2023 - the good, the not so good but hopefully not ugly of growing your own!

Dizzy_Ditzy

Welcome to the new good and not so good of growing your own!

Everyone is welcome. Come and tell us about your growing shenanigans

What do you like to grow?

Are you going to try anything different this year?

Did you try anything different last year? Did you like it? Would you grow it again?

Do you have any tips for growing?

Do you make anything with what you grow?

How much does growing your own save you?


I'll use this post for links that folks might find useful. If you want something adding in, please just let me know

There's a fab Facebook group called "Allotment Club - Mind your peas and cues" I'm not affiliated to it in any way but it's a fab little group. It's a closed group but is worth looking up if you're on Facebook. Or there is a fab group called "The allotment shed"

KajiKita

Thank you @Dizzy_Ditzy, I shall be joining in here this year for prompts, advice and encouragement 😊

And to show willing here’s a before and after of one of my veggie beds …..

KK

leftatthetrafficlights

Thank you for the new thread @Dizzy_Ditzy! 😁 

I did an inventory of all my seeds a couple of days ago and planned my raised beds so I'm feeling more ahead of the game for 2023! 😉 

I'll be growing my usual collection of brassicas (calabrese, sprouting broccoli, red cabbage, white cabbage, kale etc), root veg (beetroot, carrots, parsnips etc), beans (broad, runner, purple bush, climbing, peas), celeriac, fennel, salads, tomatoes, chillis, peppers, potatoes, squash, leeks, garlic, swede, turnips etc. 

I'm hoping that the weather will be more predictable in 2023 - this year the drought and weather extremes meant that things ran to seed, harvesting was early on some items and late on others - all a bit strange but kept us guessing!! 😂 

I'm going to try to keep on top of everything this year coming and make it the most productive year to date...

@KajiKita - the bed looks good! 😁

KajiKita

Thanks @leftatthetrafficlights 😊👍

I haven’t done my seed inventory or planning yet. I keep waiting for a day of bad weather and then it doesn’t turn up! 😂

KK

zafiro1984

I need to join in again this year. I used to grow quite a lot of stuff a few years ago but then life got in the way and for the last three years the plot has been almost untouched.  

DH suggested he flattened/ploughed the whole area (raised beds, greenhouse, polytunnels, fruit cage, even the start of an orchard) and turn it into a paddock as it can be easily seen from the drive. He doesn't like the mess which I have to admit is awful.

This has made me realise how much I miss it as well as how much nicer home grown stuff is as well as stopping me going to the shops. Finding time will be my greatest enemy but if I can find just one hour a day and it looks like things are happening he may well back down.

So starting on Monday 2nd Jan, I shall venture to the smaller polytunnel and begin. I think I will need to strim back the weeds to get there. I've no idea what I shall find. The last time it was used I had hens in it - re bird flu. However, even if it's raining and I don't fall over getting there I should be able to assess the situation and possibly do something. I will need to find my old radio - wish me luck

KajiKita

@zafiro1984 that sounds like a daunting amount to tackle on your own …..

If your DH has the energy and enthusiasm to flatten the whole lot, could you not ask him to help on specific tasks, such as strumming back and raking off weeds, trimming hedges and removing the clippings, turning or even riddling compost etc etc? Mr KK flinches from more subjective or fiddly bits of gardening but takes great satisfaction from doing the kind of clearing down, organising, rebuilding etc type jobs that take me forever but he knocks over in half the time because he has so much greater physical strength than me.

Sending hugs and encouragement 🌱

KK 

zafiro1984

KajiKita said:

If your DH has the energy and enthusiasm to flatten the whole lot, could you not ask him to help on specific tasks,  
KK 

Thank-you KK, I welcome your comments. DH loves machinery, doing things by hand apart from mending things are not his style. I'm the one doing the fiddling bits. Although well in his 70's he tries to do what folk would call a full days work with all the animals we have. However, at the moment he is recovering from a broken neck so can do very little physically as his head/neck is in a ridged frame which somewhat cramps his style. 

