The highs and lows of growing your own dinner 2015

zafiro1984

queen_of_cheap wrote: »

Being on crutches is no excuse use the bottom of your crutch to create the trench and then a grabber/litter picker to put the potatoes in with :rotfl:
Seriously, hope you're on the mend soon

That made me laugh 'Queen of Cheap' thank you. Yes I'm on the mend, managed to feed and water the hens today without any help from other half.

Made an enormous fruit crumble with lots of frozen fruit from last year. apples pears, blackberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, strawberries, there's enough for about 12 , will freeze it in individual portions.
Then I was motivated to make a turkey casserole from home grown turkey, home grown carrots, leeks, beans, swede, (but I cheated and used bought celery), again, will freeze it in individual portions - probably about 16-18 portions.
Looking at the title of this thread I can definitely report that this was a HIGH

Scottish_Mike

I got my first lots of potatoes planted yesterday in 30L tubs in the garden. 2 each of Rocket, Kestrel, Charlotte and Pink Fir Apple spread across the 4 tubs. I have 2 40L grow bags somewhere as well that I have to find, and they'll get some Charlotte and PFA. All the rest will be going in the plot - had a quick rethink last night and should be able to fit them all in - just need to get the digging done!

I'm also rearranging the garden before erecting the greenhouse and I came across my original compost pile that's just under a year old and has some lovely compost waiting to be dug into the ground. Not a lot but hopefully it'll benefit some sunflowers.

Morgy9

Hello QoC :wave:

Not been able to get on MSE as some work now coming in and building my stamina up so no late nights catching up on MSE threads lol.

We got an allotment last year (March). Whilst it looked ok (been 'cleared') we then discovered it had been covered in Scottish thistles and sure enough they were soon sprouting up under carpet everything! Bit soul destroying first few digs as every 3 weeks covered again - glad we didn't use a rotivator - soil quite clayey and roots well into gravel layer so gave up digging to Australia. So we used half and kept half covered in plastic til this year to fettle the nettles. So we are busy digging the half covered by plastic last year. But we did really well really and I love the peace and calmness after an hour or so down there.

Our plots are like 1/2 plots, no water or sheds. So brought a shed (ouch) and got water container so no more trips to the beck this year yeh.

We were going to concentrate on hard landscaping only last year but succumbed to planting some stuff from June onwards - everything beginning with C seemed to do well. Out door cucumbers, cauliflowers, courgettes, cabbages (with exception of corn which was pants). Hubby planted out brassicas in the rain and didn't cover so were decimated by next morning - many wood pigeon and mice here. But got some sprouting broccoli, and sprouts.

Rabbits rife but we re built all the fences first so fingers crossed we are Ok. Compost bins built last year and been saving our kitchen rubbish and filling them. Just turned them and looking good for adding to the land we will be digging this month.

Concentrating on organic - but no planting plan yet. Cheating this year - getting plants as no greenhouse (not allowed poly tunnels) and my windowsills useless for growing. So will be a bit behind everyone but will watch with interest.

Am W Yorks but North east end almost N Yorks. Happy planting folks :j

Dizzy_Ditzy

:hello: Morgy I'm sure you'll do fine I used plug plants last year and you saw some of the results :cool:

Just to whet your appetites- I picked some purple sprouting brocolli this afternoon and some spinach, and I made a quiche with it I think I might have made a quiche 20 odd years ago in school, but my aversion to eggs has kinda wee'd on that

I grew my dinner!

MandM90

I was on the allotment waiting lists (6 plots!) for about 18 months. I decided to go begging in neighbouring parishes and found somewhere only an 8 minute drive away with 2 full plots and 2 half plots free.

I've chosen this full plot:



for the princely sum of £20 a year. It has water (outlet on plot next door) is in a really lovely sleepy area and is a South facing slope.

I'm so very very excited! OH says we simply must get a cordless drill now :eek: The agreement arrives tomorrow!

Dizzy_Ditzy

MandM90 wrote: »

I was on the allotment waiting lists (6 plots!) for about 18 months. I decided to go begging in neighbouring parishes and found somewhere only an 8 minute drive away with 2 full plots and 2 half plots free.

I've chosen this full plot:



for the princely sum of £20 a year. It has water (outlet on plot next door) is in a really lovely sleepy area and is a South facing slope.

I'm so very very excited! OH says we simply must get a cordless drill now :eek: The agreement arrives tomorrow!

Wow :T:j

All that lovely potential :j:j

zafiro1984

queen_of_cheap wrote: »

Just to whet your appetites- I picked some purple sprouting brocolli this afternoon and some spinach, and I made a quiche with it I think I might have made a quiche 20 odd years ago in school, but my aversion to eggs has kinda wee'd on that

I grew my dinner!

Queen of Cheap;- another HIGH

MandM90:- That looks a really good plot, impressed.

forgotmyname

Shame you did't get that during the winter so you could have turned it and let the frost kill the roots.

Not rushing to start the seeds off this year. Doing some chillies at home, But no seeds for the allotment yet.

I still need to do a decent patch for the carrots.

tootallulah

I spent the morning in the greenhouse potting up tomato seedlings, cornflowers, lupins and peas - everything is looking very promising would that the weather was a bit more palatable it is really cold here today. My apricot tree is in full blossom so I am hoping for a few cloudy days with no frost whilst the fruit sets. The apricot tree is always the first to flower it is a real sign that spring is round the corner.

sebsmummy

Fab idea for a thread.I'm teaching my little boys about growing your own. Last year we did potatoes and herbs and this year we are doing potatoes, peas and pumpkins so far.