden.Might be a couple of years work for me there.I am looking forward to it.

Well eldest daughter turned up last night.I pressed her into some sorting in her room.We are so similar but not in the organization department.Her chest of drawers were stuffed with bits of paper,batteries,makeup etc etc etc.Drawers sorted,under bed sorted.Boxes packed and taken to Grandma's.There are still items lurking that she doesn't know what to do with yet.she is swanning off to a festival at lunch time,then to her boyfriends so won't be back 'till next week.Arrrrrrrgh.She did have a long piece of black velcro stuffed in the drawer so I have claimed it for the cushion I made last week.

One of the wardrobes is being collected today,the other on Sunday.

I was in the charity shop yesterday.I bought a lovely old oak frame with a dull print.I will find something to replace it I am sure.I also bought a paper back to save for when I have my op and i have to rest.

I have to go to the hospital next week I think for a pre op physio lesson!!!!!!???????,yikes.

I must get on,stressing to be done.Vx

silvasava

Morning All - good to see others find Carol Klein's book useful. I bought the fruit book too. Paid off 'cos I discovered Raspberry's don't need to be in full sun so mine have been planted against a north facing fence and I get plenty of fruit from them. Cucumbers and tomatoes in big tubs in the greenhouse (6x6) I find tubs much better as growbags dry out too quickly. Picked 5 mini cue's over the weekend & the toms are setting - however my runner beans and climbing French beans are very slow at the moment - hoping they'll perk up soon. Can someone give me some suggestions for some greens for the winter? I'm thinking of perpetual spinach or (whispers) kale. I think cauli or cabbages will be slug magnets!
I made a cage for my fruit bed (strawberries, loganberries, blackberry and Jostaberry) I don't like the fine pea mesh cos the birds can get tangled in it so I used clematis mesh - keeps the blackbirds out but I found a cheeky sparrow munching as he is small enough to get through the holes! I don't really mind though

[Deleted User]

SILVASAVA chard grows very well down here and you can get 'RAINBOW CHARD' which is beautiful to look at in a winter plot. It's subtly different to spinach and you'll get masses of produce from it. The other thing I'd suggest is PURPLE SPROUTING BROCCOLI which will give you a succession of crops as it will be used in late winter/early spring. We've grown things like MIZUNA GREENS, PAK CHOI, LANDCRESS which stand through a winter and give a bit of variety.