The highs and lows of growing your own dinner 2015

Jazee

Thanks guys, I am going to give this a go in my raised planter and my new bed. Today, need to cut up that old rug to put on the weedy border if I get time, but dog walk first.

unrecordings

I'm usually restricted to weekends, here's what I managed today:

Removed the last of the brussels sprouts and prepared the bed for potatoes - added some (kitchen) compost and some leaf mould

Trimmed back the last of the raspberries in the main bed and moved back some of the ones that had 'escaped' into the rhubarb bed three metres away

Trimmed back some of the brambles I've been trying to tame (I love blackberries)

Tomorrow should be more of the same, bit misty and drizzly here but i'm in the mood for that

Jazee

Today, I potted on the broad beans and cut up and laid the old rug on the weedy border. I'm not going to be planting anything in the border, the idea is that the rug stays there till June, should have killed everything by then, and I will put down fancy stones.

Happygreen

StressedSteph wrote: »

Hi Happygreen & Zafiro


I haven't put muck on my Rhubarb recently, think maybe that is the problem. I have never managed to get enough stalks to be able to pick and still leave enough plant left to survive.


I am definitely doing something wrong. Think I will spread some muck around them this year and remember to water them well.


They have been in the ground for two years now, I REALLY should have gotten at least 1 rhubarb crumble by now

Muck for rhubarb coming up and thanks for reminding me to water...I think last year was a very dry spring so it didnt get enough.

Geodark

havent done much so far, got all my sweet peppers and chilli plants started - trying Naga as well this year, so really looking forward to trying those! Started my herbs (lemon grass, basil, oregano, corriander and parsley so far)

I started to clear out the greenhouse yesterday, so will hopefully continue with that, then I might kick off some salad leaves in there with the heater on - but with it being FA cup weekend I might get a bit side tracked - come on Sunderland!!!

Geodark

Scottish_Mike wrote: »

ETA: Ali beat me!

Square foot gardening was developed by Mel Bartholomew and entails getting a 4x4ft square raised bed, dividing it into 16 one foot squares and planting your seeds in the squares, possibly closer than you normally would.

I tried this last year and had a degree of success, but we had a lot of trouble with certain plants shading others out - my purple sprouting broccoli ended up totally taking over my bed and shaded out my parsnips and carrots leaving them stunted.

I don't think the system is useless by any means, but careful planning is required!

I would love to try this - but we have an English Bulldog who loves to trample on plants - so I guess most of my stuff will be in containers and the greenhouse this year! :rotfl:

Jazee

Geodark, I have two dogs and put really low 'fencing' around the parts they're not allowed on. They now know not to cross the barrier. Maybe this could work for you.

I need to prune back a hydrangea out the front but not sure that I'll get it done today.

Geodark

Jazee wrote: »

Geodark, I have two dogs and put really low 'fencing' around the parts they're not allowed on. They now know not to cross the barrier. Maybe this could work for you.

I need to prune back a hydrangea out the front but not sure that I'll get it done today.

Thats not a bad idea actually, she only has little legs so that would definitely keep her off! :rotfl:

Bambywamby

I have a male Labrador that likes to claim everything his outdoors, so my whole veggie plot is fenced off.

Scottish_Mike

Geodark wrote: »

I would love to try this - but we have an English Bulldog who loves to trample on plants - so I guess most of my stuff will be in containers and the greenhouse this year! :rotfl:

Last year I was having trouble with the neighbourhood cats, who loved using my raised bed as their litter tray. I thought I was going mad at first; couldn't figure out why none of my carrots weren't germinating lol!

I ordered a greenhouse yesterday. 8 x 5ft, so should slot nicely behind the outhouse. Really excited, can't wait for it to arrive and to get it built. Need to remove a honeysuckle from the side of the outhouse and weed and dig the bed it's going to be placed on.

Haven't planted any seeds yet. Need to get peppers going, then tomatoes, then Brussels, PSB and cabbage to plant. Need to get some new compost though. Popping into town for that tomorrow.