The ups and downs and ins and outs of growing your own, 2018

sazzlebgood?

been up the allotment today, tree finally in as the ground has defrosted. Gave next door loads of strawberries plants. Harvested swede, spring/winter onions, kalettes, romensco and cabbage, retrieved some potatoes from the clamp. Although the sun is shining the wind is bitter here.

Jazee

Been for dog walk, got bundled into by a huge mutt and have hurt my leg, so no more gardening today. I'll try to get back out there tomorrow.

sazzlebgood?

Yesterday i managed to pot up cherry toms that had gone a bit leggy so sunk them up to their leaves, also potted on chillis. Sowed sow celery and toms. When i was taking them up stairs to put in the heated propagator, one of the trays broke and i managed to chuck wet soil all over the hall carpet :mad: took a deep breath ate chocolate and then hoovered it up. So had to resow these, Also sowed summer sprouting broccoli and kalettes. OH and FIL are at the lottie today putting up the new shed. FIL is thinking about putting a log burning stove in there so will start looking on freecycle etc. Has anyone else done this? I can see it creating problems:eek: but he likes a project/challenge.

Jazee

The leeks are currently in saucepans with potatoes. That's my gardening done for today.

tootallulah

OK tomato seeds planted, a few weeks later than usual but it doesn't make any difference in when they leave the kitchen for the greenhouse, usually I am impatient to get things going but this year I have been slower to get up for it. Can't say that I am looking forward to snow, let's hope it is all a big fat panic. The buds are forming on my apricot tree it is always the first blossom of the year, last year I photographed the tree in full bloom on March 11th it will be interesting to see when it flowers this year.

sazzlebgood?

snow has been on and off all day ,nipped to the allotment to pick salad leaves for tea tonight. Seems wrong to be eating salad when its so cold, but the aim this year is to eat something from the allotment everyday, hence salad leaves.

unrecordings

Fairly horrible here, pipes freezing etc. At least my second lot of Ailsa Craig tomatoes are just starting to pop up. Fingers crossed the snow will abate for a day or so around lunchtime, so we can dig our way to the garage and retrieve The Swedish Army Snow Shovel. It'll make short work of this stuff (if I can lift it...)

Scottish_Mike

Hi, I'm coming in from the cold to join in!
There's only a gentle snow here in Coventry, but it's way too cold to be doing anything outside.
I'm forcing rhubarb out in the garden (and there's some popping out around the side of the forcer!) and have a tayberry I planted last year that is budding and needs tying in. I have a grape that needs pruning in about a months time, and I planted a gooseberry that I planted last year that I need to check and see what it's doing.
Down the bottom of the garden are 2 apple trees and a quince. Hoping the quince will fruit this year, didn't have any fruit set last year. There are also some loganberries tied in, but I want to dump some manure at their bases when it warms up.
I've also got an unseated greenhouse which is just sitting, sheltering some sweet peas and verbena seedlings and waiting to go.
I'm itching to sow some seeds today, may do some lettuce and herbs, as my dad already has some basil sprouting so is beating me!
I'm planning on sowing physalis soon. Never done them before and was wondering if anyone had any advice?

CAFCGirl

Well.... its not often the South East gets hit with it, but I'm knee deep in snow, and I'm urban! Shocking stuff - was nice for a day but it can do one now LOL

As part of my salute of two fingers, I shall be sowing seeds today : Cerinthe and Nasturium for flowers and some cape gooseberries, maybe something leafy too - perfect day for coffee and mooching through the seed box.

Stay warm and stay safe everyone

Silvertabby

Chillis and sweet peppers are doing well in the heated propagator. Tomatoes (including the 'Honey Bubbles' that I'm trying for the first time this year) have just been potted on and are now on the spare bedroom window sill - which has a note on the door saying that it must be kept closed at all times to stop the cat from pushing the pots onto the floor. What is it with cats and 'pushing'?

I don't grow much green veg as my garden isn't big enough - but I'll be growing courgettes in tubs again, and may have a try at beetroot and spring onions (also in pots).