The all new 2019 growing your own thread!

Jazee

Spent time outside walking and bowling. Decided it's far too cold to do gardening too, maybe tomorrow.

zafiro1984

cats:- We used to live on a lane which was a rat run for cars doing a short cut. I was always worried about my cats getting run over but my DH suggested squirting them with water, not a method you would find in any book but one he had heard about at uni, so I sat on the wall at the front loaded with washing up bottles full of water. The cats were wet and indignant, but after a couple of sessions they never ventured out at the front again. (five champion show cats and a moggy - that was years ago back in the 80's)

Just potted on and watered today.

Mnd

Hi , haven't been around for a while, did my back and haven't got up the plot much and done very little work. Did get up today and earthed up the early potatoes and MrsD helped with some weeding for me.
Pulled a lovely lettuce for tea and forgot to eat it!
Pulled an onion for cheese and onion sandwich.

Did anyone take part in naked gardening day today, too blooming chilly for me!

Lit the heater in the gh tonight to keep the frost off

Hopefully back to fitness next week, nice to read what you all have been up to

rosie383

Morning Mnd. Glad your back is a bit better. Take it gently.

Forecast was for unexpected frost here so I'm about to go and look at the roof of the shed as it always shows there.

I spent ages yesterday wrestling with a roll of netting but eventually got it rigged up over my precious raised bed.

Also got new cat repellent stuff from poundland that smells different so will see if that is any better than the garlicky stuff.

Jazee

Naked gardening- no thanks - too many prickles.

PipneyJane

rosie383 wrote: »

Bloomin' cats!

Seriously. Give me your best remedies for stopping the flippin things pooing in my raised bed!!!

I was out there til dark last night transplanting seedlings etc only to look out the window this morning to see next door's big ginger cat squatting right in the middle of it. Aaaaarrrrrggghhhh!

I haven't been out to see the damage (and to throw the poo back over the hedge) as my birds were free-flying but I doubt it'll be good.

I had liberally sprinkled Wilko's cat and dog repellent granules all over it last night but maybe the stupid cat has no sense of smell.

Give me your help please.

I can open the door and hiss at them if I see them, but obviously they also poop when I'm not looking.

<presses de-lurk button >

Ground chilli and/or black pepper work well. Pepper is better, we’ve found because the chilli can burn tender stems (and it is much more visible). Buy in 500g or 1kg bags from your local Asian shop for between £5 and £6.

Something we discovered by accident is that our local cats don’t like egg shells, so we collect them after cooking, wash and dry well then smash-and-scatter. I think they don’t like the feeling on their paws.

HTH

- Pip

unrecordings

I seriously misjudged the chemo so was still wiped out yesterday - managed a couple of hours today, ripping out some peppermint which seems to have rotted over the winter (helped by badgers I suspect). Also started pinching out & tying in my tomatoes. Happy to report my courgettes are germinating nicely, hopefully I've the makings of a glut.

rosie383

Thanks Pipney.

The cats thankfully didn't manage to get in my raised bed and no sign of poo in other beds.
The repellent powder from poundland is very citrusey and it feels more normal to scatter round my strawberries.

Will give the eggshells a go I think. I grind my own pepper so it's very strong and smells lovely. Not sure I'd want to waste it but if I get desperate then I will try anything!

dancing_star

Take it easy, hope the chemo gets more tolerable unrecordings.


Rosie, I have been wrestling with a roll of netting this afternoon, after bodging a frame out of bamboo canes (junctions held on with duct tape) . The birds can jolly well keep their beaks off my berries.


Whilst assembling it all I did notice some teeny tiny gooseberries on one of the plants so that was nice. And the strawberries are flowering nicely too.


I accidentally grew too many tomato seedlings - I thought the first lot had failed, so sowed another bunch, and guess what the first lot grew like Topsy. So I'm trying to give them to friends as I can't bear the thought of chucking them and I am running out of space.

Suffolk_lass

Layering gooseberries to make new plants - has anyone done this? Is it better to do it now or after the fruits have been harvested please? I have one hit and one miss but boogered if I remember which was which. Whoops!