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General => News => Topic started by: daveyboi on February 16, 2016, 11:28:25

Title: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: daveyboi on February 16, 2016, 11:28:25
Have you started raising plants yet?

What have you sown?

Any disasters yet (non germination etc)

Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jayb on February 16, 2016, 12:57:11
I planted 3 early potatoes in buckets in the greenhouse yesterday and I have some germinating Lantern chilli seeds just out of the airing cupboard. Germination is around 60%, not brilliant, self saved seed so should be better but seed got a bit damp before harvest.  Nothing else yet. I'm hoping to start sowing some tomato, onion and different brassica seeds before long.

What about you have you made a start?
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: daveyboi on February 16, 2016, 13:26:49
Myself I have not started on anything yet as in a bit of a limbo about whether I shall be moving in the near future etc.
It is all very complicated so time will I hope clarify the future direction for me.
So at present I am waiting for the ground to dry out before doing anything at all.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: squeezyjohn on February 16, 2016, 15:20:23
I planted my onion seeds a few weeks back and they've all come up very nicely ... today I sowed summer leeks, lettuce, chard, sweet peas and some tentatively early Kohl Rabi and Calabrese just in case it works out.  I don't think I'll attempt chills and sweet peppers this year ... they never seem to come to much for me.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: BarriedaleNick on February 16, 2016, 18:24:24
I lobbed a few chilies in last week - poor germination so far but I promised to keep them to a minimum after last year's bumper crop.  Nothing else so far - too cold for me and my little poly tunnel got destroyed over winter.  Need to decide whether of not to get a proper greenhouse this year and I am having a loft extension done atm - a bit chaotic chez moi for a while!
 
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jayb on February 17, 2016, 10:14:23
Sorry to hear you are in growing limbo at the moment Daveyboi, hope everything sorts out for you very soon.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: daveyboi on February 17, 2016, 10:34:34
Sorry to hear you are in growing limbo at the moment Daveyboi, hope everything sorts out for you very soon.

Thanks Jayb

I mainly started this topic to try and inspire people to join in as the forum has been a little quiet of late and with some of our missing regulars returning to not disappear again too soon.
I was thinking of calling the topic What I did today.... Like the weather in... etc.
Plus I might get jealous and actually sow something  :toothy10:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: okra on February 18, 2016, 08:35:53
The only thing I have planted so far on the plot is a row of shallots. Indoors tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, onions, leeks and broads are all progressing well.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: ACE on February 18, 2016, 09:19:16
One more hour of digging to get both plots ready for the season. Banana shallots, tomatoes, cauli and primo all pricked out. Peas in the propagator. All the autumn planted onions and garlic doing well and flowers on the broad beans. The only pickings from the lottie is curly kale.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Tee Gee on February 18, 2016, 09:23:23
I have noticed the forums have been a little quiet of late as well.

I tend to not get involved with subjects like this  simply because everyone does not do the same things at the same time. As I see it, on seeing that someone has done something could make some people do things that may turn out to be a bit to early for them and I try to avoid that.

Back to me I am having  some mixed results from some of the things I have done.

For example I have lost a lot of the cutting material from my Chrysanthemums due to them damping off before I have even taken the cuttings.

I have put this down to the very mild winter we have had up to press and basically the stools have never really gone dormant as they usually do, then when we did get a bit of cold weather the lush growth died off leaving me with very little material to take cuttings from.

So it looks like I might have to buy in some rooted cuttings.

The Onions from seed have also given a poor return, I put that down to ' old seed' so my fault really!

Otherwise everything else ( which is not much) is coming along nicely.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on February 18, 2016, 10:22:32
Ace,  Congratulations on flowering broadies.  Mine are still in the seed box, but not for much longer!  The delights of benign island weather coupled with experienced grower!   :icon_cheers:

The autumn planted shallots and garlic are doing fine here too.  Recently sown leeks and onions haven't appeared yet.  Peppers go in the propagator in a day or two, followed by tomatoes and the first batch of tps.  Peas get started in the unheated conservatory before the end of Feb or early March for transplanting end of March to early April.

