I wanna be mortgage free!

twinklie

evab, can you tell me how you grew your veg last year? What size pots? Type of soil/compost? I know I've missed prime planting time but if I do all my research now while I can then I'll be fully armed and primed to go come it being time to do it...and I'll show my OH what for!!!

evab_2

Hi ya,

Ok our soil was under bark for ages by previous owners so had lain dormant, we removed all that then just planted tubers last year and they still grew well. After they had finished we dug in a load of horse manure and is now a lovely rich soil. I don't know much about gardening - if it grows it grows!

We have used the soil in the pots to make the best use of the soil and I've attached some photos for you, not sure how things will turn out but trial and error is my way of doing it.

http://i350.photobucket.com/albums/q406/brewer1e/DSC01242.jpg

potatoes, these are quite large pots and deep but you could use 2-3 tyres on top of each other, or grow in a plastic bin - you could grow your first crop now from any you have in the house, they are fairly simple although they won't be the best you should still have some success from a late crop.

http://i350.photobucket.com/albums/q406/brewer1e/DSC01239.jpg

tomatoes, again do well in pots and grow bags make sure there's plenty of drainage at the bottom and need to tie to cane as they grow. There are plenty of starter kits around to grow from seed.

http://i350.photobucket.com/albums/q406/brewer1e/DSC01240.jpg

seedlings, currently have loads of seeds hopefully growing into some nice seedlings (first time) of onions, beet, cucumber and lettuce - a bit late in the season but I'm having a go!

http://i350.photobucket.com/albums/q406/brewer1e/DSC01244.jpg

my veg patch, as you can see it's not very big and nothing in there at the mo apart from a few stray potatoes which still nice lovely!

I hope this helps a bit, I really don't have a lot of knowledge but enjoy having a try and seeing what happens.

Ev x

twinklie

No, thanks thats great. Especially loving the photos. How many potatoes do you get out of your tubs? Incidently, v close to meeting your little boy now. Good luck and let me know how it all goes. I'm soooo excited for you. Can't wait for us to start our family.

I've been sooooo lazy this weekend. Done nothing. Was ment to go hiking today but OH wasn't feeling so well. Then decided we'd go out late afternoon, but we ended up moochin around the house instead. Ah well.

I'll crack on with being a good girl tomorrow I reckon, when the OH is out at work.

twinklie

I'm being a good girl today. Done washing, pots and clothes. And I've started going through stuff for my lessons. Medium term plans and all that. I'm hoping I'll get sorted and get somewhere. Fingers crossed anyhoo!

moominyak

twinklie wrote: »

Well I only have a small yard. I don't have the first clue what to do either.

Hi Twinklie... isn't it bizarre how there's always somebody on here thinking exactly what we're thinking ourselves?!

I've been pondering a bit about the whole GYO thing lately too, and apart from the fact that I'm bone idle when it comes to gardening, I don't know anything about it either which doesn't help!

My dad's coming up for a few days (M&D have been GYOers since forever) so I'll have to rack his brains and see what he suggests.

Think it'll have to be in the front though as my back garden is the dog's domain!

And thank you evab for the advice too - I never even thought about just shoving a spud in a pot and seeing what might happen!

twinklie

Thanks moominyak! I would be very interested to hear what your ma and pa say. It's the wrong time of year for most things now, but even if we choose not to start now (depending what we could still grow). We could at least be armed and prepared for next year. Save us doing all the research when we are busy.

I have broken the top shelf in my freezer. I pushed it shut and it cracked...badly! Doh!

I've had to dip into my ISA too...doh! It's to pay for the bathroom. So 1K is coming out. Waaa...I was so excited about how good I'd been with my savings. Mind you, its investing into the house I guess.

moominyak

twinklie wrote: »

I would be very interested to hear what your ma and pa say.

Well! Pa's response was pretty much on a pa(r) (sorry!) with what your OH said.

Although it had just been preceeded with a question as to whether I intended to keep a goat (I think he was referring to the length of the grass in my garden, but I can't be certain) :rolleyes:

Harrumph.

evab_2

Ah they won't be so negative when you produce your own spuds for Sunday lunch with parsley also from the garden.

Honestly, it really doesn't take much to set up and manage in pots. Start with 1 or 2 things and see how you get on. If I can grow potatoes then anyone can!

twinklie

Hmmm....I fear there is a distinct lack of support for us. It kinda makes me even more determined to do it in a way.

Anyway, went to my friends house yesterday and made a card that looks really good using all the different techniques etc that her and her mum showed me. So I have a birthday card ready to go.

Today, OH is at home which is a pain. But I'm going to try and crack on with some work on lesson planning. Trouble is he keeps talking to me about crap. He's ment to be doing work himself, but he's rubbish at knuckling down. I might have a gentle fun poking session at him shortly....lol.

I'm eating houmous smeared over fresh bread....lush!

twinklie

I have been good today after all!! A no spend day. But I've got up to £34.50 on yougov! Slowly getting there.

Also I've managed to nearly complete the medium term plans for one of the modules I have to teach in September. Essentially I did finish the plans, but I got a bit bored at the end there, so I'm not sure if it will make sense.

Bit worried about OH. He has been off all day and hasn't being doing anything. He's not so much as looked at his uni stuff or tidied the office. I'm worried cos his deadlines are creeping ever closer and he just keeps putting it off. I don't want to nag him but, I don't want it to get to late for him to submit them.

Plus the bathroom stuff will be here soon which means that, we won't get the shower installed before I start work which would be a NIGHTMARE!

Hmmm....I feel a storm coming!