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

Silvertabby

unrecordings - try used teabags soaked with olbas oil. Cats hate the smell.

unrecordings

I think I just need to tweak my system in all honesty but thanks for the suggestions all. First, this particular bed is probably the only useable bed in in the area, I dug it, hoed (hoed ?) it etc just before the heatwave so it's lovely & crumbly down to about 3". Second, when I noticed the soil getting disturbed I put some sticks in, but I didn't have many (I had a purge and the flimsier ones went in the compo. Third, my chemo powers mean that I've got very little strength so getting the sticks beyond that 3" of cultivated tithe was actually very difficult. So my own fault really, I didn't apply my system properly and by the time I realised the extent of the problem it was too late. We have three proper cat toilets in the garden, but the one furthest from the house is overgrown with nettles.

Anyway I fixed it with a lot of holly cuttings and about 10m of nature's barbed wire (brambles) - however when the slugs come out they're going to love all that spiky protection I gave them. Good job there's still a protective belt of wood ash round the beans themselves.

Edit: I might post a photo or two tomorrow to give you all a laugh

Jazee

Just had my first blackberry, twas delicious. Also first cape gooseberry is ready but just looking pretty on the worktop for now! Strawberries, loganberries, gooseberries, raspberries all pretty much finished now except for the alpine strawberries.

Cucumbers doing really well as are tomatoes.

unrecordings

First two blackberries today here too

VintageHistorian

Tomatoes are starting to ripen! Got several cucumbers growing but I'm not sure when to pick them XD At least with the tomatoes I just need to wait until they're red.

Need to plant out some more radishes as we've harvested all of the first lot, DH enjoyed them.

Also got quite a few peppers growing. Currently green but I think they're red peppers, if not I'll also struggle to tell when they're ripe enough. Can you tell this is my first year growing stuff? XD

zafiro1984

VintageHistorian wrote: »

Got several cucumbers growing but I'm not sure when to pick them XD At least with the tomatoes I just need to wait until they're red.
Also got quite a few peppers growing. Currently green but I think they're red peppers, if not I'll also struggle to tell when they're ripe enough. Can you tell this is my first year growing stuff? XD

I leave the cucs until the end is slightly rounded.
I think you will find out that peppers ripen to red (sometimes other colours) from green although there is nothing wrong with picking them at the green stage.

Did nothing today as the knees are playing up big time and I had to get my crutches out again today.

joho

Very happy to have found this thread. Love reading about what you are all growing and picking up tips.

We've taken on a 5 pole allotment that is neatly divided into smaller beds, each about 2 x 4m. Inherited a rhubarb patch, damson tree, redcurrant, blackcurrant and gooseberry bushes, and 6 different rose bushes. Gooseberries and redcurrants have been great and delicious, and love having a couple of roses to cut every couple of days. Damson tree is starting to ripen and have no idea what to do with them - thinking wine?

We have planted our own tomatoes, courgettes, sqaushes, aubergine - all established plants that are doing okay.

Also planted carrots, beetroots, savoy cabbages, spinach, and various salad leaves and lettuce - all seedlings, and flipping rabbits have eaten nearly all them.

So have spent the morning researching how to keep them off. Have a few net tunnels, but they won't keep them out. So probably going to have to fence each bed! cost a fortune.

Ah well, I live and learn. have started some more seeds (I know its a bit late for some things) and will grow them on a bit further before planting them this time.

Happy growing everyone.Jo.x

unrecordings

Last two raspberries today, maybe a couple more if I get them before the squirrels/blackbirds/jays

Picked a few more blackberries (from semi feral brambles) - I note from my calendar that I picked my first blackberry the same time last year almost to the day.

Still too hot for me, but hope to get out tomorrow early to pick jostaberries - it'll be our first crop.

In the meantime I picked our first evil tomato. Here it is a week or so ago:

Dizzy_Ditzy

I had my first blackberries on 30th June! Or rather, my chickens had my first blackberries on 30th June :rotfl:

Lots of things still doing brilliantly. I have planted into the new plot so now I officially have 3 plots to water :rotfl: Think I have seen the last of the raspberries at Plot 1 so the fruit cage can come down in the next few weeks and be put up again at Plot 3.

Have had the first red tomatoes at home :j Now eating entirely homegrown salads :j

We are in desperate need of rain. My two water butts at home are on dregs and we are *this close* to a hosepipe ban. The allotments are ok because they're served by troughs but at home my plants are really struggling. Except for my olive tree. My olive tree has actual olives on it

Suffolk_lass

joho wrote: »

Very happy to have found this thread. Love reading about what you are all growing and picking up tips.

We've taken on a 5 pole allotment that is neatly divided into smaller beds, each about 2 x 4m. Inherited a rhubarb patch, damson tree, redcurrant, blackcurrant and gooseberry bushes, and 6 different rose bushes. Gooseberries and redcurrants have been great and delicious, and love having a couple of roses to cut every couple of days. Damson tree is starting to ripen and have no idea what to do with them - thinking wine?

We have planted our own tomatoes, courgettes, sqaushes, aubergine - all established plants that are doing okay.

Also planted carrots, beetroots, savoy cabbages, spinach, and various salad leaves and lettuce - all seedlings, and flipping rabbits have eaten nearly all them.

So have spent the morning researching how to keep them off. Have a few net tunnels, but they won't keep them out. So probably going to have to fence each bed! cost a fortune.

Ah well, I live and learn. have started some more seeds (I know its a bit late for some things) and will grow them on a bit further before planting them this time.

Happy growing everyone.Jo.x

You can make wine, gin or jam with Damsons in this house - all good. If you want to do gin for Christmas, it is 300g sugar, 300+g damsons and a 75cl bottle of (supermarket) gin in a bit glass jar (kilner-type) all in together after slitting or pricking the fruits (no need to stone) - then simply turn the jar upside-down then right way up each time you pass it. The sugar dissolves and the fruit leaches its colour and flavour. I bottle it in early December and often give it as gifts for Christmas. Works just as well with vodka.

By the way, we cut down plastic bottles (4pt milk or water) and cloche the bean seedlings to protect them from bunnies here. Bit more of a faff but works and is cheap