Fortunately the harvest is still good.  Kale, even one kale with flower shoots (very early) which looks a bit like sprouting broccoli, leeks, winter radish, turnip, rocket, mispoona, celery, self-seeded land cress by the boxful, and celeriac.  This mild winter (coldest so far was -4.7C) has certainly helped and minimal fleece cover (when it wasn't blown off!) and a few cloches.  There are a few carrots, lettuce, lamb's lettuce, cress and endive in the greenhouse too and the perennial leeks, perutile onions and especially the three-cornered leeks are flourishing. 

But I really must get going pronto with the propagator stuff.   :wave: 

One more hour of digging to get both plots ready for the season. Banana shallots, tomatoes, cauli and primo all pricked out. Peas in the propagator. All the autumn planted onions and garlic doing well and flowers on the broad beans. The only pickings from the lottie is curly kale.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on February 18, 2016, 10:30:40


Plus I might get jealous and actually sow something  :toothy10:

Daveyboi, Not nice being in limbo.  Plants in pots and buckets to the rescue maybe?  At least you can take them with you.  And if you have to leave fruit bushes behind, perhaps take cuttings?

Hope things will be much clearer soon.   :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: ACE on February 18, 2016, 13:29:08
Skip the one hour of digging, it's done, standing on a plank. A bit claggy really, but I want get some air in the ground where the rain has compacted it. I don't know if aerating the ground makes any difference, just something I've always done, plus it all looks good being dug over. It will also help to get a few more inches off the waist, 30lbs lighter than xmas makes me think it's worth it.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: clumsy on February 18, 2016, 16:46:09
Started my chillis in january but nothing else yet.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on February 18, 2016, 19:25:13
Hi everyone, I'm a bit over faced really. I moved to my new place in jan it has just under an acre and there's so much to do! I've been busy clearing a site for a new polytunnel ( a very exciting 40ft x 18ft) which has been complicated as I've had to fell some very tall pine and spruce (50ft) so today I've been in the ditch clearing some of the trees and when the showers came have been happily pricking out some leeks and statice.

There was a horse loose on my road overnight they are out on the nearby bog normally and so I went out in the car to scoop up some brown gold got a whole 80l bag full!,  and naughty I cut down a number of election boards ( it's the Irish general election in two weeks) and have used then as th base for my new compost heap,, don't tell anyone about this local crime will you!
It's exciting and over facing
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: pumkinlover on February 19, 2016, 07:10:57
Sunloving-Wow that looks like you have got a wonderful place there, lot of work but so rewarding.
Hope that you get your direction sorted soon Daveyboi, it must be frustrating when its that "time of the year" when we are programmed to get gardening.
I have some potatoes in pots in the gh, but like BN we are having work done at home, but only a new kitchen so hopefully soon sorted.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: daveyboi on February 19, 2016, 09:32:36
Thanks for the comments everyone.... time will sort things meanwhile you have got me thinking about actually growing something now.... mind I did say thinking lols


Lovely plot Sunloving I am posting your picture turned round for those without the option to view easily.
Are you planning any fruit trees in your new space?



Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on February 19, 2016, 10:37:57
Sunloving,  that sounds like a great plot of land (and a lot of work)  :blob7:  Best wishes for all and easy does it  :sunny:

May I call you 'Barbara'?   :tongue3:

 :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Elfeda on February 19, 2016, 10:56:15
I have few toms, chillis and aubs sprouted long a go and sitting in our cold utility.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: daveyboi on February 19, 2016, 11:00:53
I have few toms, chillis and aubs sprouted long a go and sitting in our cold utility.

Well done Elfeda and welcome to A4A
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on February 19, 2016, 11:37:57
It's definitely a change in the day length or something! I just feel happy planting things, checking the propagator each morning for little summer hopes. It's such good therapy.

