The highs and lows of growing your own dinner 2015

Bee70

Happygreen wrote: »

Bee70, Did it flower? Maybe Victoria's tip on pruning might help - I've not had time to watch it yet myself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I-biq7MH78

Thanks for that - I had a go with that last year, but maybe will be more brutal this year, give it a good feed and if it doesn't do then its out!

zafiro1984

Happygreen:- How's the greenhouse? We weren't too badly affected by the winds but it rained a lot and got quite soggy underfoot.

Still picking carrots - I can't believe it, I'm eyeing up the leeks now. I use a lot over the winter but they had some on special offer in the supermarket a couple of days ago so I bought a couple of packs. Maybe now I should start to use my own.

Still little enthusiasm to get growing again this year but I really must make a start on clearing out the greenhouse and getting the broken pains of glass replaced.

I was in the wood pile a couple of days ago getting some logs when I came across a hibernating butterfly - Painted Lady. I'm sure I disturbed it as it moved but I carefully covered it over again, marked the spot and my DH is banned from taking logs off that part - hope it survives.

Jazee

Unfortunately my new plot is still only half dug over due to the weather, and it looks likely to stay that way today as its far too windy here to be outside for long.

zafiro1984

Jazee wrote: »

Unfortunately my new plot is still only half dug over due to the weather, and it looks likely to stay that way today as its far too windy here to be outside for long.

Know what you mean, the wind is starting to get up here today. I want to move some chickens today but I may leave it until tomorrow as the cosy woodburner beckons.

Started to clear the greenhouse yesterday - what a mess after 3 yrs of neglect must do a bit more today but it's so depressing.

Shazza_D

Hi All :hello:


Not really grown much in the last couple of years what with one thing and another.


We only have a small garden so limited mostly to what we can grow in pots and containers - but we've had success in the past so fingers crossed!


The winds awful today and my poor mini (flimsy) greenhouses are in a very sorry state but this mornings priority was securing the trampoline. The kids would never forgive me

Grandmaibb

Hello all, I'd love to join in. I've had an allotment for several years but because of illness and pressure of work didn't do very well last year. This year will be different as OH is retiring in April and I am reducing my hours, will have the time and hopefully the energy to give the plot our full attention.

Xx

Happygreen

All there is to report is that both greenhouse and polytunnel survived the recent battering from the storms raging through...

I watched Victoria's clip on gooseberries. I had a secret laugh as I have one very old bush I have never really sorted out it has grown about 5 feet tall! Last summer it was hidden between rogue sloe runners, thistles and nettles and I had a late but brilliant crop - sawflies couldn't find it either, lol. I must look after it this year.
Bee, did yours flower at all?

[Deleted User]

Hi folks. Can I join please. I have only tried to grow my own once with little success. I had 6 tomato plants that were huge but gave about 3 small tomatoes between them, not sure what I did wrong. I also grew potatoes in bags and from 4 bags we got 4 very small potatoes!

I do have raspberries and blackcurrants in the garden and with zero input from me they do very well. I use the fruit for jam making.

This year I have resigned from a stressful job and am trying to be as frugal and self-sufficient as possible. I have a reasonable sized garden and an unheated potting shed. Lots to learn.

I would like to try strawberries this year, possibly in hanging baskets, potatoes, carrots. not sure what else. I need to get the raised beds sorted out first and since the weather is wild and my lawn in covered in snow it could be a while before I get them sorted.

I would appreciate advice on building raised beds. Where is a good place to source timber? What sort of soil goes into the raised bed - do I need to buy top soil to fill it up? As you can see major learning curve ahead.

Jazee

Welcome Allie23. Lots of good advice and sharing of gardening issues on here!

Plot still only half dug, but I've persuaded DH that the rug in our living room is past its best and its next use should be warming the soil once the plot is dug. I consider that to be progress in the garden considering it is January!

Popped out to the greenhouse today where I still have lettuce growing nicely, so brought one of the plants indoors to the kitchen windowsill so I don't have to go out in the cold each time I want some.

zafiro1984

Welcome Grandmaibb and allie23

Grandmaibb, I can detect a positive attitude - great - please do join in we all learn from one another and I personally welcome any money saving tips and ideas.

allie23, - raised beds, mine are made from pressure treated fencing rails as soft wood rots if not treated, they are 30cms high and were originally filled with the soil from the paths between the beds, plus compost and anything else I could get my hands on that was free (horse muck, chicken poo, alpaca - got the idea) One thing I almost forgot - at each corner I have a post so the hose pipe doesn't drag over the beds and also I can use the post to attach fleece or mesh to make a makeshift cloche or insect barrier for cabbages etc.

I have found that easy veg to grow are runnerbeans, french climbing beans, courgettes, butternut squash, carrots are ok if the soil is on the sandy side - I'm sure others will post with their ideas - good luck

Happygreen - please to hear your poly and greenhouse survived, I would imagine you rely on them quite a lot where you hail from. Have you started this years growing yet, I'm racing against time to get the greenhouse mended (two more panes broke last night) so I can start some leeks.