The all new 2019 growing your own thread!

weenemo

Following this with interest. Our garden is somewhat not the way we need it in order to grow. We are getting someone in later this year to put drainage in and hopefully a new patio area. Then we'll put some raised beds in. We can really get going then. I do forget though that we've got a lovely apple tree, some blackcurrants and raspberries too. We also discovered this year we've two pear trees! Been here two years and I just thought they were dinky trees with lovely blossom but they've grown pears this year - I had no idea small, patio fruit trees were a thing, I'm so excited.

however, we've got a cheeky flipping squirrel that devours anything - nicked off with my newly planted daffodil and tulip bulbs last year, buries copious amounts of apples and maliciously bit one of my sunflowers off at the base this year and just discarded it. So I need to have a think about that. I got a courgette plant from one of my friends and it's still in the house as I'm terrified to put it out for fear of that squirrel. Need to get some netting rigged up.
I won't have much to contribute here for a long while but will watch with interest.

Kantankrus_Mare

Have spent three days tidying, sowing, weeding, picking and general pottering this week. Not fullo days....about 3/4 hours each time.

I'm getting a little obsessed with weeding. My plot has to be one of the tidiest (though not most productive) on the site but every time I go I find another area that needs a good weed. They just get so out of hand if not kept on top of. I hand weed and always have done but thinking a good hoe could save me a lot of time.

Is it just me obsessed with a tidy plot? I have to say it looks lovely at the minute. One of the old boys usually has fantastic sweet peas but has had no success this year. I have two wigwams full of them and am so pleased I bought the root trainer things last year. Will definitely be using them again.


Strawberries are finished here and Ive just made a pavlova with the last fresh ones. My meringue normally breaks up and I do eton mess but has actually held this time!

Getting the best crop ever off my raspberries and have just put loads in the freezer. Might have a look at raspberry wine which Ive never done before. Anyone else made any?

My sunflowers are doing well with some looking bigger and healthier than others. They are dotted all over the plot so I will make a note on where they do best for next year.

Got some little gem lettuce to go with our burgers for tea along with the cherry tomatoes which are doing really well.

Mnd

Raspberry wine sounds good! And no, you are not the only one obsessed by a tidy plot, we can't stand seeing ANY weeds in our plot. Cue goodnatured mickey taking from the others on the site. My wife's main job is to keep the paths and edges strimmed and tidy, but she is world class close weeded.

Yes, get a hoe. Saves time and reduces walking on the plot. You can get a double bladed hoe which does the job on both forwards and backward motion.

Our potatoes were lovely with a chicken tonight, supplement was a cabbage swopped for new pots with a fellow allomenteer! And Lidl mangetout

Off to do the watering now (can't be bothered really):undecided

zafiro1984

Managed to get some leek seedling from the sale at the garden centre to replace the ones that fried in the heat last week. The seed packets were half price not 50p as last year, so I only got dwarf beans, lemon basil and fennel which I had run out of.

I've lost a plastic box full of seed packets - all my spare ones. I've no idea where they are. They were in the kitchen last Tuesday but I moved them because we had someone here for lunch. I've searched high and low, study, utility room etc, I've even tried the pantry, freezers and log store with no success but no doubt they'll turn up one day when I don't need them.

Mnd

That's still quite a good bargain on the seeds Zafiro, better than nothing.

You seeds will turn up, I lost my french bean seeds, then found them filed away in the runner bean packet!.

Keep the leeks well watered for a week or so

Suffolk_lass

If anyone wants to start a late crop of beans I can recommend "Speedy" dwarf French Beans - Mine have been in for five weeks from seed and are flowering - so still realistic for a late August/early September crop - they are usually T&M but I think Suttons and Van Meuren have done them before too

euronorris

Soo much to catch up on, I'm not sure I'll manage it. I hope everyone is doing well, and that your veggies and fruit are growing well


Garden seemed to survive just fine without us for a few days, and has now had a good watering (as it was very hot and sunny whilst we were away).


I definitely have a courgette growing! Yes! First ever. Stupidly proud of that haha. Luckily, when I thought I had only females coming up again, I was wrong, and some males flowered, so should have a few more in a few days too. Whoop! Whoop! I've got two plants, so if I've read right, I'll soon be drowning in the things yeah? I hope so haha.


I am more than a little obsessed with my tomatoes, which are finally fruiting, and plenty of other blooms on them too. Still optimistic for a nice harvest from them eventually.


Beans and tomatoes have been suffering from blackfly and whitefly, so treated with some soapy water on Sat night, then washed off sunday morning. Will treat again tomorrow evening, as there are some hanger ons.


Blueberries are ripening, and so we picking small handfuls each day at the moment. Blackcurrants never did much. Debating whether or not to get rid of them for next year, and get gooseberries instead as DH would prefer a gooseberry I think.


The pepper plant I bought has lots of lovely looking peppers on it! And now, the other 3 plants are flowering haha. Will hopefully have lots of peppers soon.


Purple brussel sprout plant still growing like a beast!


And I returned to the office this morning to find my first chilli pepper had ripened, so I've picked that. The others won't be far behind.


We all had a lovely time at Peppa Pig world and Paulton's Park in general. It was soooo hot! DD absolutely loved it, and I'd highly recommend it for kids. We ventured into the part outside of Peppa Pig world quite a lot (almost no queues for those rides) and DD was able to ride about 85-90% of rides, despite being under a metre tall. Food and photos very expensive though.


Went to FIL's yesterday, and we enjoyed nosying around his garden. See what he's growing. Much of the same as us really, but in different quantities, and has different challenges (rabbits, and their chickens getting out and trying to eat the plants! haha). I do like seeing how other people have their gardens set up. Gives some lovely ideas. And they had an apple tree absolutely laden with young apples! Beautiful!

dancing_star

Lost a few tomatoes to blossom end rot. Waaah!


Going away for a few days, my neighbour offered to water the garden. She came round earlier to be shown the ropes and nearly fainted. Ah well she won't go hungry, as long as she likes lettuce and courgettes!

unrecordings

dancing_star wrote: »

Lost a few tomatoes to blossom end rot. Waaah!

I just cut the 'rotten' bit off and use the rest

Mnd

Sounds as though you had a good break, and everything seems to be growing OK.

Watering is a pain, but it's important keep the crops going.

Just been up for our evening stroll to the plot, no work tonight, but the sign is on the gate. Council inspection and judging in the next two weeks!

All the part-timers will make an appearance now, trying to tidy up and cut back some weeds, it's nice to see that ours is up together and watch the others panic.:T:T:beer::T: