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

Caitykinss

I’ve been using blueberry punnets as seed trays, and save any type of plastic tray to stand pots in. I also have four big sandwich trays that were delivered to my mum containing afternoon tea, which have made perfect propagators! Runner beans and french beans will be done in loo roll tubes and most other things direct sown to save space. 

The snow has put a stop to my plans for this week. My potatoes are waiting to go in, and I’d planned to do my first sowing of lettuce, but both will have to wait until the weekend now. I’ve also got a few different flowers that should have been sown in the zippy greenhouse, but worried about frost now. Managed to get all my tomatoes and peppers potted on and am well and truly out of windowsill space! 

Pennysmakepounds

Well the bad weather yesterday has done the damage, most of the seedlings that were coming along nicely in the green house have literally frozen to death.

Looks like im having another bad growing year this year too .

I might do another batch on the heated mat but i fear i may have missed the optimal window for chillies and toms this again GUTTED - is an under statement.

And this after i invested in a new small plastic green house too, should have bought them in yesterday:(

RelievedSheff

We have been covering our outdoor pots and seedlings with bubble wrap overnight which seems to have kept the frost off them. They seem to be doing really well still. They are currently basking in the sunshine.

MovingForwards

It's not too late for for toms, mine are just sprouting, some of my mates grow chillies and peppers on the window ledges; much more impressive than I got outside last year.

Don't give up @Pennysmakepounds

JasperAlex

Pennysmakepounds said:

Well the bad weather yesterday has done the damage, most of the seedlings that were coming along nicely in the green house have literally frozen to death.

Looks like im having another bad growing year this year too .

I might do another batch on the heated mat but i fear i may have missed the optimal window for chillies and toms this again GUTTED - is an under statement.

And this after i invested in a new small plastic green house too, should have bought them in yesterday:(

Same here. Sowed a new batch of tomato seedlings a couple of weeks ago and the warmer weather helped them germinate in no time. Now the weather has turned, pretty much all of them have died. All my chilli seedlings have either died or failed to germinate. I only have 4 tomato seedlings left now. Not even sure whether it's worth sowing more as it looks like another cold couple of weeks down south. So so disappointed too  

Pennysmakepounds

I decided to plant the last of my toms and chilli seeds indoor on my heated growing matt again today.

Much to wife's annoyance (I'm Sure) - i will NOT be putting them outdoors until i am sure they are strong enough to survive - this time.

They will have pride of place on my living room windowsill . 

PS. i will be visiting Morrisons later today again to buy more tomato seeds as they have seeds at a decent price - 4 packs for £5.  Individually they are £2.50+.

-taff

It's not too late for tomatoes, sow them and keep them in the warm in the house [ [got an airing cupboard?], they should germinate quite quickly.

ancientmum

I think it is great that so many people are improvising growing containers.  I remember seeing a TV programme years ago (can't remember if it was a travelogue or gardening show) where a Cuban lady was growing all sorts of food for her family in a myriad of containers. She had made  a bright, colourful and very productive back yard in the middle of a city.  Recycling is the way to go!

Suffolk_lass

@Caitykinss I'm loving the covered tea tray idea - the hall opposite has quite a selection of sandwich trays with lids that have been used for catered events in one of the cupboards. I fancy a little raid may take place later today...

In the meantime I have used 15cm perennial shrub pots to plant my squashes and beans - I found a box with twenty in.

My seed potatoes desperately need to go in but it is too cold

-taff

@Suffolk_lass Surely if the potatoes are in the soil it won't be too cold for them? Aslong as the leaves don't get frosted, which you can alleviate by earthing up, they should be ine in the ground now.