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

Suffolk_lass

-taff said:

That's a good idea,never thought of that. Just have to find a tap now...:)

If your water butt is plastic, a plastic beer fermentation tap might do.

carinjo

Yesterday was a crap-a-doo day at work. Got home, changed and went straight to the plot. Carlsberg, Classicfm and looking out at the allotment from my (donated) deckchair and (pallet) deck. OH was thankful I didn't take it out on her instead. I knew gardening was therapeutical, but now I know the wonders of being able to reset and start again.
Sunday: gave all the fruit trees and bushes loads of water and food. Done the bamboo stakes for the runnerbeans. Yeah for scouts, i remembered how to tie two pieces of sticks together to lengthen it. Good for stretchers, tentpoles and now also runnerbeans.
 At last moment decided wanted a second row of runnerbeans, so dug a spade wide extra trench and edged it with plastic cladding.
Monday: planted runnerbeans. Planted more donated tomato plants (thank you Mr C!) Dug over bed for sweetcorn again, they almost ready to be planted.
OH worked her little fingers off weeding raised beds, harvesting radishes and transplanting baby lettuces. She much better with the fine, intricate work. 
And in other news: i finally decided to take on the second plot. A work colleague pointed out that lettuce loves shades, so am planning raised beds, seating under the giant fruit tree. 
Lack of space at home, might now also look into a green house for next year. My sister is growing like crazy with the little plastic £9 (on sale) one I got her at poundstretcher for Christmas. 

Suffolk_lass

Great post carinjo, I totally agree about the therapeutic qualities of gardening. I also did some weeking of raised beds - I did the onion bed. All of ours are around 3m long by just under 2m wide and they are just too wide for me to comfortably reach to weed the middle. I am still very flexible so yesterday I planted a hand in the soil to let me reach the middle but when I am older I will need another solution. - So a long winded way of saying don't make your raised beds too wide!

I love the idea of a seating area under the large tree. That is very much in the style of German allotments which have a name that translates as something like garden colonies. Each has a little hut and a garden. In Bavaria where DH was living when I met him, people lived mostly in small rented city apartments, making use of civic parks and gardens, and any personal outdoor space was much prized as leisure space. I remember going past on trains and seeing the umbrellas and terraces set up in allotments, more prevalent than veg beds. Not suggesting this for you but a bit of leisure space where you can just sit is a marvellous thing. Maybe a cut flower space in the style of Sarah Raven too!

Suffolk_lass

I spent yesterday repotting lots of my very late tomatoes. They are now in their penultimate pots that will stay in or around the greenhouse. I have seven bigger plants ready to go against the house wall but first we have to dig out the huge agapanthas and divide it

crv1963

Good morning.

I spent yesterday- my first day off filling a skip with garden rubbish- from the pruned roses and the branches from bushes/ trees cleared to make space for my raised beds. Today is to sort the greenhouse out- moved the last of the bedding plants to the cold frames, pot up more tomato plants and then take the chilli plants out of the heated propagator and pot them up. Having not grown toms for years and never in a greenhouse I suspect that I've too many in there for us, but I'm sure I'll be able to give away any surplus.

Then back to work tomorrow. I have the weekend off Friday to Monday inclusive so intend to do four days sorting the garden and veg out- I expect that Mrs CRV may have other plans for my time but as long as it is tidy and watered I'll just go with the flow!

-taff

I've got 14 in an eight by six greenhouse,  seven down either side with a space at the end for three cucmbers and a space for two peppers at the front. I grow mine in deep trays filled with gravel or stones so I fill the tray with water and the roots find their way to the water. Saves worrying if I forget to water. I could probably get another four in there but the tray configuration means I can only get three on each tray with a smaller one at the end for another.  I really need to see a metal fabricator to make trays that fit the whole length. I'll upload a post if that's helpful to anyone.

[Deleted User]

Yes please -taff! 😁

Suffolk_lass

squirrelgirl said:

Yes please -taff! 😁

Me too please!

Suffolk_lass

crv1963 said:

Good morning.

I spent yesterday- my first day off filling a skip with garden rubbish- from the pruned roses and the branches from bushes/ trees cleared to make space for my raised beds. Today is to sort the greenhouse out- moved the last of the bedding plants to the cold frames, pot up more tomato plants and then take the chilli plants out of the heated propagator and pot them up. Having not grown toms for years and never in a greenhouse I suspect that I've too many in there for us, but I'm sure I'll be able to give away any surplus.

Then back to work tomorrow. I have the weekend off Friday to Monday inclusive so intend to do four days sorting the garden and veg out- I expect that Mrs CRV may have other plans for my time but as long as it is tidy and watered I'll just go with the flow!

I make homegrown passata with my tomato glut - it is much nicer than shop bought - you can remove the stalks and freeze the tomatoes whole until you are ready to make it. I looked mine up on youtube with an Italian lady here and mine lasted all winter (in fact the last half jar is in the fridge now). 

[Deleted User]

Suffolk_lass said:

crv1963 said:

Good morning.

I spent yesterday- my first day off filling a skip with garden rubbish- from the pruned roses and the branches from bushes/ trees cleared to make space for my raised beds. Today is to sort the greenhouse out- moved the last of the bedding plants to the cold frames, pot up more tomato plants and then take the chilli plants out of the heated propagator and pot them up. Having not grown toms for years and never in a greenhouse I suspect that I've too many in there for us, but I'm sure I'll be able to give away any surplus.

Then back to work tomorrow. I have the weekend off Friday to Monday inclusive so intend to do four days sorting the garden and veg out- I expect that Mrs CRV may have other plans for my time but as long as it is tidy and watered I'll just go with the flow!

I make homegrown passata with my tomato glut - it is much nicer than shop bought - you can remove the stalks and freeze the tomatoes whole until you are ready to make it. I looked mine up on youtube with an Italian lady here and mine lasted all winter (in fact the last half jar is in the fridge now). 

I'm with you suffolklass!  The concept of too many tomatoes is alien to me (growing space permitting obviously 😉) I dehydrate some, roast and freeze some and freeze some uncooked - tomatoes are used constantly in this house and by processing the excess I have plenty for the rest of the seasons - I just love them 😁!!!