[Kathy]

Plans for 2009 in here please.  

[Lizzie]

Plan A

Go to garden centre with Christmas gift tokens and buy some vegetable seeds.....

We're running a bit late this year but I'm determined that the garden is going to be more productive this year (for our benefit this time and not the vermin   ) so I'll be watching this thread carefully.  I'm very much the novice in the gardening department here but I really need to get more involved this year now that OH is working full time too...

[agapanthus]

Planting broad beans in pots and sowing chiles, sweet peppers and tomatoes

[Libby]

I haven't done a thing yet  

haven't you started a bit early for Scottish weather Aggy??

[agapanthus]

[Libby]

   exactly, I suppose you never can tell

[agapanthus]

Gives us a bit of impetus to get the polytunnel up!!!!

[Libby]

Have you got a big garden then??

[agapanthus]

[Beadgarden]

Hi all, have neglected the forum for a while, sorry about that.

Anyway, have just put up a 6x9 polycarbonate greenhouse (a pain in the bum to build and not sure it will last long) and will grow the usual tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers & chillies in there. I have 5 cucumber plants & 20 tomato plants in there already, wrapped up in little propigators.

We have 10 raised beds and I will be trying out square foot gardening on 2 of them just to see how it works. I am waiting for the book to arrive so that I do it right, should be pretty obvious but you never know.

Crops list (in beds);
potatoes
onions
shallots
spring onions
garlic (planted in october)
carrots
lettuces (very successful last year)
florence fennel (excited about that)
spaghetti squash (can't wait to try it)
courgettes
pumpkins
beetroot
leeks
cabbages
sprouts

In rest of garden;
red currants
gooseberries (red)
raspberries
plums
apples
figs (doubtful results)

I think that is everything. I'll let you know how I get on.

[TheGirlsMum]

We have done some seed scattering today. I put some mixed leaves into a pot by the back door and the girls have sown blue poppies, antirihnums (sp) and stattis.

I also planted out a few dahlia tubers so fingers crossed the dogs don't dig them up.

[Libby]

have done nothing, zilch, zero and I don't see myself doing much either as hubby will have enough to do without me asking him to water seedlings  

[Daisy Bell]

[Libby]

The week beginning the 6th April everyone in my house is taking a holiday to help me get the garden sorted, move some veg beds, make two more, one for strawberries and one for veggies

Can't wait  

[Libby]

I have planted
Tomato Roma, a plum tomato
Tomato Sungold, my absolute favourite
Tomato, Moneymaker
Tomato, Gardeners Delight
Tomato, Ailsa Craig
Sweet Pepper, Californian Wonder
Chilli
Coleus , hopefully for my jungle bed
Spring Onion,
Beetroot
Red Basil
Green Basil
I have put some potatoes into a pot and left it in the greenhouse.
Sweetpeas
Heritage Peas

[Jojo]

Have been waiting for my runner beans seedlings to show themselves but had a good look today and it looks like they have rotted,I only have a plastic type of greenhouse and think I have watered them too much and it's not been very warm, will have to go to the garden centre and buy some plants

[Kathy]

Plant them straight in the ground Jojo, that's what I'll be doing but not till next month.  

[Libby]

A bit late I know but I potted up my tomato seedlings  

[Kathy]

Harvesting sprouting brocoli and found some perfect parsnips during the tidy up!

[Libby]

That reminds me I must buy some parsnip seeds

[Libby]

planted Peas,  climbing french beans, sweetcorn, courgettes, and marigolds!

[sparhawkiw]

[Libby]

[sparhawkiw]

Recently I have been looking at companion planting, just scratching the surface at the moment, & Marigolds look to be one of the best things to plant in companionship with most vegetables  discouraging lots of the bad creepy crawlies but encouraging the good & also if its mexican marigolds it is claimed that they can inhibit some weeds...

[Aqui]

i try to do a bit of companion planting. usually more of an aesthetic decision - i like flowers with my veg! i plant borage, marigolds and any other edible flowers to make it look pretty. i don't have a huge garden so the veg patch is very much on display!

this weekend I sowed: rocket, radishes, parsley and calendula direct into my first veg bed in my new garden! and J helped me sow some sweetcorn (he put the seeds in the pots).

