We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
The ups, the downs and the insides out of growing your own in 2026!
Comments
-
I grew garlic chives on my kitchen windowsill - until the cat ate them. If you think a cat with fishy breath is bad, try one with garlic breath!
5 -
I use specialist seed and cutting compost in my heated propagators - the chilli and tomato seeds I like aren't cheap, so makes sense to give them the best start in life. Hardy annuals are sown in pots, in my cold greenhouse, from April onwards. Use seed and cutting compost for the finer (as in smaller) seeds, but multi purpose is fine for the more robust stuff such as marigolds, sunflowers, morning glory, etc.
I purposely opted for a solid floor for my greenhouse as I grow my toms and chillies in 10" pots filled with the contents of tomato growbags. The floor is easy to keep clean, and the plants have fresh soil every year.
2 -
Did the cat bring home Vampires for you? 😀
When an eel bites your bum, that's a Moray1 -
Ha ha - no, she's a house cat so her prey is limited to spiders and daddy-long-legs.
2 -
I moved some of my tomato seedlings into separate pots over the weekend - they'd got the start of proper leaves, but they'd also get very tall in the covered seed trays. I've planted some more seeds in the one I emptied, and I bought a "windowsill greenhouse" from B&M to get some lettuce started. Looking at how the soil was when I moved the tomatoes, I think I've been over-watering as it was very wet indeed, so I must try to hang back on that a bit. I'll give the chillies a week or two more, and if nothing shows they can go.
1 -
Sowing has commenced with us - yesterday saw peas (Kelvedon Wonder) direct sown, and pots done with three varieties of chilli (Bishops Crown and Binquinho (?) and Bhut Jolokia), Aubergine (long purple) Sweet peppers (Corno di toro rosso) as well as a couple of varieties of sunflower and some Physalis. Two seed trays with propagator lids are now on the front room windowsill although with the way the temperature has dropped I'm not too optimistic of them germinating any time soon.
I've got a few more of the lidded trays, but also want to invest in some sturdier seed trays for those as the ones I have currently are - frankly - a bit flimsy and rubbish. They were a bargain when wilko closed down though, so they've not done too badly!
🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her3 -
That is one thing about using the paper mache pots - you soon know if you have over watered them. I don't like them but I am using them up rather than investing in more plastic. I cut the little moulds into six, one block per mini propagator, with a single variety of tomato in each (St Pierre for cooking, Sungold for nibbling and Black Russian for sheer enjoyment). Only six modules of chillies - jalopeno, tabasco and cayenne so far. All the mini propagators are in the new A3 sized electric propagator, in the greenhouse.
Save £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £9004.48 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £1111.79 and most of my May purchasing made
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 in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here3 -
I buy the paper pots if I see them cheap at the right time of year, but we also save all our toilet roll inners through the year and use those for sowing stuff too - they work particularly well for stuff that will just be set to do its thing outside as they are rather too tall for the propagator lids!
I've not worried about tomatoes yet as it will be a good while before they will be able to go outside and I know they come through fairly fast when we get them going. I've got room for several more trays on windowsills yet though!
🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her4 -
Has anybody tried a seed roll? a long strip with compost spread along it then sprinkled with seeds, rolled up, stood on end and watered. Once the seeds grow, you unfurl the roll and lift them into their new planting holes. I was thinking of giving it a go using cardboard from delivery packaging
Save £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £9004.48 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £1111.79 and most of my May purchasing made
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 in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here3 -
I saw this idea on instagram at the weekend and thought it looked like a great idea - I think the one I saw was with sweetpeas, and used a strip cut from a compost bag to create the roll, fastened with elastic bands once rolled up. Definitely tempted to give it a go with our sweetpeas this year!
🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her2
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 354.6K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.5K Spending & Discounts
- 247.5K Work, Benefits & Business
- 604.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.6K Life & Family
- 262K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards