The highs and lows of growing your own dinner 2015

tootallulah

Goodness it is cold in north Notts today. I have got in my second and third lot of peas and I have moved the outdoor tomatoes out, which I am now regretting. Please make a quick return summer weather!

zafiro1984

Needed some more leek seeds, went to garden centre but found some leeks in modules. Bought a tray of 12 modules, there were over 200 tiny leeks in total - worked out cheaper than seeds :j

Jazee

Well done on the leeks Zafiro.

I plan to get out in the garden today. I cut the grass on Friday so that's done and I also weeded around the broad beans and peas. I need to put more support around the peas which are doing really well now after a disastrous start with the autumn planting (only one survived). I also need to plant some more sweetcorn, parsley, and a few other bits. Am hoping I've not left it too late for the sweetcorn.

Also need to rearrange the greenhouse as the tomato plants are huge and need more room and sort out the purchasing of a new shed.

Oh and more weeding, weeding, weeding.

Scottish_Mike

I came to the realisation over the last few days that I need to give up my plot I don't drive and it's three quarters of an hour mission on a bus to get to. Additionally I can't transport anything bulky like beams or palettes, so have ended up accruing those at home.

I wasn't able to get down for 3 weeks due to uni deadlines, and returned to find bindweed, couch grass and mare's tail EVERYWHERE. I'd prepared a new bed for some rhubarb crowns, dug the whole thing, planted them, and they're surrounded by bindweed three weeks later. Same for asparagus bed - can't tell what's new asparagus and what is mare's tale (out of 20-odd plants, 1 is asparagus!). So the plot is horrendously overgrown and I don't have the time to fix it.

Really sad about it but hopefully someone who is able to manage the plot will get given it, and I'll just continue to stuff containers into my garden at home!

tootallulah

Sad about your plot Mike but you are right it is important to be able to get there easily otherwise it becomes a pain not pleasure.

I have been planting out annuals since 8 this morning because it is supposed to rain this afternoon and that will save me having to water them all in. I am about half way through and it has turned cloudy so I should be out there and not on here!

Peas and beans are coming along a treat everything else seems to have been stalled by the cold weather. Toms are all looking fine indoors and out, the indoor ones have started to flower. I have put up the flower hanging baskets plus two of tumbling toms. It is snail heaven in my garden I could do with a reappearance of the resident toads, fingers crossed they are still around, but I haven't heard them at all this year which is not a good sign.

unrecordings

Was in the woods at 7am picking some wild garlic. Transplanted a load of kale out of the propagator into small pots. Mooched around weeding a few beds and picked a load of couch grass. Pulled up some of the smaller broccoli to steam the leaves. Had a bonfire complete with sausage sandwiches and toasted marshmallows afterwards. Padding sentence because slug talk should never follow immediately after food ! Found a leopard slug in the pond (still not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing). Beans still slug free, no idea whether it's the copper wire, the wood ash or the early application of nematodes that's causing it. I daresay there will be an onslaught once the rains come

zafiro1984

unrecordings wrote: »

Beans still slug free, no idea whether it's the copper wire, the wood ash or the early application of nematodes that's causing it. I daresay there will be an onslaught once the rains come

many many thanks Unrecordings, you have just reminded me that I have some nematodes in the fridge. I had completely forgotten about them and they go out of date this week.

mrsscattercushion

Morning, brrr another cold one here in Yorkshire. long time since I last posted. Health, house renovation and family duties kept me busy.

slowly chipping away at our half-plot. it is so handy only being 5 mins walk from my house. hubby's work is keeping him too busy to help me much, so it has been hard going on some heavy clay soil ~ either baked dry last month or a bit squidgy!!

Managed to get 3 smaller beds dug and planted up with garlic, shallots and onions. Space for my salad bed too. On main side, have planted 2 rows of Pentland Javelin spuds and working on clearing more space.

From seed, managed to raise broad beans and 2 types of pea, that need to be planted out asap ~ hopefully in next few days. Need to get my runner, climbing and dwarf beans started in pots ~ so behind this year but weather is cold, so should be ok.

Haven't had time/space to plant much else from seed, so "cheated" and got leeks, purple and white sprouted broccoli, kale and sprout seedlings from garden centre ~ plants look good and great number of leeks!

So, plan continues to chip away at weeds and keep working the soil to make it easier ~ have ready supply of manure for putting on spaces not likely to use this year.

Will be good reading/catching up on how others are doing ~ happy gardening everyone x

unrecordings

Discovered my first courgette flower today (they're all still in the greenhouse)

Cooked up a lovely sauce for my sea bass tonight. Wild garlic from the woods, sorrel, a little thyme and my first picking of lovage from the garden (and butter and a little white wine)

zafiro1984

Yesterday:- Nematodes now watered in, two early potato beds earthed up , sweetcorn out.

Today:- Cleared a huge bag of rubbish out of the greenhouse and potted on some tomatoes and peppers. The greenhouse has been used for storage over the last three years (mobility problems - now cured) so I've decided it's time to to oust out everything that is not mine, the DH is not too pleased but can't say too much.