Thankyou for turning my photo! Direct posting of photos is new since I was last here and brilliant once I get the hang of it! I pad seems to make upside down pics?

I stock piled fruit trees in the lidl offer two weeks ago how they could do big named fruit trees for less than a fiver is beyond me! and I was hoping that aldi would have those packs again of currants and gooseberries.but they aren't doing them this year.  As they were really great for bulking up the fruit beds at my last place.  I took what was said though from the fruit thread and if I encounter anyone with fruit bushes I'll be begging for cuttings!  But I've not met a single Irish person with a garden as such yet it's all hedges and lawn really. I wonder if there are any other Irish members on a4e?
 I'm going to have some long paths that some cordons and fans would do well on and I have my mitts on a peach tree my dad is chucking out to go inside the poly and I'm dying to get started. Tunnels coming on Monday.  Yippee! Happy sowing everyone! X sun loving (Barbara I wish!,)
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: daveyboi on February 22, 2016, 10:34:09
Hope the tunnel arrives and is as expected today Sunloving
That will really get you going I guess.

Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on February 22, 2016, 11:02:58
Started my chillis in january but nothing else yet.

Are these in jiffy pellets?  They look very healthy and bonny, clumsy   :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on February 22, 2016, 13:35:28
 :blob7: hooray it's tunnel day ! I'm so excited! The picture shows the humongous tunnel 18 x40ft frame just nestling in the corner, it's brilliant to have such a big space after years of tiny gardens. Just want to dance around it in glee, but this would scare the workmen!!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: clumsy on February 22, 2016, 16:30:55
Hi galina yes the chillies are in jiffy pellets. I find them a lot easier to use plus they are a great space saver for me.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on February 24, 2016, 19:15:08
clumsy,  always wondered whether they were just too small for them, but obviously not! :icon_cheers:

A bit of progress here also, the first tiny lettuce plants have just sprouted on the windowsill.  And just one of the tomatillo plants.  None of the peppers in the propagator yet, but hopefully any day now. 

The leeks are still a no-show, but they are in the cool conservatory so likely to take a bit longer. 

So pleased there are some small little shoots.  :wave: 
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: ancellsfarmer on February 24, 2016, 19:57:04
Hi everyone, I'm a bit over faced really. I moved to my new place in jan it has just under an acre and there's so much to do! I've been busy clearing a site for a new polytunnel ( a very exciting 40ft x 18ft) which has been complicated as I've had to fell some very tall pine and spruce (50ft) so today I've been in the ditch clearing some of the trees and when the showers came have been happily pricking out some leeks and statice.

There was a horse loose on my road overnight they are out on the nearby bog normally and so I went out in the car to scoop up some brown gold got a whole 80l bag full!,  and naughty I cut down a number of election boards ( it's the Irish general election in two weeks) and have used then as th base for my new compost heap,, don't tell anyone about this local crime will you!
It's exciting and over facing
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on February 24, 2016, 21:53:45
Ive had a happy day today in the sunshine, putting up shelves and sowing seeds in the polytunnel. Ive finally got around to sowing goodlifes oldambster wierbloom broad beans amongst other things , its so satisfying to see rows of newly sown seed trays and know that  I will have the space and time to plant them out (just the small matter of the bed digging to get through first!!) We are definately on the cusp of proper spring weather now.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: daveyboi on February 25, 2016, 10:51:40
Would  be interested in a picture of the completed tunnel when you get a chance please.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on March 01, 2016, 18:26:31
I've been sowing seeds and trying to get the first of the beds done and manures but it's a long old dig when the bed is 40ft long! . 
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: BarriedaleNick on March 02, 2016, 10:35:36
Total polytunnel envy!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on March 02, 2016, 10:41:16
Total polytunnel envy!

and here too  :tongue3:  :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on March 02, 2016, 21:56:58
I am very proud, since the tunnel is bigger than most of the gardens I've ever had!!  had a sleepless night last night as storm jake was feirce I was imagining plastic tatters and went out to look in my jamas a couple of times.

