We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

The ups, the downs and the insides out of growing your own in 2024!

Options
1246753

Comments

  • No allotment here, just a patch in the garden and a small greenhouse (6 x4).  I usually grow tomatoes and cucumbers in the GH and last year added peppers and got a good crop.  Also lots of cucumelons, more for the novelty really.  Outside I have several raspberry canes from which I get a decent crop and intend to buy some autumn fruiting ones.  Also a tayberry which crops well.  My 2 rhubard crowns haven't produced a lot.  I think I need to feed them more and keep an eye on the watering to encourage them.  Strawberries are in pots and last year I planted up the runners which now need moving to their new home
    I have 2 x 1 metre square raised beds holding my perennial herb collection with a solitary perennial kale I planted last year.  On the fence I have 3 apple and 1 pear cordons - the apples give me a decent crop and the pear gifts me one or two a year!  My other 2 raised beds I grow a mixture of things - beetroot, radicchio, radish, salad leaves but unfortunately the dog thinks that this is his sun bathing spot, so I spend a lot of time trying different ways to keep him off.  Beans I grow in pots - not very well last year, iIthink I didn't keep them watered enough.  Failed with courgettes as well last year, though I have had success in previous years.
    First job, when it feels a bit warmer, is to clean out the greenhouse.  In the meantime, I'm looking through my seed packets to see what I need to throw out, buy or keep.
    Books - the original virtual reality.
    Tilly Tidying:
  • Cycled to the plot. Emptied one of the compost bins. Loads of worms but very wet. Got rained off. Spent a happy hour checking what seeds we have, sowing date. Fil has made a plan of where everything is going this year, just needs a couple of tweaks. Itching to get started sowing.
    Love 🐞

    Grow your own: £14.66
  • Started bean trench as wormery at home is full. Weeded part of the asparagus bed as couch grass is encroaching. 
    Love 🐞

    Grow your own: £14.66
  • Did you have to mention weeding the asparagus bed? That's what I was trying to do the other day and now I feel guilty for not making it today.;-)

    I've a pile of seaweed at one end of the asparagus bed, and once I've done a bit of weeding I'll be able to spread it around. Another pile elsewhere for my potato bed this year. Free fertiliser from the local foreshore and lots of lovely trace elements.
  • Suffolk_lass
    Suffolk_lass Posts: 10,253 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Started bean trench as wormery at home is full. Weeded part of the asparagus bed as couch grass is encroaching. 
    Love 🐞
    Did you have to mention weeding the asparagus bed? That's what I was trying to do the other day and now I feel guilty for not making it today.;-)

    I've a pile of seaweed at one end of the asparagus bed, and once I've done a bit of weeding I'll be able to spread it around. Another pile elsewhere for my potato bed this year. Free fertiliser from the local foreshore and lots of lovely trace elements.
    Definitely a guilt-fest now! This is fourth on my mental list of outdoor jobs now the new dog-proof railings (these) are in place under the hedge, to stop our miniature doxie visiting the neighbour:
    1. Raspberries
    2. Fruit cage assembly
    3. clear up paths and generally make it look cared for
    4. weed the asparagus and add compost
    My gardener is collecting a trailer-load of free spent mushroom compost for my friend in the village and I might ask for some too. The rhubarb crowns need it now (don't bury them though, just around them) and the front garden could do with some help too

    Save £12k in 2025 #2 I am at £4863.32 out of £6000 after May (81.05%)
    OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I am at £1286.68/£3000 or 42.89% of my annual spend so far
    I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the Grow your own thread
    My new diary is here
  • Did my planning, organised my seeds and ordered new seeds today- slightly later than intended but at least it's done!! 

    I'm going to be using some of the beds at the front for salad leaves, jerusalem artichokes, onions, garlic and leeks this year which frees up one of the big beds out the back for more brassicas - I'll need to get another frame sorted and more netting to keep out the butterflies but it will be worth it! 
    DNF: £708.92/£1000
    JSF: £708.58/£1000

    Winter season grocery budget: £600.85/£900

    Weight loss challenge 2024: 11/24lbs
    1st quarter start:9st 13.1lb
    2nd quarter start:9st 9.2 lb
    3rd quarter start: 9st 6.8 lb
    4th quarter start: 9st 10.2 lb
    End weight: 8st 13lb

    'It's the small compromises you keep making over time that start to add up and get you to a place you don't want to be'

Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.