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

KajiKita

Glittering_M said:

Ordered some more seeds last night! Periennals that I want to get started. 

I now just need to actually decide and dig out where they will eventually go I'm just worried about making the wrong choice as I'm digging up a space that was a flower bed decades ago but is now scraggly lawn and I want to make sure I am happy with it but that unsureness is what is holding me back from doing anything!

Did you like the flower bed before or was there a reason it went back to scraggly lawn?

KK

KajiKita

@Soontobeoap, who doesn’t??! 😉😂

KK

Glittering_M

KajiKita said:

Glittering_M said:

Ordered some more seeds last night! Periennals that I want to get started. 

I now just need to actually decide and dig out where they will eventually go I'm just worried about making the wrong choice as I'm digging up a space that was a flower bed decades ago but is now scraggly lawn and I want to make sure I am happy with it but that unsureness is what is holding me back from doing anything!

Did you like the flower bed before or was there a reason it went back to scraggly lawn?

KK

I was a young child when it was a flower bed so I don't really remember much of it and then moved but that's a great question as it has prompted me to consider what I do remember. I think bind weed and cooch grass was a reason it got made into grass

I know I'd like:
- A seating area (we have a patio but this would be a small extra bit to get morning sun and maybe for some loungers for reading)
- A herb area
- Space for the bird feeders
- A cut flower bed
- A fruit bit (blackcurrant, strawberries, raspberries, maybe cherry)
- maybe a little stoney bit
- Maybe an overspill veg bit

I'd like to turn a old bathtub into a pond but that would go elsewhere, long term I'd like a proper pond but again, probably that would go elsewhere.

I need to measure it but it is probably 12mx8m or so. 

I don't think I want it to be just one big bed. I quite like the idea of a path going through the middle (grass probably) although it isn't necessary as there is a path next to it anyway.

alicef

@Glittering_M ...ah the lure of buying seed!  I have far too many packets generally, and in particular, an obsession with squashes. 

I need to get a wriggle on pricking & planting out  - really need the overnight temps. to get higher.

Glittering_M

@alicef I'm very jealous of that lovely space you have. It looks great!

carinjo

Finally a day off and decent weather. I gave myself 3 jobs for today: cut the grass on allotment, build a strawberry planter from old wheelbarrow and pot up the tomatoes.
Managed the first 2 already. Mr Paul on allotment said i shouldn't bother potting up the tomatoes since i'll be planting them out in 2 weeks anyway. But they really getting too big for their tiny pots, so since i have 30 plants, will pot up half and see what happens.
Visited our local allotment garden centre yesterday to get more serpentine squash seeds. None germinated! I got adviced to use proper seed compost, since several customers complained that peatfree compost not so great for seed sowing. 
I was also surprised to see an excellent selection of veg seedling trays they were selling. 10 savoy cabbage plants for £2.49! Stopping at L1dl afterwards.and their veg pots (chilli) were £1.99 each. 
Just goes to show you it pays to shop around. 
Tomorrow i'll be doing spraying for weeds and couchgrass. I't a sad fact that the allotment is just a breeding ground for all sorts and fighting back with just digging and covering with weedsuppressing fabric not enough.
And a note on dandelions: i've picked all the flowers on my plot, am planning to make some tea or fritters with it. There an empty plot which has loads, wish i had the time to pick and make jam with it. 

alicef

Ahhh thank you @Glittering_M .   It is a very useful space because the roof is clear so it gets really good light, unlike my utility room, but the space is unheated, so I can't put out anything too tender until the day & night temps get higher. My windows sills are still crowded with toms/aubergines/chillies & peppers. Also the potting shed isn't rodent proof; leaving any sweetcorn or sunflower sowings there wouldn't last long!    However, I sometimes find that trays of things that haven't germinated particularly well inside the house do better once the trays go into the potting shed, (she says looking at the seed sown coriander and shallots).

I dropped off my plants to the plant sale and all had gone when I returned to pick up the crates.  So I'm pleased.  

Today sowed dwarf and climbing french beans, borlotti beans; first tranche of sweetcorn and a tray of helichrysum. Did a bit of weeding until the rain came.

KajiKita

carinjo said:

Finally a day off and decent weather. I gave myself 3 jobs for today: cut the grass on allotment, build a strawberry planter from old wheelbarrow and pot up the tomatoes.
Managed the first 2 already. Mr Paul on allotment said i shouldn't bother potting up the tomatoes since i'll be planting them out in 2 weeks anyway. But they really getting too big for their tiny pots, so since i have 30 plants, will pot up half and see what happens.
Visited our local allotment garden centre yesterday to get more serpentine squash seeds. None germinated! I got adviced to use proper seed compost, since several customers complained that peatfree compost not so great for seed sowing. 
I was also surprised to see an excellent selection of veg seedling trays they were selling. 10 savoy cabbage plants for £2.49! Stopping at L1dl afterwards.and their veg pots (chilli) were £1.99 each. 
Just goes to show you it pays to shop around. 
Tomorrow i'll be doing spraying for weeds and couchgrass. I't a sad fact that the allotment is just a breeding ground for all sorts and fighting back with just digging and covering with weedsuppressing fabric not enough.
And a note on dandelions: i've picked all the flowers on my plot, am planning to make some tea or fritters with it. There an empty plot which has loads, wish i had the time to pick and make jam with it. 

Good progress 👏😊

Mr Paul sounds like a bit of a know it all! FWIW, I will be potting on my tomato plants today as I won’t be putting out in the greenhouse until the end of May and some are already flowering! 😳😂

The best peat free compost I have found is the RHS Sylv@grow - seems to grow most things well (I always leaven any compost I use with a good dose of vermiculite for things like cucumbers which like to rot off) - my tomatoes this year are away like birds! I can barely contain them 😊

KK

Nelliegrace

DH bought the May edition of BBC Gardeners’ World magazine for £8.50 to get the free 2 for 1 Gardens to Visit scheme which lasts until next April. It includes some of our favourite gardens. There were 6 packs of seeds, but £8.50 is a lot to pay. 
Next year I shall look for the 3 editions for £5 offer. 

Glittering_M

@Nelliegrace I got it last week and about 3/4 of the way though. I got it just for the 2for1. I have to say I was a bit disappointed in the magazine content, particularly as they seemed to have 2 articles on the same thing and the seeds aren't particularly ones I want so will grow some and give away others. 

I do sometimes read it online via my library for free but obviously you don't get the seeds that way and reading online isn't always as pleasant but an option! Unless like I said, the seeds are important for you!

The 241 card is good though and I like that many places do a solo discount with it too. You do have to be careful though as some places only let you use it at certain times of the year.

Weather isn't as nice here today but hopefully going to sow some stuff outside. What exactly is tbd!