Howdy, Stranger!
Categories
The materials in this website are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor, qualified personal trainer, therapist, dietitian or nutritionist Runners's World, Part of the Hearst UK well-being network © Copyright 2017
Comments
I've finally managed to clear the all of the patch that will be my vege patch. Dug over, de-stoned, and a path laid alongside. What's the best thing to do to it over the winter? I was thinking a mulch of manure which I would then dig in come spring would be a good way of keeping it clear over winter.
A source of said stuff is my next task.
Any other suggestions?
Local stables will normally provide well rotted manure for free. Or will deliver for a small charge.
Otherwise what about planting a green manure?
we gave up trying to keep the toms going until Xmas as the plants were starting to get some blight and lots of powdery mildew, so we harvested all the fruit yesterday and chopped the plants down. same with the aubergines and last few chillies. the garden's looking a bit barer now for all the work but it had to be done sometime. we'll see if we can keep some green toms to ripen slowly indoors for Xmas but I suspect they won't last and will need cooking
a loads of pots and trays washed up yesterday as a result and still loads to do
Good point about the herbicide FB.
Started the cleaning process in the garden. And already got seeds for next year delivered
Also managed to procure 50 scaffolding boards so I can expand the raised beds. Room for asparagus and all the stuff I'd quite like to grow but never have enough space
Horses bottoms HL
Mulch with 3" or 4" of the lovely stuff, then dig in come the spring time...
Potatos like rotted grass cuttings to feed off as well as digging in manure. Place a bed of grass in the trench, lay pots and then more poo and soil over.
Thanks FB. All planted! Sprouts are doing okay, still got those little white fluttery beasties on them though, but they're slowly dying off now it's cooler. They seem to be eating some of the leaves but not the sprouts thankfully. Picked my first couple of handfulls for tonights dinner
(sprouts that is, not the white fluttery beasties) 
Not much else left in now, planted the onion sets today too, pulled the rest of the onions but they're more like shallots, but then I may have planted shallots, I can't remember
Dug up the last of the tatties and got rid of the beans.
Thanks Roy.... my gardening chum at work recommended flour dissovled in water. When it dries it sticks to them and dehydrates them. Seemed to work well... although my sprout plants are a funny white colour
Hello all. Looks like after seceral years wait I am getting a plot. Not the best time of year I guess - just wondering if there is much I can plant now? I'm in Devon so relatively mild. Going to see it today but I imagine will need some clearing.
I would always bow to the gardening wisdom of FB but if you are desperate to plant something then garlic or autumn sown broad beans can be put in now.
A lot depends on the state of the soil and how much work it needs as that planting window is rapidly closing.
I was looking at my tiny patch this morning and although the salad leaves have sprung up I don't think they're going to thrive now. and my leeks are shite (slightly better than last year) so I've decided I'm pulling everything up and laying down a good layer of manure ready for next spring. it's what I didn't do last winter so it's time to do that I reckon
still have loads of toms in the fridge and they're keeping well so I'm still kind of hoping we'll have some homegrown for Xmas.
otherwise, it's planning what to grow next year
Great news on the toms FB. My died a very sad blighty death again this year. Not sure I'll bother with them next year.
Already planning and looking forward to it. Just focusing on scraping up the tons of leaves that have descended in the last week.
surely not? you HAVE to grow toms - it's the law! the blighted ones - indoors or out (or both)? I haven't suffered blight for years as all mine are outdoors and we get plenty of breeze in GWR to help keep the plants dry. blight loves dampness. maybe think of outdoor planting in pots, or the soil, if you've not done that??
Inside (greenhouse), outside in pots and raised beds. It's heartbreaking.
I've bleached out the greenhouse and always wash the pots before planting. Not just me but the whole street seem to get it.
It's just Grrrrrrrrrrr.
Despite or maybe because of the the snow, sprouts/savoys/cavolo nero are all looking great. Perp spinach and chard still eating OK
What treats has anyone else got at the moment?
I don't have an allotment (wish I did though!!)_, but I do have a little plot in my garden and tend to dig up more of the lawn as I need it much to my husband's annoyance teehee.
At the mo I have main crop tatties (first time ever for those); leeks doing well; red onions and garlic also going well and some rather sorry for themselves sprouts! I'm usually ok with sprouts but not this year! Have a few salad leaves, but think they may be suffering now with the wind despite some protection.....
The rest of my little plot is covered in seaweed or vraic as it is called here in Jersey, and will be used as great manure/fertiliser for the Jersey Royals going in probably Feb time.
I'd love to try the purple potatoes - anyone done them - they have them on D T Browns website) limited stuff over here).
This year I did some strawberry shaped cherry toms that were a Christmas pressie from my other half - they were fab! Looked just like a strawberry in shape but real tomato taste - lovely with balsamic vinegar and basil (home grown of course!).
Rang about an allotment to rent - 4 year waiting list!!
Come on! Where's your updates? It's Spring!!
Just planted some beetroot and butternut squash for the first time so looking forward to asking some questions as to what to do next
I have potatoes sitting chitting on the kitchen windowsill, and just need to dig the winter mulch in before planting. Going for spuds, carrots & parsnips in the vege patch, then toms, cucumbers & lettuce in the greenhouse. May add stawberries & melons to that list, depends on space & organisation!
Also plan to plant a plum tree, which I suppose I ought too do sooner rather than later now.
Mowed the lawn for the first time as well - ho hum, that's a never ending job!
I am digging over the veg patch at work. Well not right now but inbetween stints of sitting at the pc I'm digging over the veg patch at work and doubling it in size. Onion sets went in a while back. Am going to plant some peas as they work well. Brussels from last year are still in. No one uses them much but the rabbit likes them.
It's going to be a slow process getting this veg patch sorted. It was a flower bed lrft to weed. I'm trying to encourage composting but that's not going too well. At the staff meeting yesterday someone mentioned compost bins and I said I wanted bins and kitchen caddies for all the houses. Maybe we can improve the soil a little here at least.
This house has a very large mature garden but it needs a complete overhaul. Job for life.