I'm excited to be sowing new tom varieties lately what is everyone else sowing this year? I doing sun gold ( obligatory) yellow and red pear , gardeners delight and brandy boy. Come on the summer! X sun loving

Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: daveyboi on March 03, 2016, 00:05:44
I would not worry about the wind as long as the doors shut tightly and can not blow open they can stand a good storm when properly installed and the picture shows the polythene nicely taught.

I also now have envy lols but I am sure before  long you will be running out of space and need another  :toothy10: :toothy10: :toothy10:

Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: BarriedaleNick on March 03, 2016, 11:25:08

I'm excited to be sowing new tom varieties lately what is everyone else sowing this year? I doing sun gold ( obligatory) yellow and red pear , gardeners delight and brandy boy. Come on the summer! X sun loving

I may not do any Sungold this year - gasp!!  They seem to have got less tasty but I could be imagining it!  I have sown Red Alert which are an excellent early variety.  Sub Artic Plenty is on the cards as well for an early but very mixed reviews.  I am going to try some Black Russian, Harbinger and maybe Amish Paste. However my house is in a right state due to builders so I may be a bit late getting going this year..
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on March 07, 2016, 17:40:41
I had a key day today sowing the first seeds into the ground of my new place, it was some kelvedon wonder and early onward peas. Feels great to get the first lot in at last.

Barridalenick what kind are Amish paste sounds intriguing, I  found Black Russian were blight magnets and stopped growing them, but they do add a lovely colour to your salads!
 Picked up ten bags of manure and am going to try to dig my raspberry bed tomorrow. See what the weather is up to though! What's everyone else up to?
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: squeezyjohn on March 07, 2016, 20:00:17
Amish paste have transformed my tomato growing life since I started growing them two years ago ... great strong outdoor plants that produce huge flavourful tomatoes (admittedly they're all kinds of funny shapes!) - inside they are nearly all flesh with not much juice and seeds meaning they're great sliced in a sandwich - but also make the most delicious tomato sauce or passata to cook with - a zillion times nicer than shop bought tinned tomatoes - I try freezing it - but there's never enough - it's too nice.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on March 07, 2016, 21:12:22
Squeezyjohn,

Agree with you on Amish Paste, a big plum tomato that tastes so good that it is as yummie in a salad as it is in a Bolognese sauce.  However, mine have always been similar shapes, not all sorts. Maybe it depends on the seed source  :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on March 07, 2016, 21:25:50

 Picked up ten bags of manure and am going to try to dig my raspberry bed tomorrow. See what the weather is up to though! What's everyone else up to?

Good luck with the weather tomorrow Sunloving.

Well here it is very much still just propagator, windowsill and conservatory.  As we are still having quite sharp frosts, I haven't dared to put the newly sprouted lettuces into the greenhouse yet.  But this is where they will go soon because I need the space in the conservatory.  Peppers and the first tomatoes have gone from the propagator to windowsills, but the pots are still inside thin plastic bags to protect them from drafts from the windows. 

The first peas are up (they don't need so much mollycoddling, but I still sow in the conservatory and transplant).  The first broad beans are also showing. 

Tps (true potato seeds) have sprouted as well as the first tomatillos.  It is nice to care for some little plants again.  :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on March 07, 2016, 21:28:17
I had a key day today sowing the first seeds into the ground of my new place, it was some kelvedon wonder and early onward peas. Feels great to get the first lot in at last.


I remember so well when I sowed the first seeds here, very important day.  Good luck!  :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Hector on March 07, 2016, 21:51:03
Spent last weekend tidying out Greenhouse (8x4 meters) as left last season due to illness in family. Weeds had got in.

Therapuetic digging out/washing pots and equipment. Put down weed membrane and path.

