The great, good and not so good bits about growing your own dinner 2017

CAFCGirl

I had to say goodbye to my 3 lovely prolific squash plants this week...
Planted 60 garlic bulbs in. I still have space for another 2 cloves worth in the bed so just looking for another variety - I've got marco and christo in. Might try for a 'wight'.

I've promised the squashes that their legacy will live on and I will grow them again next year

Another big bed put in. I managed a mulch layer on my spring flower bed, composted chicken 'dirt' from their run on top of that and then I will put my bulbs in, then cover with some soil/compost.

We're set for good weather this weekend so the spring bulbs, and the swede bed are on my list as well as a good bonfire

Suffolk_lass

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

What kind of bug zapper is it Suffolk lass? Do you have a photo?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KB19KSG?psc=1 a bit like this one. I've had mine about three years and don't have a wall to hang it on (without stopping a cupboard door from opening), so it stands on the windowsill. I researched it before buying and bought a commercial standard. The unit was less than £30 but the bulbs are just over £20 a year.

I suppose it is the UV light combined with the warmth - it became my sweet pea and chilli seed tray germination stand last spring too - and it kills bugs!

Suffolk_lass

CAFCGirl wrote: »

I had to say goodbye to my 3 lovely prolific squash plants this week...
Planted 60 garlic bulbs in. I still have space for another 2 cloves worth in the bed so just looking for another variety - I've got marco and christo in. Might try for a 'wight'.

I've promised the squashes that their legacy will live on and I will grow them again next year

Another big bed put in. I managed a mulch layer on my spring flower bed, composted chicken 'dirt' from their run on top of that and then I will put my bulbs in, then cover with some soil/compost.

We're set for good weather this weekend so the spring bulbs, and the swede bed are on my list as well as a good bonfire

Is it OK to use chicken poo straight away? I know manure needs to ahem "mature" or it burns.

Good reminder re bulbs - I have loads that I bought (half price or better) when they finished flowering in tubs from the GC last year that need to go out (and get them out of my greenhouse where they have been all summer, nice and dry).

Jazee

Evening all. I think I lost my sub to this thread so a lot of catching up to do.

Lovely day here today and I spent 4 hours in the garden. Tidied half. Left leeks in, dug up some of the tomato plants after harvesting them and the bell peppers and chilli peppers. Planted bulbs and pansies, and broad beans and more winter lettuce.

CAFCGirl

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

Is it OK to use chicken poo straight away? I know manure needs to ahem "mature" or it burns.

Good reminder re bulbs - I have loads that I bought (half price or better) when they finished flowering in tubs from the GC last year that need to go out (and get them out of my greenhouse where they have been all summer, nice and dry).

This is the ground dirt from their run which I try to replace every 6 months, with wood chip, spent compost from containers etc they just add the poo. I'm hoping it will be ok with the spring bulbs and being in layers with mulch etc. I'd have left it longer if it was going on a veg bed, or I'd have covered it for overwinter. Its all trial and error in my world LOL

Suffolk_lass

CAFCGirl wrote: »

This is the ground dirt from their run which I try to replace every 6 months, with wood chip, spent compost from containers etc they just add the poo. I'm hoping it will be ok with the spring bulbs and being in layers with mulch etc. I'd have left it longer if it was going on a veg bed, or I'd have covered it for overwinter. Its all trial and error in my world LOL

Very interested in how that goes - had never considered layering it that early

Former_MSE_Andrea

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KB19KSG?psc=1 a bit like this one. I've had mine about three years and don't have a wall to hang it on (without stopping a cupboard door from opening), so it stands on the windowsill. I researched it before buying and bought a commercial standard. The unit was less than £30 but the bulbs are just over £20 a year.

I suppose it is the UV light combined with the warmth - it became my sweet pea and chilli seed tray germination stand last spring too - and it kills bugs!

Thank you! The fact it gets rid of bugs as well as keeps plants warm sounds really useful.

Fruittea

Hi Everyone
Sounds as though you've all been busy. Hope the various winds didn't do too much damage. I lost 2 panes of glass from the greenhouse down at the lotty but not too much other damage. Repairs will have to wait a bit as I'm off to Essex tomorrow for a few days.
Still plenty to eat but I had to buy courgettes today as I had the last few over the weekend and I'm about to run out of potatoes. Other than that I still have plenty of produce in the freezers.
I've also got quite a bit of apple related things on the go - so that will keep me busy for a while.


Apple butter, apple fruit leather, cider apple vinegar and Dorset apple cake yesterday for me and a neighbour who gave me all the apples. All fun though.


I've bought onions and garlic but will put in in when I get back - hopefully at the weekend.
All the best.

Fruittea

I guess there's not a lot of growing going on. I've planted out the garlic, onions and broad beans - so I'm up to speed with things. Just looking at the last of my tomatoes. I think I'll get through to the end of November and then I'll be buying them.


Still plenty of veg in the freezer and I have carrots and greens at the allotment. But I've run out of potatoes now. I understand ASDA are doing a wonky organic veg box for £5 - so I might try that out and see how it goes.


Hope things are going well with the rest of you.

tibawo

I managed to get up today just for 30 mins. I've either been away, busy or ill and then on the days I have had time it has been raining.


I have noticed a robin up on the allotment and today it was literally 50 cm from me. It was watching me dig and would hop even closer, grab something from the soil and go back to its perch 50cm away. It was such a lovely experience.


also from what I have read I can take the guinea pig waste/bedding and put it in the composter.


off to research some dwarf fruit trees.