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

Ellie78

Suffolk_lass said:

Roger Brook is quite good too (a blog, that I see has not been updated since June but some good advice and articles) Link here

Thanks, I'll take a look.

MysteryMe

Have the last of the toms in the fridge. Have about 12. I picked them a few weeks ago as they just showing a hint of orange and weren't going to ripen on the plant so put them al together on the windowsill and they ripened nicely. I've pulled up the tomato plants and the courgettes which were a miss this year. Got one courgette and nothing else.  The peppers were a waste of time as well. Think they need a greenhouse really. So next year I'll just stick to toms. The beef toms did better this year so glad I gave them one last chance. Had more strawberries this year but still not loads. I am going to replant them in different containers next year.  Another couple of months and it will be time to start thinking about seeds again. Time flies!

twopenny

Ellie, I'd start now but just get the bed cut or built whichever you decide.

I started in a new property in December.January and just turned the turves over. Dug and put some conditioner on. Even planted some small Kale plants that were cheap in the rescue part of the garden centre an some onion sets from Poundland. To my surprise they grew while I was getting on with the rest of it.

Always nice to have some veggies right outside the kitchen door. Summer crops of salad and tomatoes that you can easily water. Raspberries and strawberries and herbs that aren't so easy to protect and carry home from an allotment. Also I like to sit in the morning and pick raspberries from cane to mouth while I'm waking up.

carinjo

Season's Greetings to all. I am enjoying my Pear Brandy made back in September. It's been a bit of a year for most of us, thank you to everyone in this community who was there for a bit of a chat and a bit of advice. No matter which Tier we find ourselves in, our Allotment will always be open to us. Carinjo

Suffolk_lass

Lovely post - Merry Christmas xx

twinklie

My wellies have died...I figured there would be some knowledgable folks in here - where can I get good but cheap wellies. I have very skinny legs and use them for woodland walks with the kids quite a bit, so don't want any that are too flappy. 

Also, what shoes/boots do you all wear for gardening? Is it worth investing in some gardening boots?

But to keep on topic, my brussel sprouts made the christmas dinner - they were bang on. Also managed to pull some broccoli and some carrots. Felt very proud of myself. 

zafiro1984

It will soon be New Year and once again I have good intentions to grow more, be more self-sufficient, to cut back on spending and be more organised. We'll see how it goes.!!!! 2020 has not been a good year, all plans for growing more were scuppered once the lockdown came as it meant there was just my DH and myself to look after the animals, but we're very fortunate in that neither of us has been unwell, -  just older, slower  and more creaky. 
I have made myself a spreadsheet and have given myself a budget, fortunately, I have quite a number of seed packets from last year so that should help. 

Help for DH and myself has arrived lately in two forms, the first being a neighbour and the second being my hens. Because of the Bird Flu all poultry has to be under cover. I've put mine in two large polytunnels and they are doing a wonderful job of clearing everything. I just hope the 'hen lockdown' will be over soon and they can go back to their proper house and then I can put the soil back on the beds and start afresh with no weeds, seeds, slugs or snails.

I'm looking forward to starting again despite the rain, it's such a relief to have help - even the DH has stopped moaning about aching and being tired. 

Suffolk_lass

Well done @twinklie on the brassicas front - I can't really advise on cheap skinny leg wellies except to suggest you check out the on-line Brantano as they have a sale on - we have gone the other way and I have two pairs of lovely warm comfortable muck boots (one pull on and one lace-up) - the pull ons have an elasticated calf section (not fully waterproof) but they are really warm and comfortable and excellent when walking in the muddy conditions and for gardening. Other than that I use old walking boots.

@zafiro1984 - our garden had a chicken farm in it two owners ago and the high nitrogen content in their poo means we have a constant battle with nettles here, even 20 years later. It's great the way they grub out the weeds though and your brassicas should be fantastic!

Happy growing in 2021!

Charly27

Happy Christmas all. No sprouts from the allotment this year so well done twinkle but still eating onions, red and white, and apples. Not bought either of these all autumn. The allotment has still not been fully put to bed for the winter and I haven’t planted garlic or onions but there’s always next year. Wonderful thing about gardening. Regarding boots, I have a pair of barn boots which pull on and another pair that look like those posh Irish two tone brown boots. Good advice to look in the sales. I have a pair of wellies in the shed. Thanks for your company this year. Have a good new year.

Dizzy_Ditzy

Thread for 2021 here - 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6227528/the-even-newer-good-bad-and-ugly-of-growing-your-own-in-2021/p1?new=1

I will give it a few days before closing this one down