[sparhawkiw]

You cant start them planting too young, or helping out...
I've found that Master Sparhawk has been keen to help especially when garden & pocket money are mentioned in the same sentence

[Libby]

   

thats called bribery  

[sparhawkiw]

[Libby]

   

[Aqui]

we had our first harvest from the new garden this week - a small bowl of salad leaves. yum!

j can now recognise and say - strawberry plants, rhubarb, heuchera, and alchemila mollis! (not aquilegia yet funnily enough!)

[sparhawkiw]

I know this is about a book but I thought this would be a better place to post than the Library, hope thats O.K.

This week I came across:
"How To Grow Your Own Garden Food - A week-by-week guide to wild life friendly fruit & vegetable gardening"
written by a guy called "Dirty Nails"
in a charity shop this week for £2, it is absolutly brilliant.
It tells you what you should be doing & planting in the garden/plot/greenhouse week by week every week of the year written in an easy going manner with other interesting bits of info.
I have found it brilliant, funny & informative & I would recommend it to anyone...

[Libby]

That sounds excellent. I just had a look for it on Amazon and its there for £4+ and the price for it on Ebay is just stupid!!! So sounds like a bargain to me!

[Kathy]

I've sown this week:

Dwarf climbing beans
Sugar snap peas
Cherry tomatoes
Tulasi (Holy basil)
Sage
Dill
Broad beans
Sweet corn
Thyme

I've harvested:

Rhubarb
Rhubarb
Rhubarb........................

[Libby]

I love rhubarb mmmmmmm I relly must see if I can fit any in somewhere in the garden!!!

[Kathy]

I'll have rhubarb crowns going at the end of the year, we have way too much, I'll look into how to wrap for posting if anyone is interested.

I've sown:

Anise
Fennel
Beetroot
Cucumber

[Kathy]

Sown:

Mooli
Spring Onions
Cut and come again lettuce

[sparhawkiw]

[Kathy]

Sown:

Parsnips
Carrots

Harvesting

Rhubarb........................

[Aqui]

so far i have sown;

beetroot (red and yellow)
radishes
lots of salad and rocket
sweetcorn
squashes
courgettes
basil
parsley

harvest
radish
salad
rocket

tomatoes have some decent sized fruits on
strawbs just started to turn red

[lottie]

Wow - I am so impressed - you would start a blog!  I would love to see photos.

I am ll behind this year - due to unforeseen events - but am back on track now - albeit a bit late.

[Kathy]

Sown

More carrots
More parsnips
More cauliflower
sunflower seeds
courgettes

Planted out

brocoli plants
Mange tout
red lettuce
courgettes
cherry tomatoes
Yarrow

Harvesting

Rhubarb
Alpine strawberry (3 fruits!)

[Aqui]

harvested (yesterday and today)

STRAWBERRIES yum!!!!

[Kathy]

Sown:

Dill seeds

Planted out:

Runner bean plants (B&Q special)
Broad bean plants   (Ditto)
St Johns Wort plants

[sparhawkiw]

[Kathy]

Yep, it's my cure all, I've got it all over the garden!

[Kathy]

Planted out more runner beans and cucumber.
Planted out Sage and Anise.

Harvesting

Alpine strawberries
Cut and come again lettuce
Rhubarb.  

[lottie]

Harvesting all sorts of salads, and one strawberry from a pot

Ready to go out up the allotment when we get some rain - my pumpkins and my runner beans

[Libby]

I got one strawberry too   doesn't go far  

[sparhawkiw]

Harvested:

4 x garlic
Broad beans
Peas
First cucumber this year
Raddish
Spring onion
Salad leaves
Spinach...

[Lizzie]

I'm jealous of your peas sparhawkiw - we noticed the first peapod forming on our peas yesterday, but then we're an awful long way north of you  

[sparhawkiw]

[Kathy]

Mine aren't even flowering yet.

[Lizzie]

[sparhawkiw]

Harvested:

Raddish
Spring onion
Loads of salad leaves
Rhubarb
Broad beans

& (Cover your eyes Lizzie) more peas

[lottie]

Harvesting all sorts of salads on almost a daily basis.  First courgettes need a drop of rain and a day or so, so I will be picking those early next week.