Thinking about it, I'm sure doing the plot will be my way of escaping reality and having some 'me time' I'll be quite happy to be accompanied by - my non complaining friends - 4 ganders which follow me around everywhere. I'll get there but it will be slow progress.

Landgirlinthelittlecity

Hello all, can I join for in the new year? Excited to follow everyone along.

I don’t currently have a garden at the moment as staying with my sister (hope to be home around juneish), as such I’ll be growing in tubs till then but hoping to grow as much as possible. Then when I do get home I’ve got the smallest of spaces but hoping to put up a greenhouse as I adore tomatoes. 

Is there anyone here who does square foot gardening? I think that’s the only way I’ll get a decent crop. Also does anyone do micro greens, wondering if they are worth it.

KajiKita

Hi @Landgirlinthelittlecity and welcome 😊

I have done some indoor sprouting in the past but the one I keep going back to, as it’s the easiest and nicest, is mung beans. Soak them overnight in water, drain and rinse lightly, leave them somewhere they will be out of direct sunlight but in good light and you will see them regularly (I have mine on a windowsill behind my sink). Rinse twice daily (breakfast time and when you get home from work say) and then start tasting them as they start to sprout. Once they are at a good texture for you (I like them when they have some root but well before they get to making leaves leaves), rinse one last time and put them in a container in the fridge. They will happily keep for a week.

KK

Landgirlinthelittlecity

KajiKita said:

Hi @Landgirlinthelittlecity and welcome 😊

I have done some indoor sprouting in the past but the one I keep going back to, as it’s the easiest and nicest, is mung beans. Soak them overnight in water, drain and rinse lightly, leave them somewhere they will be out of direct sunlight but in good light and you will see them regularly (I have mine on a windowsill behind my sink). Rinse twice daily (breakfast time and when you get home from work say) and then start tasting them as they start to sprout. Once they are at a good texture for you (I like them when they have some root but well before they get to making leaves leaves), rinse one last time and put them in a container in the fridge. They will happily keep for a week.

KK

Oh thank you, I will have a look into them. I’m not the biggest salad eater but would like a more cheaper option of salad than buying a back and half of it going to waste, if that makes sense.

Tabby_cat

Landgirlinthelittlecity said:

KajiKita said:

Hi @Landgirlinthelittlecity and welcome 😊

I have done some indoor sprouting in the past but the one I keep going back to, as it’s the easiest and nicest, is mung beans. Soak them overnight in water, drain and rinse lightly, leave them somewhere they will be out of direct sunlight but in good light and you will see them regularly (I have mine on a windowsill behind my sink). Rinse twice daily (breakfast time and when you get home from work say) and then start tasting them as they start to sprout. Once they are at a good texture for you (I like them when they have some root but well before they get to making leaves leaves), rinse one last time and put them in a container in the fridge. They will happily keep for a week.

KK

Oh thank you, I will have a look into them. I’m not the biggest salad eater but would like a more cheaper option of salad than buying a back and half of it going to waste, if that makes sense.

Hi all, can I join the discussion please.
I think the method KajiKita has described is for sprouting beans but microgreens are not the same thing. They are more like when you were a kid and grew mustard and cress but with different seeds. You just need a flat tray filled with compost. If I run out of proper trays, I use punnets that mushrooms are sold in, at the supermarket. Put one inside the other with holes in the base of the inner one. Liberally sprinkle with seeds, water and leave on a window sill. Soft herbs, peas, brassicas, chard and radish are all good. In fact if you have some out of date seeds you can just give them a try. Nothing to loose. Depending on how many you grow, you might not get enough for a whole salad, but, I find I can just buy a basic lettuce, and pep it up with the microgreens, which makes it cheaper, and you don't feel so bad if you compost half of it. Sowing a tray, or half a tray, every couple of weeks should keep you going for a while. I've been growing them for a few years and every salad is different, depending on what's ready to cut. Hope that helps.