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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Allotment/Veg Patch Thread 16 Weather weirdness prevails !

984 replies

bookbook · 30/07/2020 14:36

Hello to everyone !
pull up a garden chair and join in with the trials and tribulations of growing your own , against the odds of weather , pests and diseases.
Previous thread is HERE

OP posts:
Thread gallery
226
TheSpottedZebra · 23/03/2021 23:19

That sounds rubbish, Clara

Nowhere near as beautiful, but Lidl have some trug things in next week: www.lidl.co.uk/en/c/gardening-event/c1823/w2

Lovemusic33 · 24/03/2021 07:28

I’m watching our berry bushes closely too, planted a few more raspberry canes but autumn fruiting so I’m going to be watching for a long time, my blackcurrant is coming to life though. I seemed to have killed one of my gooseberry plants so now only have one that doesn’t look that great. I’m toying with the idea of digging out a bud down the middle of my lawn to give me more planting space but mainly for flowers, possibly a fruit tree and a runner bean tepee but I’m unsure how easy it will be to dig as we have very hard ground/clay?

AppleJane · 24/03/2021 07:31

@ShitInAPyrexDish

Hope you don't me joining you, absolute gardening beginner here. Got into it last year like so many others. Currently have a vegetable patch under construction in our back garden. Attempting to grow our own from seed this year rather than from free plants like last year. 🤞🏻

Hello! I'm a beginner this year too. I've spent a lot of time reading and I've created myself a week to week job list so I'm not tempted to sow everything at once.

I used the calendar function at gardenfocused.co.uk which calculates your last frost date and suggests indoor and outdoor sowing times for popular fruit and veg based on your location Smile

MaryIsA · 24/03/2021 09:59

@AppleJane thank you for that link, it's great!

ClaraTheImpossibleGirl · 24/03/2021 11:05

They look great thank you @TheSpottedZebra! We're not particularly near a Lidl (and annoyingly they don't sell online) but I could combine a visit with a big shop Hmm

I'm considering getting a large shed and/ or greenhouse (hopefully cheap or free via Marketplace) and some planters or trugs, really anything to take up maximum space and keep CF neighbour away. I'm not fussy about what we'd grow - probably veg to let the DC learn a bit about it, but anything that's easy - but unfortunately don't have much to spend setting it up!

GrouchyKiwi · 24/03/2021 11:07

Yes, thanks for the link AppleJane! I'm late sowing some things but never mind. They might catch up.

I really need to get a decent load of compost in. It's hard with the garden centres still closed up here. The bag I have is currently being used as a weight for the trampoline as we have strong winds this week. I might try using some of the better soil from my loam stack for seeds.

Azuretwist · 24/03/2021 12:00

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl if you got a free pallet then could you make things? We made a raised bed on our clay soil with a free pallet. Once full of compost it is great. If yours is on concrete, if ok at basic diy I am sure you could make something and once full of compost it would be very heavy to move!

AppleJane · 24/03/2021 12:19

You're both welcome!

Another resource I found useful was the spreadsheet calendar at www.betterhensandgardens.com/making-2021s-seed-starting-planting-schedule-w-downloadable-template/ which I adapted for my needs. You just need to move the frost line and then fill in each row from the info on your veg seed packets or using the garden focused calendar Smile

My theory being that if I put the hard work in this year and keep notes, next year should be a lot easier!

MereDintofPandiculation · 24/03/2021 14:17

@Lovemusic33 I killed all my cucumbers last year by putting them in the greenhouse too early.

MereDintofPandiculation · 24/03/2021 14:22

@Lovemusic33 Stripping the turf shouldn’t be too hard, especially while soil is moisThen replace it with compost. Then it’s only planting holes to worry about. I can recall planting trees with a pick axe.

Mrhwbin · 24/03/2021 20:50

Very excited that I can finally join in this thread.

I live in a flat with communal gardens and have finally got permission to grow some veg in a sunny corner. My 'plot' needs to be small and not permanent and there is no existing clear ground. So I have bought 3 patio grobags 80x54x30 each. That gives me 2.4 m x 1.6 m of space so not great but it's a start.

Am trying to remember not to get carried away. I already have potatoes in a bag and some garlic in a pot so I'm thinking tomatoes (have started off seedlings indoors) cucumbers, peas, some type of runner or dwarf bean and strawberries.

Is it to late to plant a raspberry plant?

Mrhwbin · 24/03/2021 20:52

I forgot my main question. I'm going to need about 450 litres of what? MPC or a combo of topsoil and MPC?

MereDintofPandiculation · 25/03/2021 10:51

some type of runner or dwarf bean Other alternatives are climbing French beans. Or mange-tout peas.

being dense this morning. What's MPC?

Mrhwbin · 25/03/2021 11:48

@MereDintofPandiculation multi purpose compost

MereDintofPandiculation · 25/03/2021 12:14

Ah! I'd worked out the compost but could thing what MP was. Why do you need either? If you have gro-bags, don't they come with compost? 450l is going to cost you about £75.But if you're going to have to buy topsoil, that's going to be about £65 from a quick search, and you're more likely to benefit from a bulk discount on one purchase of 450l than two purchases of 225l.

It's worth not going bargain basement because of quality - some composts have had truly bad reviews, and some people buying "topsoil" have had something more resembling subsoil.

compost from a reputable brand will be of predictable soil quality, and will have added fertiliser, So what you're gaining with compost is basically 6 weeks of fertiliser application. So unless the topsoil costs less by the cost of 6 weeks fertiliser, you might as well go all compost and benefit from better soil texture.

