The all new 2019 growing your own thread!

Mnd

Well done on that progress CAFCGIRL, the weather makes a huge difference doesn't it,

We spent a couple of hours up the plot this morning, dug all the remaining carrots, got the shallots in and MrsD weeded the overwintering onions for me. If ever close weeding becomes an oylimpic sport, I guarantee I gold medal for GB for my wife. She is brilliant at it. Far more patience than me

Jazee

In my two hours outside this morning I planted hundreds of plants in the front borders and tidied the back garden and greenhouse. I used my steam cleaner to clean plant trays, will definitely do it again.

unrecordings

Jazee wrote: »

I used my steam cleaner to clean plant trays, will definitely do it again.

TOP TIP !!!

Mrs Un: Why is the steam cleaner covered in mud ?

Mr Un: Erm, aliens..?

MysteryMe

Wickes have got packs of Unwins seeds in clearance for 10p. Both Veg and flowers

unrecordings

Damn, was near my local Wickes today (but maybe I don't need more seeds)

CAFCGirl

A solid 3 hours on the plot.
Involved digging over the one of the very large beds - made from 4 pallet collars that get knocked together to make one huge frame. Plus I started on Bramble Mountain. Filled a large heavy duty shopper bag with cut bits, and have 2 piles ready to chop up small next time. The bag came home and the brambles have gone in the brown waste bin for council collection.

So that's 7 beds of varying size ready. Plan on numbers 8 & 9 being done on friday.

Then I'm moving on to the bigger tasks - digging out and clearing large areas full of seeds and rubbish, and pathways. Annoyingly site has no more wood chip so my paths are going to have to wait a while.

Nice to see the sunshine and signs of life coming back! Not long now.

Indoors there's tomatoes, chillies, marigolds and calendula in trays. Holding off on sowing anything else for a fortnight.

I have some slates to bring home ready for painting as my bed markers.

Think that's about it for my update.

How's everyone else getting on?

Karmacat

What a great post, CAFCGirl! You worked solidly, to accomplish all that in 3 hours.


I've done *no* gardening since Saturday - and a ridiculous amount of housework/ houseadmin today Not feeling that great, so I'm back to "maintenance gardening" of 15 minutes a day, maybe 30 minutes max as I feel a lot better once I get out there. There's several feet that needs digging, near to my patio and right next to my party wall, thats pretty good access, so I think I'll be doing that over the next few days. Got my seeds ready to plant when I come back from catsitting

Primrose

Frustratingly a third of my plot is currently occupied by over wintering elephant and ordinary garlic - we are huge consumersof it, and the rest of the plot is still occupied by winter greens and leeks which I a, busily trying to use up.

However my long climbing bean and tomato border is dug and ready for the stakes and poles to be set up when the weather warms up.
The only seeds I have get I sting at the moment are peppers and chilliest. I,ll sow a few tumbling tomatoes in mid March to grow in patio pots as I can plant them out early and cover them with bell cloches but perobqby won,t be sowing much else until April

in previous years I've often made the mistake of sowing my outdoor tomatoes too early and then watch them grow frustrating leggy as the nights are still too cold to plant them outdoors, so these days try to be more patient.

CAFCGirl

The one job I really need to get on with is clearing the space where the polytunnel will go. My goal is to get that done and up in March but it's gonna take me some serious graft to get the spot cleared for it and a few bonfires I imagine too LOL

Living_proof

CAFCGirl wrote: »

The one job I really need to get on with is clearing the space where the polytunnel will go. My goal is to get that done and up in March but it's gonna take me some serious graft to get the spot cleared for it and a few bonfires I imagine too LOL

I have got the spot under Mypex now and will rotovate the area nearer the time the frame will go up. I was very excited today to pick up two Ikea trestle-type desks which I will use on one side of the tunnel so I am not forever having to bend down to treat seedlings. They were donated on Freecycle although it was a 75 mile round trip and pretty scary getting home safely in a tiny car with the hatchback springing up and down on the motorway. I will cover them with thick plastic and hope they will last me for many years to come. Hoping to grow peppers, chilies, tomatoes, okra and sweet potatoes and a few flowers maybe. It's all a learning curve!