The ups and downs of growing your own dinner 2016...

princesstippytoes

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Got some dwarf broad bean plug plants to put in now -adding to my varieties of veggies I should have available to eat as the weather gets colder.

Gasping for enough money to get myself a greenhouse and should have enough saved up finally to get one at the end of the month. So I'll be able to do things "properly" next year onwards - ie start my food plants off from seed, rather than buying plug plants (courtesy of not having anywhere to start them off and it all sorta felt a bit much - as I'm still learning how to tell weed seedlings from t'other plant seedlings).

Mind you - I have been known to rescue weed seedlings to grow on if they seem useful. Don't know if I mentioned - but I've got fat hen plants growing on amongst my other plants.

I want to grow a few medicinal plants as well as the edible ones - and am making a start. My comfrey plants seem to be going great guns now:). Must get some garlic, ginger and tumeric in (dual purpose - food and medicinal purposes). Got some aloe vera now (for growing indoors).

If you're growing your own to save money think long and hard about the cost of a greenhouse and the fact that you'd have to heat it if you want to start seeds off in it. Will take a long time to get your money back if you buy a decent greenhouse. Why not start seeds off in the house? I hope your carrots survive. They really hate being transplanted.

butterfly2507

Thank you so much Fruittea! I've found them online along with some other veggies that I'd like to try (directly made a mass order to justify it haha). I've noted everything you said and can't wait to see if they grow - even for someone with no green thumb

zafiro1984

Quote:- english is not my first language, sorry for any misspellings.

Butterfly:- English may not be your first language but your grasp of a foreign language is pretty amazing. It puts my attempts at speaking a foreign language to shame.

Good luck with your fruit and vegetables, we all had to learn when we started to grow and I am still learning things.

butterfly2507

Awh thank you Zafiro! I just try to spend as much time with English speaking folks and talk as best as I can (this forum here helps too! )

Sooo I went on a little search and found a few things that you can still plant in August. Salad like it's been mentioned here along with beans & spinach. I honestly had to stop myself at the different variety of each cause otherwise I would have spend too much

I've planted everything, gave it a bit of water and now I just wait & hope that something grows. As soon as they've sprout I'll transfer them to a bigger container so they can grow (of course IF something grows at all!) My OH was a biiiiit shocked at my little veggie station going on but he will have his fun with it too I hope.

I've actually made a little book to write down everything I learn from here and the actual gardening. Like how much sun something needs, how long it takes etc etc. Might be helpful in the future

Fruittea

Morning everyone - it's a sunny day in Gloucestershire. So I'll spend some time in the garden.
Butterfly it's great that you've made a start. You could try perpetual spinach and some kales to take you through the winder. And you still have time for radish and lettuce - how about some pak choi that's pretty fast to grow. I wondered if you're interested in herbs. Sage and Rosemary are hardy through the winter. If you have a sunny spot how about some basil in a pot and you can take it inside during the winter.
Today I'm going to sow the last sowing of dwarf beans to go in an empty raised bed (they could go in pots). They should germinate in 10 days and give a crop through to the first frost. And then I'll be relying on the freezer stock.
Yesterday I made 8 portions of vegetable bakes for the freezer - Just had to add a bag of peppers from the supermarket but they were yellow stickered so just 70p. I find them nice and handy for a quick meal or as an accompaniment. Stuffed courgettes for diner this evening as there seem to be so many coming from my 4 plants.
Happy growing everyone.

zafiro1984

Just updated signature,

Picked from the plot, runner beans, pak choi, cucumbers, yellow and green courgettes, sungold roma and lidl tomatoes, plus one round red sort with no name, basil plus some 'Yard long beans'

I've never grown them before. They are weird, very thin and very long. I think I've picked them very young and not fully grown but still they are about 45cms long. I'd be interested to know if anyone has tried growing them, I'm a bit sceptical to try them?

butterfly2507

I watered everything today and am proud to say that my beans and spinach are already sprouting!! :T :beer:

Fruittea

Morning everyone It's a fine day here in Gloucestershire. I finished my house sit and am back to my routine. I passed by the allotment and brought back cucumbers and courgettes last night (1kilo of yellow and 2 of green) so I think it may be courgette fritters for dinner this evening.
Great to see your produce list Zafiro - never grown the beans before but they sound interesting. Are you going to save some seed?
Good news from you Butterfly you'll be eating a crop before you know it.
I've just been out to feed the tomatoes as they are yellowing a little - so I've added a spoonful of Epson salts to the water to give them a little lift. Hopefully they'll green up. I have 2 random curcubites in the front garden (where the chickens used to be)
They must have been in the chicken feed and self seeded. One is definitely a courgette but I'm not sure what the other is. I guess I'll wait and see. I'm growing pumpkin munchkin on an obelisk and I see they have some pumpkins forming - it should look very pretty - time will tell.
Went to the shop for peppers and mushrooms yesterday but that's all I'll need to buy this week. And one of the new hens has just started to lay so that's good news - can't wait for the other 2 to start. I've been having to buy mine for a while - I go to Beth's farm in Standish where she sells great eggs 6 for £1.
Well enough from me. Have a good day everyone.

jue

Hello everyone

My DH and I have had our Allotment for 9 years now, we have had some amazing produce from it abd really enjoy growing.
This year though my Dad passed away and the allotment has been left.
When we finally were able to get back to the plot the weeds were taller than me!
The committee are happy for us to keep the plot as we have extenuating circumstances and have always been productive on there before.
So here we are not quite back to square one but lots of work to do.
At least we already have the greenhouse and shed.
So far we have managed to cut down most of the weeds, have several fires to burn said weeds.
Clear the weedy greenhouse.
Looks like we will roundup, then dig. I know that this is not everyones choice but we need that help at the moment.
Our plan is as we have dug to cover the ground as we go with cardboard held down with manure where next years potatoes and brassicas are going, then use cardboard with either bricks or compost to hold it down everywhere else.
We are still coming home with a few bits to eat, with the odd rogue potatoe that has grown, and raspberries. The rhubarb has just about finished too but we have managed to crop some of this and make jam and crumbles.
I have even got a few spring cabbage seeds going on my kitchen window sill.
We are looking at this as a new opportunity to redesign a few bits and are planning to add a strawberry bed and jerusalem artichoke bed.
Next year has got to be better.

Fruittea

Hi Jue Good to have you posting here it will help you get back to growing. It's clearly a tough time for you and very early days - I hope the coming months will get a little easier for you. It sounds as though you are making a great start and changing things a little. I had a similar set back a couple of years ago and the plot was left for a year. But it's amazing how quickly you can get back on top of things and even do things a little differently which might work out better in the long run. If you have to nuke some of the plot to get you going - well just do it. I'm a great fan of cardboard to.
I'm so glad you are finding something growing in the weeds - it's a great reminder of how good it will all be and the beds sound good. I love my artichokes and they were all grown from seed - be warned some don't come true when grown from seed so start more than you think you want and give them plenty of space. Next year will be better.