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

sammy_kaye18

I am so jealous of all your planting. 

My greenhouse cover arrived today but it was blowing an absolute gale and I have nowhere indoors to start things and with the snow the last week - I am a bit behind on my planting but I am rearing to go and have all my seeds ready. 

I set up a new bird feeder in the back garden yesterday so I have plenty of little birds (mainly house sparrows) visiting at the minute but I'm hoping it will help to keep pests etc down. 

Moved some of the pallets round to make into planters for things like herbs etc and filled some boxes with a soil / compost mix so they are ready to fill when I have seedlings to put into them. Two of the planters I have used to block off the back of the shed from the dogs and Im thinking some small fruit trees might get planted down there and again plant up the pallets - possibly with flowers etc to pretty it up a bit. 

MissRikkiC

I’ve lost another aubergine seedling to my daughters messing fingers 🙄 but still got 2 going! Everything else has done okay, 3 varieties of tomatoes, peppers, the aubergine and her broad bean plant that I brought inside. 

Nothing outside yet but everything is ready! 

Suffolk_lass

Received a request from a friend last night for more vegetable seedlings this year. I managed to give a away courgettes, tomatoes, peppers, chillies and cucumbers last year. A relief as I always grow too many and apparently, composting is a step too far. I have grown far too many greenhouse plants and need to be better at offloading or culling. 

I love the idea of some cut and come again salad crops. We usually put them in a large butler sink but I might try the plastic window boxes that are languishing against the greenhouse

carinjo

Fyi L1dl got a gardening event starting thursday that includes propagators and seeds.

Suffolk_lass

carinjo said:

Fyi L1dl got a gardening event starting thursday that includes propagators and seeds.

Ooh thanks

Suffolk_lass

The first proper leaves are starting on the most advanced tomatoes. I have not moved them out of the heated propagator yet but it is imminent. The chilli seedlings moved to an unheated propagator yesterday but the pepper seeds have replaced them and I think they might benefit from coming indoors for a day or two

droopsnoot

^ I think that's why my first tomato seedlings died off - I transplanted them before the "proper" leaves had started. I've got one now that has the proper leaves, but instead of reading up I just figured I could do it earlier. I recall reading "as soon as they're big enough to handle" for something. Oh well, plenty more seeds in the packet.

carinjo

Ms C and I popped over to allotment this morning, the idea was to prepare the potato and allium beds. But we both feeling a bit rough with a nasty cough, so that didn't happen. Soil was too wet anyway. 
Used a pallet collar and 3 double glazed windows (glass only) to create a little warm box. 2x lettuce, 2x beetroot, leaf beet. We away next week, so either the seeds will germinate, or if not, the box will warm up for the week after and then try again some seeds. 
Not sure if i mentioned, but the propagated basil (from a L1dl) pot all making baby leaves, so hope that means it forming roots! 

Soontobeoap

Just thinking of potting my tomatoe plants on (they have 2 true leaves) when up popped another one! Might leave them for a bit as they have plenty of vrowing room. Cut and come again lettuce are growing in windowsill but have gone a bit leggy. All of these seeds are last years so hiping for lots of free veg.   Planted som new pepper seeds 2 weeks ago but not seen anything yet! 

Suffolk_lass

I'm glad it isn't just me with pepper seeds - they take ages to germinate. I am considering putting the pots on the warming plate of the oven, so I convince them it is summer!