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

herlig

I have sowed carrots and peas. Leeks are in the cold frame. The forecast is frosty but a fair bit of sun and part sun for the rest of the month here. 

euronorris

Haven't done anything. Between bad weather and colds, haven't been outside really. Just had a quick check on garden though, and the peas I sowed directly almost 4 weeks ago have finally started to poke through

Suffolk_lass

Too wet to do much but all the tree mess is in those big one-ton bags waiting to be burned on the farmers' field - it's a win-win - I get rid without multiple trips to the dump, he gets the wood-ash soil improver

Fosterdog

I've given the fruit trees a prune, bought two new plum trees that are now in pots for their first year before going in the ground, last years fruit trees have gone in the ground (two pear, one plum, one cherry). We've built some temporary new steps in the garden to make it more accessible while we completely overhaul the whole thing, they'll probably still be in place in 5 years time rather than the currently planned 6-12 months 

I've just ordered a couple of vertical strawberry planters, not used them before but I really want to keep my strawberries going but they can't stay where they are right now as that area is due to be dug up and levelled. I should be able to get 22 plants between both planters and they should be easy enough to move around as we need around the landscaping.

I also ordered the planters that fit on top of grow bags, a friend had success with tomatoes in them last year so I will try them with some bell peppers this year. This year is very much about portable gardening so I'll be trying out the planting bags made of the same stuff as tarpaulin, I've grown strawberries in them before and they worked well, not sure if root veg would work though when it comes to moving them though.

unrecordings

Further tidying in the workshop today ready for what I hope will be a super weekend. Last night's frost should hopefully be the last for a week so I'm considering cutting back some of the sage & drying a batch (or freezing or both)

Suffolk_lass

I dug out a trug's worth of nettles in one of the shrub beds - it is clear that this is where the rabbit warren is. Meanwhile we agreed how to do the base of the greenhouse (using the concrete shaped base of one we got for free - a different make) and DH has bolted our new base frame to it (he was worried about the resultant step, while I wanted to make sure it was high enough as he is just under 2m and I would like him to be able to stand up. We will use the lightweight breeze blocks to make a raised bed in there

unrecordings

Nothing worse than stooping in the greenhouse. Should be a good day here, but rained overnight, so maybe no strimming, but plenty of other stuff to do

lynneee

Well the weather has been quite sunny and dry (finally!) this afternoon so we managed to get the first grass cut of the year done! Didn't have time for much else as we opted to go to the beach with the kids! Next weekend is definitely for planting though 😀 Most of the onions are now through, and the leeks and spring onions. I must remember to pick up some compost this week.

orangecrush

Hi everyone!  Can I please join the thread?  I have just taken on a half plot, slightly overgrown, and am both very excited and very scared!  My first task is weed proof membrane EVERYTHING and move the shed to a more useful position... after getting bolt cutters to open the shed door, as the previous tenants have signed the contents over.

First to go in will be some rhubarb crowns and some potatoes.  Eeeeeeek! 

What rookie errors did you all make on your plots? 

silverwhistle

Don't be scared, I took over mine at the end of last season, very overgrown, and it's gradually coming together helped by the fact that I'm mainly retired. Not much actually growing yet, but two blueberry plants went in last week. The internet is useful for advice, of course, but a few books are useful for reference and when you want to curl up on the sofa: Joy Larkcomb's 'Grow your own vegetables' is a good one but there's loads out there.

Remember cadging is fine; grab some pallets and make a compost bin, ask the neighbours for grass cuttings, and instead of weed proof membrane try cardboard, the worms love it!

I've put some garlic in but too deep I think, no sign of them yet...