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

zafiro1984

I'm back  - a couple of days later than I hoped for. Spent yesterday getting rid of nettles in the hen pen before the next set of hens arrive. I'm waiting for a new roof on their house so they'll be dry when it rains, I've only one hen at the moment, she must be about eight yrs old and when I go in their pen it a bit like 'where's the hen' fortunately she's quite friendly and usually appears. The definition of space for free range hens is 10sq feet per bird, she has half an acre - no wonder sometimes I don't see her.

Back to the veg - did some strimming on the paths trying to make it look tidier, I'm trying to get the bed ready for Alderman peas, Cobra french beans and runner beans I think they are called something like 'Firelight'  Does anyone have trouble with their frames for climbing peas/beans. Mine start out OK but as soon as we get a strong wind they tend to fall over. I use bamboo canes - any ideas welcome. I had half a dozen Jerusalem artichokes tubers given to me a couple of months ago. they were a bit shriveled so I put them in pots, fortunately five have started to sprout so I need to find a space for them. I'm not keen on them, they have an unpleasant effect on me (DH is OK with them) I believe summer savory helps, does anyone know if it works?

I'm still working through last years goodies in the freezer, all the tomatoes have now been used, leeks are almost finished, I had some large onions which I knew would go soft if I didn't freeze them - I've a couple of bags left, courgettes have gone (thank goodness), a large amount of sliced runners  and some sweetcorn and green peppers are left. Fruit is going down quite nicely, I've just some berries and plums left and I can actually see empty spaces on the shelves. 

-taff

I picked up a metal arch from freecycle last year and some netting in wilkos when they had their summer sale last year. I'm going to cable tie the netting either side of the arch across the width and see how that holds up for runners this year. Then I can reach through the middle to pick and either side. That's my plan anyway...For some reason whenever I grow beans, they seem to have trouble winding around things...

Charly27

-taff said:

I picked up a metal arch from freecycle last year and some netting in wilkos when they had their summer sale last year. I'm going to cable tie the netting either side of the arch across the width and see how that holds up for runners this year. Then I can reach through the middle to pick and either side. That's my plan anyway...For some reason whenever I grow beans, they seem to have trouble winding around things...

Yup! Mine have that problem Taff. Zaffiro let us know how you get on. I’m pants with the bamboo type frame. I’m okay with a teepee but the first strong wind that whips across the allotment has it down despite endless advice from my allotment neighbour! Taff I like your plan. My first year my DH built a sturdy football goal  style frame and I just took netting down and dug a trench below it in the autumn. Chucking all the compost in there over winter. Then I thought I should rotate and didn’t maintain it. Perhaps I ought to try again as I always got a good crop and could get to both sides. 
Parsley pricked out, dwarf beans and runners soaked for a couple of days to see if I get better germination and I sowed three pumpkins yesterday. Long days working from home at PC to meet deadlines mean I have given myself an hour at the end of everyday to lift my funk and get a few little jobs done.
Anyone on here tried gardening with the moon?

Suffolk_lass

carinjo said:

Suffolk_lass said:

carinjo - another plot? blimey, you're a glutton for punishment. Have you checked out the advice from Sarah Raven on cut flowers and the stock her website offers? - I found her too expensive for my budget but the advice is sprinkled through the site, which I periodically look at when checking something out, and it seems quite good. Asparagus. Perennial crop. Premium. Just saying...

Funny you should mention Sarah Raven, got seeds in the May Gardener's World, which started the conversation about cut flowers.
I was thinking about asparagus, but might be a bit next level for me at moment. But if a have a go from next year, definately something i would love to do. The plot is about 7.50m x 10m (same as current one) and got small shed and massive apricot tree on it and some fruit bushes. Will decide end May.

In other news: got to plot last night (to see if radishes ok after being nibbled at) and found a tray of tomato plants left by Mr R! Went over to his plot to see how he planted his and quickly planted mine too! He has been great with info and advice and now plants too! 

Actually that additional plot sounds fab. My GW magazine (bought for the garden entry 2-for-1 card) did not have the seeds .  Over here DH is finishing edging the soft fruit bed he has expanded with concrete roof tiles - they slot together and not unattractive. I have about four new mini gooseberry bushes from layering (bury a branch until it roots) of the existing ones. Love the dessert gooseberries we grow, and the pink ones. 

We do have one area for Asparagus and pretty straightforward but needs attention to weeds. Unfortunately there is a bit of oxalis corniculata and a tiny bit of bindweed in the bed, together with regular invasions from autumn fruiting raspberries trying to spread from the neighbouring strip bed. We have them on mounds like potato earthing up mounds and that works well but there is the perpetual danger of damaging the crowns while digging for deep-rooted weeds or raspberry removals. We have definitely killed off about 3-4 crowns in 4 years. I have another 10 on order - 2x5 of two varieties from Ken Muir. Any time now I hope.

