The all new 2019 growing your own thread!

From a wyvale garden centre. I tend to get a few seeds every year from there if I remember as they reduce everything to 50p around the end of August. Some of the packets were priced at nearly £4 original price which is crazy.

I also got a few strawberry planter sets for the kids and wildflower mix boxes which were also 50p.

Normally I just get tomatoes and a couple of other packets but this year I went a bit mad as after years of dreaming of a smallholding we have moved somewhere with the space for me to grow lots.

I think all the wyvales have been sold now so will be getting my seeds from elsewhere next year!

PipneyJane wrote: »

Hello. I'm normally just a lurker on this thread, but I had to chime in when I read the above. All the Wyvales have been sold? I didn't realise they were in difficulties. What have I missed? (They're our local, decent garden centre.)

Many thanks.

- Pip

Not sure if all have been sold but Dobies have bought the one near us. There was a lot of (financial) chatter last Autumn when they were put up for sale suggesting there were vulture funds circling (to no doubt go for housing development) and a suggestion that they might retain some. Certainly they seem to have sold 1-2 to one buyer, 2-5 to another, suggesting this is part of the solution. They were the biggest, with over a hundred (maybe 150) nationally. They still have a web-site up and running.

I've noticed for a couple of years there seem to be changes going on - For example I used to use DT Brown as my first port of call for seeds, then they stopped free delivery, then order fulfilment seemed to change dramatically, then the free seed labels (emphasis on plural) - which used to be a nice bunch of labels, has in the last year been reduced to exactly two - every time

(think I'm on a steroid downer today)

Hey gardening chums,

I've been busy in the garden again but failed to post. I've read all your interesting goings on and it sounds like we're all doing well. :T

I have done a bit more digging but it's all just about done now. The fruit bushes from T and M have all taken really well, whether in the ground or in pots. Just one raspberry cane hasn't shown any life yet. When they were delivered I had to double check the packaging to find the seed packets so make sure you don't throw away the packaging if you can't find them. They may be lurking somewhere.

The peas have gone outside under the polytunnel. They are looking very healthy. The toms are looking good too but I'm not so sure about the leeks. I've never grown them before and they look very small and thin. I've potted them on so I'll wait and see if a little more room helps. Yesterday I planted a load more seeds. More toms, leeks and peas, chillies in three varieties, peppers in two, carrots and two types of lettuce leaves. The back lobby in my house is tricky to navigate at the moment! They are all sat by the glass doors and floor length Windows so light isn't an issue. It's very exciting to see all the little green shoots. How uplifting gardening can be.

My rhubarb is also looking good, lovely deep pink and fresh bright green. Yum yum.

The onion sets have started to poke through on the patch. I'm really pleased because they've been through silly high temps in Feb followed by snow and torrential rain. And thank goodness the winds have died down. I can't bare to nail down the plastics on my shed roof yet again!

I'm still loving all your news. I have little pictures in my head of the progress each person is making as they post their next steps. Lovely:)

Yes, the leeks will look very thin and reedy for a bit. Watch out for leek rust and moths when they get bigger. Rust looks like it's name, and the moths eat into the white bit at the bttom and they start smellling off, with small gnawed bits.