The all new good, bad and ugly of growing your own in 2020

stavromueller

Hi :wave:

We took the keys to my allotment last June. Its pretty overgrown so last year we only managed to clear and plant some things in a small part of it. This year I'm hoping to get most of the rest cleared.

We've got apple and plum trees and I've planted some strawberry runners that my parents had spare. Apart from that, just garlic growing at the minute.

What do you like to grow?
Things I can eat!

Are you going to try anything different this year?
Trying lots of new things each year - this year I'm adding cauliflower and broccoli, and khol rabi. I'm also trying to do some cut flowers.

Do you make anything with what you grow?
I've made both tomato chutney and ketchup last year. This year I want to try to make gerkins.

How much does growing your own save you? Probably nothing but definitely helps me relax!

I spent last year lurking on the thread so thought I should join in this year.

euronorris

My mystery seeds are Callaloo (Nigerian Green). Had to do some growing, and it seems to be a bit like a spinach, from the carribean, so I shall have some fun trying those out!


ETA: I meant googling.

jammy_dodger

ive had a tidy up of the greenhouse and rearranged it to try n increase growing space this year
Im trying a raised bed (just one plank high 2 ft x 8 the length of the greenhouse to make a growing bed rather than use conatiners and grow bags for crops
the greenhouse is anchored onto slabs so i have some depth of ground plants can grow into have added compost
not sown anything yet too cold and not enough light for germination i have found early sowings up north just give spindly seedlings as they struggle with the low light at this time of year
have had a sort through my seeds though

miss_empty_piggy

lynneee wrote: »

Evening all!
I've just been reading an interesting article about growing your own loofas. As I'm trying to be greener and cut down on plastic, I thought that this might be an idea?
Has anyone tried this?

I tried in my greenhouse last year and failed.
just got a really long vine and that was it.
Think I might try again this year - but try the trellis option and tend to it better - I basically just planted and left it so no wonder it didn't flourish.

Good luck

Pablosmummy

Not much to update yet, pepper plants growing slowly but that's normal, a few of my sweet peas have shot up so they'll need pinching out before long.
A few of my spring bulbs have started to flower, looking nothing like what I planted, but I did get them from Poundland so we shall see when they fully.open, I swear i plant anything yellow in those tubs....
It's February so I might start my begonias off, possibly dahlias as I think I'll take some cuttings for my sister.
So still just waiting impatiently. I'm wondering when it's too early to start a few radishes in my trug, I've got the plastic greenhouse cover for it so might take a chance...

Sallyp2

Hi just joined thread. Have been growing my own veg for a couple of years now with mixed successes, depends on weather e.g. Managed to grow melons outdoors summer 2018, but they failed in 2019.
Brought a veg trug with cover a few years ago, mixed results for money. To be honest it harbours pests in the compost, the allotment is better for veg.
Have sown a variety of tomatoes, chilies and peppers this week as well as onions, cress and rocket.
Am going to try and grow my own cut flowers this year both to save money as well as stop buying imported air freight flowers, helping the world. Have sown lupin and geranium so far, but will try more as days brighten.
March is best time to sow. Have learnt not to be in a hurry. Plants sown in March and April fare better in long run.

crv1963

I was chatting last week with the gardener down at my local Nursery who grows onion from seed for showing. He advised me that most people fail because the best onions have heat underneath them. He suggested-

Sow in heated propagator, once large enough to come out of it place on a heat mat in the greenhouse and grow on. Then when large enough to pot on don't use too big a pot, keep potting up until in 5" pots then gradually reduce the heat underneath. Then harden off in May, plant out end of May.

So I'm going to give it a go! Heat mat arrived yesterday so this week I'll set it all up. Once the rest of my onions/ leeks/ shallots are out of the heated propagator I'm going to sow my chilli seeds.

Suffolk_lass

Did anyone notice we were tagged in the MSE :money: weekly email this week?

Welcome to anyone visiting or considering joining our rambling and advice on the back of that!

zafiro1984

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

Did anyone notice we were tagged in the MSE :money: weekly email this week?

Welcome to anyone visiting or considering joining our rambling and advice on the back of that!

I didn't know there was a weekly email. I've never received one - where do you sign up to join?

bluesooz

zafiro1984 wrote: »

I didn't know there was a weekly email. I've never received one - where do you sign up to join?

all the weekly emails are available here: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips/

a pop up may appear at bottom of page to sign up - or there is a sign up box at the side of the forum pages