Suffolk_lass

-taff said:

I picked up a metal arch from freecycle last year and some netting in wilkos when they had their summer sale last year. I'm going to cable tie the netting either side of the arch across the width and see how that holds up for runners this year. Then I can reach through the middle to pick and either side. That's my plan anyway...For some reason whenever I grow beans, they seem to have trouble winding around things...

We found some nylon pea netting in the pig shed and DH spent a couple of frustrating hours attaching it to the (plumbing pipe) metal arches we use (feet planted either side of the path between the four rotation crop beds) yesterday afternoon. I might see if I might be able to add a picture if anyone wants to see. 

After years of frustration with pea and bean frames I specified the design and DH built it for me.

-taff

yes please.

carinjo

Suffolk_lass said:
My GW magazine (bought for the garden entry 2-for-1 card) did not have the seeds . 
...
We do have one area for Asparagus and pretty straightforward but needs attention to weeds. Unfortunately there is a bit of oxalis corniculata and a tiny bit of bindweed in the bed, together with regular invasions from autumn fruiting raspberries trying to spread from the neighbouring strip bed. We have them on mounds like potato earthing up mounds and that works well.

I got my GW magazine through a link from MSE weekly email, paid the extra £1 for the seeds. Think still able to order before 20th May if anyone interested. 
Considering i haven't managed to kill my potatoes yet, earthing up asparagus sounds like a plan.

I do have a quick question regarding courgette/pumpkin growing for the board: i've read one should try and raise the pumpkin off the ground so it don't rot etc. Could i cover the ground in tarpaulin/cardboard and grow courgette, pumpkin over it? It's an idea for the new plot anyways.
I've only got enough room left for 2 courgette / 3 bush marrows. The bush marrow might have to go into pots at home otherwise.

In other news: i've planted my leek seeds into too shallow pots, couldn't understand why they wouldn't develop any further. Will have to try and rescue them tomorrow. Live and learn.
Charly27 i've also got a similar frame, glad to hear it worked for you. I am planning to keep mine in same place though.

Suffolk_lass

carinjo said:

Suffolk_lass said:
My GW magazine (bought for the garden entry 2-for-1 card) did not have the seeds . 
...
We do have one area for Asparagus and pretty straightforward but needs attention to weeds. Unfortunately there is a bit of oxalis corniculata and a tiny bit of bindweed in the bed, together with regular invasions from autumn fruiting raspberries trying to spread from the neighbouring strip bed. We have them on mounds like potato earthing up mounds and that works well.

I got my GW magazine through a link from MSE weekly email, paid the extra £1 for the seeds. Think still able to order before 20th May if anyone interested. 
Considering i haven't managed to kill my potatoes yet, earthing up asparagus sounds like a plan.

I do have a quick question regarding courgette/pumpkin growing for the board: i've read one should try and raise the pumpkin off the ground so it don't rot etc. Could i cover the ground in tarpaulin/cardboard and grow courgette, pumpkin over it? It's an idea for the new plot anyways.
I've only got enough room left for 2 courgette / 3 bush marrows. The bush marrow might have to go into pots at home otherwise.

In other news: i've planted my leek seeds into too shallow pots, couldn't understand why they wouldn't develop any further. Will have to try and rescue them tomorrow. Live and learn.
Charly27 i've also got a similar frame, glad to hear it worked for you. I am planning to keep mine in same place though.

Just to be clear - you form the mounds (and if your soil is heavy, consider adding grit or loam to improve drainage) then spread the asparagus crowns out on top of the mounds and then cover them - the mounds are about the same size as potatoes earthed up, but the earth is not on top of the crowns.

- taff - here you go - climbing beans in the right hand bed, furthest from the camera, with brassicas going in when I have more netting, runner beans and borlotti beans closest on the right (with peas), front left is roots and courgettes to try and encourage on the canes, back left is potatoes.

-taff

Thank you That looks great. And everything looks so neat!

I did try something similar with just the bamboo poles years ago when i grew in another garden across two beds, but the poles were too short [ even though they were the longest you could get] and the beans just went triffid on me so i could barely get under them to pick.

Your arches look really good and food for thought.

[Deleted User]

Massively productive day today!!! 🙌 gardeners have been and completely cleared the border - back on Monday to put down the weeds suppressant and hard-core ready for the raised beds to be built - hopefully they'll be ready for planting by the end of next week!!! 🍾 
I've started loads of seeds off today - might be a bit late for some of them but nothing to lose so went for it! 😂 sweetcorn, squash, courgettes, tomatoes, leeks, broad beans, cannellini beans, French beans, cauliflower, romanesco, purple sprouting broccoli, normal broccoli, white cabbage, red cabbage - I'll put the carrots, beetroot, cavelero Nero, chard and lettuce straight into the beds when they are built 😉 incredibly happy that it's getting sorted - the lads worked like absolute troopers and are lovely kids - got them roped into other garden stuff now so they'll be with me for a while!! 😂