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

RAS

@sammy_kaye18

I'd skip the liner round your shed as many of the plants that cope in those sort of situation like deep roots and don't like being waterlogged.

Try thymes, marjoram and oregano, also erigeron, smaller campanula, achemilla mollis if you like it or perennial geraniums. All of these grow happily in cracks in paving so you be offering a superior home. And their roots can use the cool ground under the shed. Some produce mounds of flowers from early spring to late autumn if you cut them back midsummer.

sammy_kaye18

Fosterdog said:

@sammy_kaye18 do you plan on putting the fruit trees in the ground eventually or will they stay in pots long term? Whenever we buy new fruit trees we keep them in large 60+litre tubs for a year or two then put them in the ground but if you want them in pots long term you can get some varieties sold for patios and more suitable for being in pots.

Yeah this is what I am debating. My garden is large enough that I could plant a smaller fruit tree into the ground and not have it take up ground space but Im thinking smaller fruit trees might fair better in higher winds etc and be easier to move to shelter etc as our garden is quite open. I need to research a bit more I think before I purchase because Im aware that if I want fruit then I may need to have good pollinators or other trees to help fruit appear. 

sammy_kaye18

@silverwhistle
Yeah I was hoping for a dry day today to go and give the garden a tidy up but its been so cold and the ground frozen and then the snow really put me off but I think we are due the same tomorrow so I will go out and get it tidied up a bit if nothing else. 

Still hoping the deck dries out soon so I can get it moved and the garden reorganised before planting starts! 

sammy_kaye18

RAS said:

@sammy_kaye18

I'd skip the liner round your shed as many of the plants that cope in those sort of situation like deep roots and don't like being waterlogged.

Try thymes, marjoram and oregano, also erigeron, smaller campanula, achemilla mollis if you like it or perennial geraniums. All of these grow happily in cracks in paving so you be offering a superior home. And their roots can use the cool ground under the shed. Some produce mounds of flowers from early spring to late autumn if you cut them back midsummer.

Off to research all of those to see which ones I like and get looking for some seeds :-) thank you! 

Sally_SAS

I had the garden landscaped last year and they created a raised bed for me into which I put quite a few plants but had mixed results as it was only top soil.  Will put some manure down before I plant anything in March.  Looking to grow potatoes, carrots, broccoli, peas, french and runner beans and broad beans.

Tomatoes, various chillies in the greenhouse and I got several stepover and dwarf stock apples and plums several years ago with some apples producing fruit last year.  I will be moving my pear tree  while it's dormont as it doesn't get enough sunlight where it is.  

Lots of seed packets from Chiltern seeds sale last autumn and gardeners world subscriber so they have started to arrive now.

Started 2 different tomatoes in heated propegator last weekend.  It's all very exciting 

sammy_kaye18

@RAS
I have sat and looked up your plant recommendations for around the base of my shed and have thought about the following 3
erigeron, smaller campanula and perennial geraniums.

They seem perfect to get a mix of as the area I want to use gets partial sun in the morning and full sun from about 11 - 4. Plus they all seem to like the same soil so I will be looking into these seeds. Anything that is not seeded or planted around the base of the shed will be used in flower or rock beds. :-) 

Thank you so much for your help. 

Grow2Cook

I spend last year building a greenhouse and raised beds, so this year for the first time, I want to grow food from seed and then do something with it. I managed a few late crops at the end of last season - Turnip soup is still in the freezer!

alicef

Haven't done much from my list for this week as it has been COLD. 

Starting to think about sowing seed (toms/chillies etc) into the propagator at the end of the month.  The seed compost I have is peat free (which is a big thumbs up) but in the past I have found peat free composts difficult to 'wet' & to hold moisture.  

So options are - the peat free seed compost OR do I use my own home made compost - which normally gets forked onto beds but has weed seed - and sieve & steam it first?

Sunflower_55

Will be trying to grow some of our own veggies/salads this year. Planning, beans, peas, tomatoes, courgettes, salad leaves. Only have courtyard garden so will be container gardening. Already have compost bin, just ordered a Bokashi bin, as trying to not fill our bins. Lets see how we get on. 

ancientmum

I've made a start with sowing seeds, chillies (de cayenne and corno  di toro), cherry toms, rocket, leeks, and some flowers - snapdragons and sweet peas.  They go on windowsills to catch the most of any sun that appears, covered over with bubble wrap that I've salvaged from Christmas parcels.   The heating is on in the flat at the moment so I'm hoping some will sprout.

I'm not doing much outside, too cold and wet, but I did go to the allotment last Sunday and forked over one of the beds.  The fruit cage netting has been destroyed by wind so I need to re-think that. I did see a ladybird on the sage, hoping it's a sign of better weather to come.