Allotment?Veg Patch Thread 13! Are we weathering the weather?

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well, we have got to August , had heatwaves and thunderstorms. Goodness knows what happens next!
All welcome to join in sharing the highs and lows , tips and experiences of growing your own :)
Previous thread HERE

Afternoon!
don't send any of those computer viruses this way , thanks!
Grey and windy here today.
Got some more manure spread out, some more weeding done , dug leeks and swede ready for making root veg soup with pearl barley and lentils.
My greenhouse is all done, apart from the one pane of glass ( we broke one :( ) The replacement didn't arrive yesterday - boo hoo . So still no sowing done yet . Ah well ..roll on another week . .

My skip diving was very successful - lovely lady down the road donated 5 nice big pallets. I’m hoping I can break them up then build a wall to surround my bed.

I’ve got a treatment & colour paint for it from Wilkos.

Any tips for using pallets for raised beds??

First seeds sown for this year - some realseeds peppers now in the propagator. My son is pestering me to plant tomatoes (he loves going to pick them) but I think February would be better as the propagator does make things germinate so quickly. That said I did save a few of the final elbow-shoots from last year's plants and am experimenting with getting them to root in the hope of having a head start. I've also picked up some seed potatoes (Duke of York, Maris Peer, International kidney) - must check when I need to start chitting. I also need to get some manure onto the beds and cover them over. Oh, and we need to install a few more water butts. Only January and I'm already behind!

Fusion Probably not what you're looking for but I did see a great idea for maximising yield using pallets as a vertical planter, essentially standing them on one side so the bars are horizontal and stapling tough fabric to make little pockets - great for herbs, strawberries etc. I'm interested in trying one in the hope that I can raise salads with less slug damage! Generally on raised beds go with long but narrow so you can reach the middle easily without stepping on them. We have heavy clay in our garden and I find the raised beds work really well. Covered shelves are better than nothing but do think about where you put them as I've had a few disasters when one has blown over!

I love perennial veg but don't tend to grow onions because I don't find the flavour difference is worth it. I do have what James Wong calls persian shallots but haven't harvested any yet. I keep trying to grow garlic chives but have one disaster after another (accidentally hoed the last batch!). I have skirret and jerusalem artichokes in, and I'd also like to try perennial kale and greens.

Pallets for raised beds.
Quite alot of work to get the longest pieces, which sometimes involves taking smaller pieces and using them to make longer pieces...see this video at 1.23 to explain.

Then use those for the sides of a bed. Either screw together or use vertical pegs to hold them in position.

I've made countless raised beds over the years. Used everything from pallets to purpose built kits. I settled on using pallet collars though. Just makes them instant, no work involved apart from filling. I get them from ebay. Usually £5 each. I save pallets to lift up waterbutts to get watering cans under.

www.palletcollars.co.uk/using-pallet-collars-for-planters-and-raised-beds/

It got cold all of a sudden

Wow looks chilly tizwozliz. It's cold here but no snow - just a 2 minute burst of sleet yesterday.

Made it up to the plot last weekend and dug over part of a new patch of ground that I started on ages ago. Then spread some manure over the top. We'll use this for the potatoes this year as it hasn't been cultivated for several years. Still got to finish off the next section and, if there is time, try and sort out the overgrown fruit patch.

Not thinking of sowing anything yet as have the perennial problem of no greenhouse and virtually no proper window sills to put plants on.

Brr- It has been cold here the last two days, with bits of snow
Life has got a bit in the way, so only a couple of trips to the plot this week .
Both times , done a bit of weeding , harvested chard earlier in the week, and leeks today .
Hope to get a bit more done over the next couple of days, before we go away next weekend .
Fusion - have only used pallets to make compost heap bins - 3 sided ones, and not broken them up. Some are much more sturdy than others

una you’ve reminded me I was going to plant seeds this weekend and completely failed to get my act together and actually buy seeds. I did find a wizened chilli from last year in the greenhouse so I could start that off this week. Seems largely through neglect I’ve managed to overwinter my cape gooseberries in the greenhouse . I picked the fruit off and cut them back to about 20cm stalks and we will see. I’ve got aloe Vera sitting on the greenhouse as well threatening to turn to mush in the cold but we are still sorting out the inside of the house so I need to prioritise finding them some space on a windowsill . Finally spread the last of the horse poo that’s been in sacks on the drive for months, chatting to DD about what we want to plant this year while she helped me spread it out. One lovely thing about the girls getting older is that they are actually actively useful! The camellias came out properly this weekend which was lovely as we have loads of them . Just been browsing a fruit catalogue and thinking about gooseberries. I’ve got two doing well in pots ( although I did have to do lots of caterpillar killing by hand which was a bit grim) so might find a corner for a couple more.

I’ve finally cut all my turf so now the proud owner of a 1m x 1.2m patch! Took the axe to some major tree roots and got a couple more to evict. Also started breaking up the soil a bit with my fork but going to do that in small bursts as it was exhausting!

