Sarahs 2012 Garden Diary

Forgot what happened last year - maybe it's here!!
sazchops
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Sarahs 2012 Garden Diary

Post by sazchops »

This year I WILL be organised!
Might even build raised bedsyike*
I have been growing veg for a few years now and add new things each year, however I think I am going to have to admit defeat on a few things.
Tomatoes, we just don't get enough sunlight any more.
Sweetcorn, only had 1 good crop in the last 5 years.
Squashes, I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, courgettes are fab but pumpkins produce a lot of leaves but tiny fruit that dies off, might try planting earlier.
I planted my garlic on christmas eve so we'll see how that goes.
I could do with some advice on how to plant onions as although they grow quite well not very big.
Sarah - slave to Cats Anthony, Elsa and Pippa, Chickens, Heidi, Fleur, Gabby and Marmite, R.I.P Cadbury
little brown hen
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Re: Sarahs 2012 Garden Diary

Post by little brown hen »

Very sensible, we tend to grow what we eat. The first year I grew all sorts of strange and wonderful things, not always successfully. The next year I curbed my enthusiasm for the odd and strange and last year I grew mostly what we eat, and this year will be the same. I do grow chillies for my son and his partner, and last year I bought two big plastic cloches and had sweet peppers in one and aubergine and squashes in the other. So this year will be sweet peppers in one, and aubergines in the other. Just cant wait to get going. I collect my seeds bought from the allotment society next week, but Im trying to be patient and not get carried away with planting things too early, and wait for the soil to warm up in March/April. Its not in my nature to be patient, so it could be a big learning curve.:-D
Onions need lots of water. Mine didn't do too well last year, and the ones Ive got in over winter arent doing too much, but its early, we found red ones did best.
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madmum
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Re: Sarahs 2012 Garden Diary

Post by madmum »

Ohhh little brown hen,you grew aubergines?how were they?did they need any special care?
If you always do what you always do ,you will always get what you have always got!
sazchops
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Re: Sarahs 2012 Garden Diary

Post by sazchops »

Had a very productive day yesterday,
Polytunnel is up,
Manure dug into all beds,
Potatoes planted,
Tomato, leek and pepper seeds planted in 1" pots in the tunnel,
Just need to decide what I am doing with onions.
I am also planning to grow asparagus, cauliflower aubergines and courgettes, brocolli is already in but has been attacked by chickens so might need to start again.
Sarah - slave to Cats Anthony, Elsa and Pippa, Chickens, Heidi, Fleur, Gabby and Marmite, R.I.P Cadbury
sazchops
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Re: Sarahs 2012 Garden Diary

Post by sazchops »

So,
I now have, spuds in, onions in, with garlic, purple sprouting, chard and spinich seeds in.
In the tunnel,
Cabbage and cauliflower seeds, Tomatoes, peppers , leeks, 2 things whos name I really can't think of!!!!!!!yike* I'll come back in a bit.
Bean cages are built, for runner beans, french beans and peas.
Artichokes are already on their way,
Sarah - slave to Cats Anthony, Elsa and Pippa, Chickens, Heidi, Fleur, Gabby and Marmite, R.I.P Cadbury
sazchops
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Re: Sarahs 2012 Garden Diary

Post by sazchops »

Celeriac that's one of them, and Marrigolds that's the other, I don't really do flowers but apparently they attract or repel slugs.+confused+
Sarah - slave to Cats Anthony, Elsa and Pippa, Chickens, Heidi, Fleur, Gabby and Marmite, R.I.P Cadbury
sazchops
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Re: Sarahs 2012 Garden Diary

Post by sazchops »

With all this lovely weather we have been having there are things sprouting all over, it was 40 degree in the polly tunnel yesterday so the cabbage and cauliflower seeds are shooting up, as are the leeks, just noticed today that there is a tomato shooting.
Sarah - slave to Cats Anthony, Elsa and Pippa, Chickens, Heidi, Fleur, Gabby and Marmite, R.I.P Cadbury
Annie
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Re: Sarahs 2012 Garden Diary

Post by Annie »

sazchops wrote: With all this lovely weather we have been having there are things sprouting all over, it was 40 degree in the polly tunnel yesterday so the cabbage and cauliflower seeds are shooting up, as are the leeks, just noticed today that there is a tomato shooting.

Its so pleasing when the shoots start to come through and once they start dont they go at a fair rate of knots ? I'm just a bit concerned its warm too soon , keep remembering last year when the sun shone in April and then...........
It will be alright in the end , if its not alright, it isn't the end .
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perchy
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Re: Sarahs 2012 Garden Diary

Post by perchy »

It's so exciting isn't it, well done)t' I have noticed the last couple of days everything has grown and sprouted, although still need to watch the frosts)t'
HappyBob
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Re: Sarahs 2012 Garden Diary

Post by HappyBob »

Cor blimy, you,ve been very busy sazchops. I,m sure it will be well worth the effort and you will be well rewarded with plenty of fresh veg)t'
Dont ever grow up, its a trap
sazchops
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Re: Sarahs 2012 Garden Diary

Post by sazchops »

Well Annie was right, the weather turned and it has rained quite a bit, no hose pipe ban for us!
I have kept a lot of stuff in the tunnel but outside the potatos are doing well, as are onions and garlic. Last weekend i planted 2 year old asparagus crowns and sweetcorn which is about 8".
In the tunnel Runner beans are ready to be planted out.
Image
Sarah - slave to Cats Anthony, Elsa and Pippa, Chickens, Heidi, Fleur, Gabby and Marmite, R.I.P Cadbury
Annie
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Re: Sarahs 2012 Garden Diary

Post by Annie »

I find it so frustrating at this time of year when everything is going well and ready to be put into the ground but you just dare not do it , with such unpredictable temperatures}hairout{ . Those beans look good Saz - love runners me)eat(
It will be alright in the end , if its not alright, it isn't the end .
Quote from the proprietor of the The best exotic Marigold Hotel for the elderly and beautiful
sazchops
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Re: Sarahs 2012 Garden Diary

Post by sazchops »

So the Runner Beans are out, French beans are still abit small, maybe next weekend. I have put out 20 Cabbages and 20 Cauliflowers and 40 leeks, Aubergines and Tomatos are going into 2" Modules later today>fi<
A beeping slug got in and ate right through my Cucumber plant, it was about 6" high ( the plant, not the slugyike* ) now it is a little stem with no leaves, not sure it'll recover but I might leave it and see.
Anyone know anything about growing Celeriac, my seedlings are tiny and have been for a few weeks!
Sarah - slave to Cats Anthony, Elsa and Pippa, Chickens, Heidi, Fleur, Gabby and Marmite, R.I.P Cadbury
Homemade
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Re: Sarahs 2012 Garden Diary

Post by Homemade »

If the slug has eaten through below the seed leaves the cucumber will not recover unfortunately.}hairout{ .
Celeriac, prick out the seedlings while still small. I think the main thing with these is to avoid any stops to growth so a constant level of moisture and as little root disturbance as possible.
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sazchops
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Re: Sarahs 2012 Garden Diary

Post by sazchops »

Just a quick update.
You need to appreciate that I grow things in my back garden, it is not tidy, but I love it.
Image
Cabbages, Cauliflower and Leeks.
Image
Potatoes doing well.
Image
Artichokes we have had a few years now and need separating.
The fruit bit.
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This is what I did this morning, Celeriac under pop bottles and more Leeks in front.
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Sarah - slave to Cats Anthony, Elsa and Pippa, Chickens, Heidi, Fleur, Gabby and Marmite, R.I.P Cadbury
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