2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

mumzyof2

sophiesmum wrote: »

You can grow nearly every veg in pots just need to water really well. Last year we did cherry toms in hanging baskets, tomatoes, cukes,peppers, aubergines , courgettes,broad beans,strawberries,a small apple tree, salad leaves, herbs,etc all in pots. In the ground we grew broccoli, rhubarb, raspberry, gooseberry,blackcurrant and blackberries, (actually the blackberries invaded from next door so i just made them welcome:D ) .I also discovered a huge baytree in garden (its 12ft high:D ) so will never need to buy bayleafs again for the rest of my life:rotfl:

Apprently strawbs grow well in hanging baskets too - and the slugs can't reach them;) and potatoes grow well in buckets, a friend of mine grows them in those pop up laundry/toy bin things.
I even grew chillis in pots in the kitchen, but don't need any this year as still have a load dried from then.
However little space you have you can fit something in. Personally I find lawns and flowers really boring in a garden but growing something that you can make use of is very satisfying.

Oh great i will see if anyone has any pots or buckets then and i can start doing it. did you get my pm? i tried to send one today but your pm box is full so wont let me..you ok?

wendyw1947

sophiesmum wrote: »

You can grow nearly every veg in pots just need to water really well. Last year we did cherry toms in hanging baskets, tomatoes, cukes,peppers, aubergines , courgettes,broad beans,strawberries,a small apple tree, salad leaves, herbs,etc all in pots. In the ground we grew broccoli, rhubarb, raspberry, gooseberry,blackcurrant and blackberries, (actually the blackberries invaded from next door so i just made them welcome:D ) .I also discovered a huge baytree in garden (its 12ft high:D ) so will never need to buy bayleafs again for the rest of my life:rotfl:

Apprently strawbs grow well in hanging baskets too - and the slugs can't reach them;) and potatoes grow well in buckets, a friend of mine grows them in those pop up laundry/toy bin things.
I even grew chillis in pots in the kitchen, but don't need any this year as still have a load dried from then.
However little space you have you can fit something in. Personally I find lawns and flowers really boring in a garden but growing something that you can make use of is very satisfying.

wow sophiesmum you've given me so many ideas cant wait to get to get started,i've got empty hanging baskets sorry to be so ignorant but can i just put compost in or does it need mixing with soil or anything

wendyw1947

also we only live minutes from the country so i'm going to dig out my old cook books and have a go at bottling red cabbage pickling onions and bottling pears when they are in season.also blackberries are free so might make jam as well ,gosh getting so exited any other ideas for me folks.just dug out a coffee jar to save for my bottling wont make bread as we dont eat much and its so cheap i just buy a loaf freeze it and bring a few slices out at a time

mumzyof2

Welcome wendy btw..forgot to say it before Im mumzyof2 female from lancs 2 kiddies aged one 4 in july and one aged just tuened 2

sophiesmum_2

wendyw1947 wrote: »

wow sophiesmum you've given me so many ideas cant wait to get to get started,i've got empty hanging baskets sorry to be so ignorant but can i just put compost in or does it need mixing with soil or anything

I used the compost for containers it has water retaining bits of stuff in so helps them stop drying out as much. 2 -3 cherry tom plants in a biggish basket will give you loads and loads of toms. Just water regularly and give tomato feed now and again.

Beans etc I grew in those black plastic pots from supermarket florists. Morrisons sometimes sell them 10p each or so.:D
Freecycle is usually good for pots and stuff too.

wendyw1947

just had another idea better tell you quick b4 it dies of lonelyness i could could put some nice gingham covers on the lids and make up some gift baskets for presents with a difference what do you think ?

sophiesmum_2

wendyw1947 wrote: »

also we only live minutes from the country so i'm going to dig out my old cook books and have a go at bottling red cabbage pickling onions and bottling pears when they are in season.also blackberries are free so might make jam as well ,gosh getting so exited any other ideas for me folks.just dug out a coffee jar to save for my bottling wont make bread as we dont eat much and its so cheap i just buy a loaf freeze it and bring a few slices out at a time

I picked lots and lots of free blackberries last year to make jam, crumbles and pies etc. I still have 6 jars left to last till this years crop:D Think I picked about 20lbs in all.

Mumzy - Will show you the bestest blackberry places when they are in season - kids love picking blackberries:D and getting all purple:rotfl:

sophiesmum_2

wendyw1947 wrote: »

just had another idea better tell you quick b4 it dies of lonelyness i could could put some nice gingham covers on the lids and make up some gift baskets for presents with a difference what do you think ?

Great:D Chutneys are dead easy to make too and last forever when they are made.
Green tomato chutney is yum (and a good way of using up your tomato crops)

wendyw1947

mumzy sorry to be a thicko, but what does btw mean never touched a keyboard til last oct this is all new to me i'm a "youngish mum of 4 , 2 of each,started at 17,i live in lincolshire and have 7 grandbairns my eldest started young as well she had 5 kiddies while still in her twenties sophiesmum thanku so much for the tips will let you know how i get on

sophiesmum_2

wendyw1947 wrote: »

mumzy sorry to be a thicko, but what does btw mean never touched a keyboard til last oct this is all new to me i'm a "youngish mum of 4 , 2 of each,started at 17,i live in lincolshire and have 7 grandbairns my eldest started young as well she had 5 kiddies while still in her twenties sophiesmum thanku so much for the tips will let you know how i get on

btw means by the way:D

I'm a mum of four too, eldest 21, youngest 16.5,three blues and one pink;) no grandkids in sight yet for me thanks:eek: , and DD says she is going to marry a gay man who likes to cook and clean, and is having a horse and a dog instead of kids:rotfl: .Cheaper than kids then:D