The even newer good, bad and ugly of growing your own in 2021!

RelievedSheff

We have a parsnip seedling and four or five beetroot seedlings   

MovingForwards

My bean, pea, tomato and strawberry seeds have arrived. 
Opted for black russian tomatoes as they're supposed to be much better than beef tom's.
Will start sowing (indoors) and do a garden check later as it seems like a nice day up here.

LessImpecunious

RelievedSheff said:

We have a parsnip seedling and four or five beetroot seedlings   

You must be relieved, Sheff

carinjo

A friend wants to start growing a few things in pots, but not only dows she have a tiny space, but also has a couple of chickens. I said i will help, but don't know anything about chickens. If i build some protection for the veg, how high of a fence around the pots or best to do an eclosed cage?

ancientmum

I've had a bucket of home made comfrey tea stewing since last autumn.  The bucket originally held chicken manure pellets.  I'm wondering if I should be able to use it  and whether it will empty all the allotments if I do!

silverwhistle

No, it's a reasonably localised smell if very strong! I have a plastic dustbin (£8 from a cheapy shop) which is 2/3 full. I used a bit to give the purple sprouting broccoli a lift this spring. Lid went back on sharpish though..

As for the failures with germination that I've skim read about, I'm so pleased... I'm not alone! It seems to be a bit random at times. My Corno di Toro peppers (cheap Lidl seeds) are doing well but others not so. Some whole small batches have failed and that's with a heated propagator. A bit of cheating as well on my part as I've bought a few seedlings from the other cheap German supermarket and the Apache chillies are doing well as well.  I've two trays of heritage peas to go in for which I'll wait until after the cold weekend. One variety grows to 8'-10' which should be fun and the other is a soup pea. Borlottis sowed in root trainers soon: had the last of last year's this week - very plump and tasty. Some I lost to mould, but with a new dehydrator I should be ok and I'll try freezing as well.

MovingForwards

OH moved one of the comfrey plants to a more convenient location.
I planted some of the seeds, will get more going over the month.
Garden is really coming alive. Cabage, cauli's and spinach are all sprouting, as are all the raddish and beetroots. No sign of the carrots and parsnips.

Plans for this weekend include earthing the spuds, planting more spuds, planting the oregano in the herb garden and a bit more tidying up.

Suffolk_lass

More broad bean shoots have survived the mice. Bet they stall this weekend with cold meh weather until Tuesday. Time for me to plant more seeds in the greenhouse. Got masses and seem a little short of pots.

greenbee

I'm having the same problem with pots @Suffolk_lass! I've even had to resort to using the fibre ones someone gave me as I'm so short of small pots. Of course, everyone I can't actually see at the moment is telling me that they have lots... I've told them to save them for me anyway, as there's always next year. 

greenbee

I've been potting up the strawberry runners, and realised that they have better roots than last year's original plants, which don't seem to have done much since they arrived as plugs. I think i'll clear the entire bed into pots and use the raised beds and planters for veg only (it needs topping up with compost anyway). I just need to work out where I'm going to put all the pots...