I’ve looked at a few pallet breaking vids now and am a bit daunted but have invested in some metal and serious wood blades for my jigsaw so I’m hoping that will speed things up!

Also moved a small bush, seriously cut back some very woody rosemary and then have optimistically taken some shoots off and put in water on the windowsill to see if they start rooting to make new plants - am I deluded or is that a thing??

I can recommend gooseberry 'captivator' - I planted one last year and it only had a few fruit but they were really delicious. I also have Xenia and previously had hinnonmaki red but don't like them so much.

And for just a moment it felt like spring....

Anyone have snow? We don't but I know lots of places do.

Fusion - yes you can take cuttings from rosemary like that. They may take longer to get going at this time of the year than they would in the spring or summer though. I've got a couple of plants in the garden which were originally cuttings taken like that.

Was at the plot on Sunday. Managed to finish digging over what is going to be our potato plot this year and spread manure over the top. Then started tackling the completely overgrown fruit bed. Trying to take out a small bramble showed that it was growing from a massive root running underneath. Which isn't unexpected but annoying. Might have time this weekend to get back and do a bit more, weather permitting.

It's been a long time since I posted, but feel that I need to share my (slow!) progress with the plot I got in November.

Fusion.

Get a 1m X 1.2m pallet collar.

Pop it over your patch.

Fill with topsoil or compost.

Honestly it will save you much work, makes a sturdy bed and use the pallets for a compost bin.

Argh! Sent my post too soon! First picture is when we got it, and second picture was last week. Ground is frozen solid today so I don't think I'll be able to do much more until things warm up. Got a cheap blakcurrent bush in B&Q yesterday that I'm keen to plant.

Crunchy frost underfoot but no snow - my globe artichokes have finally slumped which feels seriously overdue!

In fact you can put your turf that you removed upside down on the bottom of the bed to bulk up the soil, as it rots down it makes a lovely friable soil.

-4º here first thing - only -2º now. But no snow .
I do need to go and pick sprouts, and sprouting broccoli - everything else ( leeks/swede/chard /kale) will stand until I get back.
Have been trying to get everything done , but not sure I will now before I go away at the weekend. Managed just about all I really needed to though, so not going to angst. It sounds as if its going to be cold whilst I'm away
Pyjamas - impressive amount of work done there!

My Lebanese aubergines and cucumbers are coming on a treat. And just as well; the 38 degree day for Friday has been revised up to 44.:o

It'll be back to 27 the next day, though.

Everything in sight is under shade cloth and will be watered early doors.

Oh, I've just checked the forecast for tonight: an oppressive night. That would explain my running with sweat as I type.

Wow, echt - very hot. Take it easy in that heat.
Cold here again - frosty last night. Supposed to be warmer tomorrow before turning colder again. Rainy at the weekend so won't get to the plot, I don't suppose.

pyjamas - you've made a really good start.

Well. The plants are all OK. The temperature went from 44 to 26 right now at nearly 8.00.p.m. I'm lucky that the back living room is east-facing and has air-con, but I can tell you 44 really tests it. Then we had a power cut. It was only for an hour, but then you don't know that when it happens, t'internet said it would be be back on 4 hours later.!! Still I did some very boring ironing when leccy allowed and watched "LA Confidential". Again. How good is that film?

I was most concerned about echtdog who has just had the unkindest cut of all and is moping in the Cone of Shame as he won't leave his bits, what's left of them, alone.

My new year splurge, when the sales come on, will be air con in the front room, the one I use most. In the interests of greenness, I go for passive cooling first- doors, windows; ceiling fans second; aircon last. I've only used aircon in the bedroom this summer, and today downstairs for the first time.

Thanks for gooseberry recommendation - I’ve put that on the list. Going to a garden centre tomorrow so I’ll see what they have.

echt do you go around shutting curtains facing the sun, and opening windows in the shade , and the swapping as the sun goes around . I had to do that last summer, but nothing like that temp ! And I still didn't cope .
Made my last trip to the plot to pick sprouts , before we go away on Sunday . Gorgeous day, a bit damp underfoot. I dug couch grass up around the jostaberry, it was lifting easily , so got loads out , probably not all as it is always a menace once it gets around the roots .
Broad beans and sweet peas sown and in the ( at long last finished!!) greenhouse too
Another cold spell due on Sunday I see.
Happy plotting , back in Feb :)

echt :o do you go around shutting curtains facing the sun, and opening windows in the shade , and the swapping as the sun goes around*

Yes!! Like a nutcase. It's very effective for anything below 30 or odd hot days, but once you get several in a row, especially with no cooling breeze in the evening, it's a bugger.

Somehow fell off this thread last year. Good progress Pyjamas.

Still plotting along. Had some petty vandalism on the plot. One of the glass walls (old window) on a salad bed got kicked and broken. Thankfully nothing worse.

Any apple tree recommendations please? We have a mixed orchard with some of the usual suspects but I am looking for something a bit different in memory of an aunt who asked for no flowers at her funeral but that people would plant a tree.

Any suggestions gratefully received.