The ups, the downs and the insides out of growing your own in 2025!

FreeBear

dND said:

New_in_the_fens said:

Morning all 🌞 can I ask where you are getting your pallet collars from please? Are you buying new or finding them on Facebook etc? Wondering where I should be searching!

Suffolk_lass said:

Ours have come from both FBMP and speaking to locals having work done. The hardwood crates that paving comes in is the best stuff. We also went to an industrial estate locally and asked - although some are returnable and reusable, a large number of businesses pay to have them removed - worth asking if you can have some (builders merchants, landscapers, etc)

If you need a lot, which I did and I couldn't find locally, I used this place
https://associated-pallets.co.uk/product/1200-1000mm-pallet-collar/

The reason I mention buying a lot is because of the delivery charge,

£55+VAT for delivery, or free if you spend more than £300+VAT - That buys a lot of collars or boxes.. Would pay to arrange a group buy if you have neighbours/friends also keen on gardening.

FreeBear

Planted a few cucamelon seeds this morning. Hoping they do better than last year.

Also been picking a few early (or is that very late) tomatoes.

twopenny

How are you picking tomatoes FreeBear!

I kept mine going till November last year - thinking of using one of those wind assisted plastic greenhouses to extend the season but can't see it being that good!

FreeBear

twopenny said:

How are you picking tomatoes FreeBear!

I kept mine going till November last year - thinking of using one of those wind assisted plastic greenhouses to extend the season but can't see it being that good!

Grasp between thumb & finger, and give a slight twist with an upward motion

I'd planted them in growbags last summer and popped them in the porch. I'm guessing that in the heat, the plants shut down and didn't do much growing. Over the winter months, the temperature was warm without being roasting hot. With the longer days, flowers are appearing, and fruits starting to ripen.

rtandon27

Have had my first proper look around the back garden this year at what needs trimming & weeding.  Was very happy to see primroses in full bloom and the winter/spring jasmine full of buds and ready to bloom.  The neighbours of the plastic grass hacked it back a few years ago along with my ancient lavendar but they (the plants not the neighbours) both had a lot of attention last year and have happily come back to their former glory.  A couple of potted plants in the summer house that were worse for wear last week have come back to life after a good water & a week of sunshine.

There is a lot that grows in the ground that needs attention, but first to be tackled shall be the patio area and potted plants that are closest to the house, as well as the side of the plastic grass neighbours' conservatory that sits flush to the property line & needs a good wash from our side.  Im plotting and planning to have it camouflaged by something fast growing and vine like by the middle of this growing season.  Not sure just what yet, but trawling though the gardening websites online for inspiration.

FreeBear

If you want something real fast growing, russian vine - A right beast to keep under control, and won't win you any friends...

Hops can be quite good to grow. Will shoot up fast and provide a scent in the air and die back again in the winter.

greenbee

I vote for passion flower. 

rtandon27

@FreeBear - haha - much as I'd like to unfriend them of the plastic grass, I'm afraid russian vine would only take over on my side of the divide, so not quite what I'm looking for.  Hops on the other hand might to nicely to shade the southfacing windows of the summer house, and keep my desk area a bit cooler in the warm area.

@greenbee - now passion flower is a lovely idea - I wonder if it might withstand the winter instead of dying back, given that the white wall of their conservatory creates a lovely warm suntrap area on our patio.  I've just gone down t'internet rabbit hole and found some lovely unusual varieties!

FreeBear

rtandon27 said: @greenbee - now passion flower is a lovely idea - I wonder if it might withstand the winter instead of dying back, given that the white wall of their conservatory creates a lovely warm suntrap area on our patio.  I've just gone down t'internet rabbit hole and found some lovely unusual varieties!

Some passiflora are pretty hardy. Most varieties will produce edible fruits too. Although you do need to be careful not to eat too many, and should only be consumed when fully ripe.

greenbee

I had a passionflower on a south-facing wall, and it kept going all year. I think it probably would have swallowed the whole house given half a chance!