Put together big old Humex propagator and linked up in greenhouse. Planted six varieties of chilli and five tomatoes.
Chillies: Red Demon/Apache/Caribbean Antillais/Prairie Fire/Pasilla
Super Chilli.
Tomato: Yellow Pear/Garden Gem/Garden Treasure/ Irish Gardeners Delight/ Tiny Tim....(a bit of fun :)


Also planted some older Chilli seed I'm hoping is still ok. Chilli Monkeyface/Padron/Alberto's Locoto

Hope they will be ok at Max temp had been 20 and min 8 in cold Wales. Put in a heat mat to help and spiked to max 36 and low 6. Eek!!
 
Also planted some lettuce (Drunken Woman) and coriander leaf.

Sunloving...the irony of manure on election boards gave me a real giggle

Edit to add: Also planted Harrier Butternut Squash
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: squeezyjohn on March 07, 2016, 21:57:32
The bubble wrapped greenhouse has had mixed results ... I've got sweet peas, chard, kohl rabi just poking their heads through and my onions and early leeks are all nice and healthy out there - but my lettuces are refusing to show themselves.

On the windowsill in a heated propagator I've got some tomatoes up, but the celery and peppers seem to be saying no!

Most of the season's progress has been more winter than spring ... I've built myself a lovely new staging in the greenhouse which can stay there permanently because it's got removable shelves that plants put in the soil can just grow through and it can even be support for tomatoes ... I'm quite proud of it!  Over on the allotment I've been shovelling some wood chips that have been left by the roadside in to sacks and lumping them on there for paths ... I must have done about 60 sackfuls in the last month!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 13, 2016, 08:38:48
Slow progress over the winter due to my mother's death and the weather. I've done two new raised beds, moved the rhubarb and most of the raspberries, and I need to get two more beds done this month for my potatoes. So far I've got Allium christophii and Fritillaria meleagris - planted last autumn - coming up, and various alliums planted. I've been quite pleased by the way potatoes and other tender things have come through in pots under a couple of layers of black plastic. A couple of pots of ulluco I forgot and left outside have come through with tubers mostly intact. This year I won't be growing so many TPS lines so I'll have more big post available for other things.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: caroline7758 on March 13, 2016, 11:43:09
Finally got some shoots on my broad beans sown in the cold, leaky greenhouse so feels like things are starting! Sowed herbs, leeks and beetroot plus more broadies yesterday (most of these are now on the kitchen windowsill) and some sweet peas.
I've decided I'm going to buy in tomato plants this year rather than grow from seed and concentrate on the easy stuff like squash (hoping we get a better summer than last year!).
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Digeroo on March 13, 2016, 12:10:09
Broad beans under bottle cloches showing signs of green.  Some without cloches have disappeared.   Time to sow some more. The Wizard beans are showing signs of perking up, some had died back to the ground and and now sprouting again.

Planted out some Tesco parsley, I am sure the pots are getting smaller again.  It is a bit of a ceremony to celebrate the date I find started the lottie.  Keeps me in Parsley most of the year.

Trying to shift some manure it seems more difficult, I seem to suddenly feel older.

I do need to prune the raspberries.   Might poison some of the dead nettles cannot shift them.  They just reform.


Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Hector on March 13, 2016, 22:05:27
First Tomato and Chilli seeds germinating. Such a wee joy seeing the start of the growing season :)

Harrier squash seeds also showing life.

Disinfected all my posts and containers and we put down membrane in both greenhouses and replaced slabs....so walking like a penguin. Laid out all pots in place for planting.

Only two seeds of lettuce have germinated....thinking I need fresh seed...this was an old packet.

