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

carinjo

MovingForwards said:

I've created little propagators from old takeaway lids, put them on top of my seed pots and seedlings are appearing, I then move it on to the next group. 

Oh, i like that idea. Got a few containers left too small for putting pots in, can use them on plot!
This morning finished digging and raking the brassica bed. At home done double needed of purple sprouting broccoli, calabrese, kale (nero di toscana). Half on window sill, half in zippy greenhouse.
Hoping the rainstorm this afternoon shows up, didn't have time to water anything except the raised beds. 

MovingForwards

@carinjo do it! I even heated a nail up to put holes in the bottom tub part, grow directly into the little DIY propagators and wait for them to sprout. 

Suffolk_lass

Bought more cucumber seeds and a tray with a lid to protect them..

Also bought container compost so my hanging baskets can be started on Saturday (when it is warmer) and 8 strawberry plants - were £12 but good sturdy plants. DH removed all the straw and dead leaves leaving the tiny hearts of the existing ones exposed to frost. 4/16 survive but are fragile

carinjo

First time trying to post an image...
Took the idea of the mini propagator @MovingForwards to the allotment for some of the seeds, managed about 3 under each container. Done extra holes and pegged it down. Got gifted a few broccoli and cabbage seedlings this morning so well on my way. A couple of rows of radishes and lettuce on an empty square of the brassica bed. 

MovingForwards

I love it @carinjo and it's working based on the condensation 😃

Caitykinss

Looks like frost again tonight. Will tomorrow be the day I finally get my potatoes on? Managed to get some more potato bags from Wilko yesterday, as was worried I didn't have enough. 

My tomatoes are growing at an alarming rate. Going to pot them on (again) tomorrow and then move them to the north facing windowsill instead of south facing. I have a few on there already and they're growing much slower but still look healthy. I also won't have room on my south facing one once they're in bigger pots. My aubergines want doing too. 

Please remind me next year that there is really no need to sow two trays of each tomato variety!  

twopenny

Ah but you always grow more just in case. I do too. I can't resist the thought of an abundance of sun ripened tomatoes and pass the excess on getting some other veg or eggs as a thanks.

MovingForwards

My OH has set up my pea and bean frame while I was working. Nice and sturdy as he put the stakes about a foot down and it should cope with the winds later in the year. 

I've sown more black russian tom seeds and they have a little DIY propagator too. I've moved my melon and squash seeds in the kitchen with them as company. It gets a lot of heat at the back of the flat all day.

One runner bean has started to open, somehow the bean made its way to the top of its container, I've covered it over again. Only two seeds left to sow from what I kept last year. 

No signs of the French dwarf or borotto, but I've loads more I can sow as backups.

Suffolk_lass

Some of the seeds on the kitchen windowsill (all squash, after mouse-gate) have started to germinate. Plenty of time for these as we are still having hard frosts overnight. Saw baby rabbits in the garden so the war begins. Four mallard ducks out there this morning, one female and three males walking around and feeding. No need to say who is in charge. No need to say why...

Suffolk_lass

Found it! - The mouse nest was in the almost empty bag of seed compost in the greenhouse. Very cute. We do go live and let live so tipped it out in compost corner. The other end of the garden. I just love it so much when my seeds start to germinate and today is the day