I used to use garden compost in containers, and top up with 4-6inches peat free compost. Then last year we were shielding and I couldn't buy compost, so I went over to garden compost only and I think that's what I'll do in the future.

Mrhwbin · 25/03/2021 13:11

Empty gro bags like this. More like plastic raised beds I suppose

Allotment/Veg Patch Thread 16  Weather weirdness prevails !
indignatio · 25/03/2021 13:49

Hi, I am new to this, started last year and looking to double in size what we built last year. So I have been doing lots of reading. Do I really have to wash all my little plant pots? I've washed the greenhouse, understand that one, but all those little pots?? Thanks

Knitterbabe · 25/03/2021 19:14

Monty washes his pots, so I do. I actually did mine when I did my autumn tidy up. I took a bucket of hot soapy water out on the patio and gave them all a good wash and rinse then stored them away.

bookbook · 25/03/2021 21:30

Evening all!
welcome ShitInAPyrexDish and Mrhwbin - loads of room in our virtual shed -let us know whereabouts you are - North/South/East/West :)
I would try and find as much topsoil as you can to fill the grow bags - then add spent mushroom compost etc, free manure , (if its well rotted .) We are lucky around here , as you can easily source this - either free ,to go bag up yourself or for a small amount bagged up . from local stables and horse owners . Good luck with the growing . Not too late for raspberries , but be quick .Peas are lovely , but I would caution as you only have the 3 bags . You need to grow masses to get a decent pick of pods , but I agree there is nothing like fresh peas just picked ( they rarely get cooked here ! )

I only grow climbing French beans now - they are very reliable for me , and I am the only one who likes runner beans here , so no point in growing them .
Lovemusic - stripping turf is pretty easy if you do it whilst still moist . Do keep the turf - turn the sods grass to grass and layer them into a heap and cover . If you leave it somewhere out of the way ,it will turn into nice topsoil with a bit of patience ( usually about a year) for little effort :)
igdignatio - I wash my pots . Basically a big trug , water and some liquid soap , I put them all in there , leave to soak for a while , wipe around with an old washing up brush , then rinse . I do tend to do it in autumn when everything is being cleaned down for winter .
Yesterday , I went and did some more prepping of beds , and sowed the first row of early peas . I have done the usual - soaked them in warm water to help germination and added some cayenne pepper to deter mice . I have covered the row with hoops and fleece to give them a bit of warmth and protection for tomorrows cold snap . Dug up more leeks . Today was a quick trip to pick perpetual spinach and more sprouting broccoli. Good news is is I espied 2 tiny shoots coming up in the asparagus bed :)

Allotment/Veg Patch Thread 16  Weather weirdness prevails !
Allotment/Veg Patch Thread 16  Weather weirdness prevails !
OP posts:
Azuretwist · 25/03/2021 21:47

I washed lots of pots a few weeks ago.

The first seeds planted are now germinating - tomato plants, two types. Looking so fragile but I think I will have to take pit of the propagator soon to be able to sow more seeds. Just a windowsill one so put 18 seeds in it. 9 up so far.

Looking forward to a visit to the allotment at the weekend to do some more digging! Could really do with a source of free manure! Did manage to get my husband to but lots more compost on his way home from work this week.

Mrhwbin · 25/03/2021 22:29

@bookbook thank you for the welcome to the shed. I'm on the sunny border of SW London and Surrey so plenty of stables about for manure thanks for the tip.

Lovemusic33 · 26/03/2021 10:45

Has anyone planted in the storage tubs with handles (see photo)?
Im running out of space and Aldi are selling these for £3.49 (homebase £5), im thinking of planting cucamelons in them with some canes for support? And possibly peas? Has anyone grown successfully in these? Obviously I will be adding drainage holes 😊

Allotment/Veg Patch Thread 16  Weather weirdness prevails !
ShitInAPyrexDish · 26/03/2021 11:18

@AppleJane Thanks for that link, that's going to be really helpful.

ShitInAPyrexDish · 26/03/2021 11:20

@bookbook Thank you, I'm in Brighton so South East. 🙂

MereDintofPandiculation · 26/03/2021 11:27

Empty gro bags like this. More like plastic raised beds I suppose Those look like a good idea! I've seen 1 tonne builders bags recommended, and those are a sort of cut down version.

Monty washes his pots, so I do. I actually did mine when I did my autumn tidy up. I've never washed mine, but I did last year. I've got a 30 years accumulation of pots - it took me a long time. The trouble is all the pots that have come vacant since then. I can't be bothered to be doing repeated washes all through the year.

If you can't face doing them all, it's more important to do seed trays and small pots - larger plants are more robust. And of course any pots with sign of disease for example root mealy bug. If you're not going to wash, then at least let the pots stay dry for a few weeks before using again - I work on the principle that anything flourishing in moist soil may find it a struggle to cope with prolonged drought.

Peas are lovely , but I would caution as you only have the 3 bags . You need to grow masses to get a decent pick of pods , Mange tout, or even better, sugar snap (which you pick at a greater state of maturity) give a decent crop when you have only a few plants.

@Lovemusic33 Not planted in trugs like yours, mine usually eventually split down the side when in use as a carrier for compost. They should work fine, but I would recommend filling in situ and not moving around too much.

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