Picking raspberries, gooseberries,jostaberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, peas, mange tout, and dug up an early potato plant in a deluge of rain - and got enough to last all weekend so was rather pleased.  Especially as everything went in late this year.

I wanted to harvest the broad beans today but an instant storm stopped play - but the ground really needed the rain

I also 'harvested' a large milk bottle of comfrey 'juice' to feed my tomatoes with at home - and  5 sacks of well rotted manure/compost to bring home (Pat did those, together with the 14 barrow loads that went on my pumpkin beds.  So a very rewarding morning work wise

[Aqui]

we'll be having our first tomatoes for lunch today! (four cherry tomatoes that is!)

[Kathy]

Harvesting:

Pak Choi
Spinach
Lettuce
Strawberries





Rhubarb.............................

[lottie]

Harvesting
peas
mange tout
courgettes
gooseberries
blackcurrants
raspberries
potatoes
weeds

[Kathy]

Ah yes Lottie, I forgot about the weeds!

Also harvesting

Lime mint
Cleaver
Thyme
Lady's Mantle

[sparhawkiw]

Harvest

Cucumber
Tomatos (sungold)
French beans
broad beans
peas
lettuce leaves several kinds
spring onions  

Master Sparhawk picked a couple of strawberries that he has grown from seed this year...

Planted

More peas
Dwarf beans
Spring onions
Sprouty salad seeds too...

[lloyd]

Harvesting:

Onions,
Tomatoes
Lettuce
Cabbage
Peas
Cougettes
Potatoes

Sowing:

Cauli's
Leeks
Brussells
More Spuds
More cabbage
PSB

[Libby]

I want to plant more spuds, where do you find seed pots now please?

[Lizzie]

No idea I'm afraid Libby...

This weekend I mostly spent picking, preparing, blanching and freezing half a dozen cauliflowers (in addition to the two we have in the fridge and the one I gave Mum and Dad) and about 10lbs of broad beans.  Yum  

[Kathy]

Found a place Libby http://www.alanromans.com/. I phoned this morning, very nice chap and helpful. It's near enough for me to pick mine up so I'm going along tomorrow after taking Father to hospital. He doesn't have much left and is going on holiday on Friday so better be quick!

[Kathy]

Sowing

Late season potatoes
Swiss chard
Kale
Late peas
Kohl Rabbi
Beetroot
Dumpy carrots

Harvesting

Peas
Spinach
Lettuce
Strawberries
Raspberries
Rhubarb (Yes it's still growing!)

[Aqui]

we've got our first yellow courgette today. (having it roasted with some other veg) I've not grown courgettes for years as the slugs always ate the plants before they could do anything!

[Kathy]

Harvesting:

Courgettes
Broad Beans
Peas
Carrots
Leeks
Cauliflower
Mint
Chives
Parsley
Plums
The last strawberry
and...................RHUBARB    

[agapanthus]

Some chillis that I harvested today.....togther with  a couple of chocolate sweet peppers and 2 red/orange pointy peppers.......



....still got 100's ripening

and some of my onions....which I'm really chuffed with...never grown such nice ones before!

[lottie]

Oh wow, you must have a greenhouse or poly tunnel.  Wish I lived near you.  Will you dry some?  They look gorgeous - and well done with the onions.


I harvested another almost 7 pounds of Cherokee Trail of Tears climbing beans - grown without any rain for weeks and weeks - no water whatsoever!  I spent the whole morning processing them, and they are now in the freezer.  Got two bags of mixed courgettes to make in to ratatouille tomorrow for freezing for the winter.

It is hard work this time of the year, and often tedious, but I really do appreciate it in the winter, just popping out to the garage freezer for lovely foods!

[Libby]

Wow, Aggy those peppers look fabulous, please give me some tips on how to grow them like that.

Trail of tears french beans still going strong, the first of the gem squash are ready, recommend these highly, they are currently growing up where I had the peas and are only small about 4 inches wide and are soooooooo delicious  

[Kathy]

Those look great Aggie, love that onion photo with the wellie!

[agapanthus]

[agapanthus]

Picked this lot a couple of hours ago    
Can't believe we are still harvesting.....and still lots more to come!!!