Itching to start weeding outside but still too wet.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: BarriedaleNick on March 14, 2016, 11:22:31
Had a great weekend - potted on some aubergines, chilies and tomatoes, sowed most of my toms, sorted out the polytunnel, potted up some strawberries, and a couple of fruit bushes and had a good clean up in the garden.  Plot is also looking good with no digging to do, all the beds manured and the last few winter crops fast running out.   House is still a mess due to the loft extension and we haven't had a proper roof for almost three weeks so it's hard to find a windowsill to keep seeds on at the moment!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on March 14, 2016, 12:39:34
edged the paths and cut the grass today sowed lettuces cabbages and potted on fuchsia cuttings all dug manured and potash around my fruit 15 45ltr tubs planted with first earlies just want the wind to die down so i can cover my tomato bed for this years crop then bingo come on spring
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cambourne7 on March 14, 2016, 17:00:20
Been sewing seeds most of the morning ran out of soil as i wanted to grow some carrots in pots so picked some up before school run and now I am back am heading off back into the greenhouse :) So nice being able to potter about in and out of the greenhouse and garage without having to get welly boots on was wearing slippers most of the morning :)

So far have sewn mostly Herbs, a couple of bell peppers and am heading out soon to get tomatoes and chillis started

Cam
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on March 14, 2016, 19:45:49
Robert sorry to hear about your mum, lovely to see things you planted last year , what is ulluco?

Slow progress over the winter due to my mother's death and the weather. I've done two new raised beds, moved the rhubarb and most of the raspberries, and I need to get two more beds done this month for my potatoes. So far I've got Allium christophii and Fritillaria meleagris - planted last autumn - coming up, and various alliums planted. I've been quite pleased by the way potatoes and other tender things have come through in pots under a couple of layers of black plastic. A couple of pots of ulluco I forgot and left outside have come through with tubers mostly intact. This year I won't be growing so many TPS lines so I'll have more big post available for other things.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cambourne7 on March 14, 2016, 20:01:44
Sorry Robert must have missed that quote hope your well :)

Slow progress over the winter due to my mother's death and the weather. I've done two new raised beds, moved the rhubarb and most of the raspberries, and I need to get two more beds done this month for my potatoes. So far I've got Allium christophii and Fritillaria meleagris - planted last autumn - coming up, and various alliums planted. I've been quite pleased by the way potatoes and other tender things have come through in pots under a couple of layers of black plastic. A couple of pots of ulluco I forgot and left outside have come through with tubers mostly intact. This year I won't be growing so many TPS lines so I'll have more big post available for other things.

Spent another hour outside and have filled 2 trugs (round type) one with seed sewing compost and one with multipurpose compost and rather than sewing more seeds had a tidy up and repotted some of the plants i moved into the greenhouse a few weeks ago and they look a little crampted. found and removed 3 slugs !!

Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on March 14, 2016, 21:46:44
Monkey face and drunken woman sound very exciting!! 
Spent last weekend tidying out Greenhouse (8x4 meters) as left last season due to illness in family. Weeds had got in.

Therapuetic digging out/washing pots and equipment. Put down weed membrane and path.

Put together big old Humex propagator and linked up in greenhouse. Planted six varieties of chilli and five tomatoes.
Chillies: Red Demon/Apache/Caribbean Antillais/Prairie Fire/Pasilla
Super Chilli.
Tomato: Yellow Pear/Garden Gem/Garden Treasure/ Irish Gardeners Delight/ Tiny Tim....(a bit of fun :)


Also planted some older Chilli seed I'm hoping is still ok. Chilli Monkeyface/Padron/Alberto's Locoto

Hope they will be ok at Max temp had been 20 and min 8 in cold Wales. Put in a heat mat to help and spiked to max 36 and low 6. Eek!!
 
Also planted some lettuce (Drunken Woman) and coriander leaf.

Sunloving...the irony of manure on election boards gave me a real giggle

Edit to add: Also planted Harrier Butternut Squash

I've been digging my new fruit beds which has been such hard work because they are
New ground filled with conifer roots, stones and clay. It's probably good that I don't have allotment neighbours because of all the grunting and puffing , blowing and deep sighing I've been doing!
Lovely now though and they have a thick blanket of manure on them to help the worms recover for the turf striping. I've been chilli seed watching but the buggers just don't want to make any show, the only one even remotely trying is Hungarian carrot and I fear it may be to hot for me. at least the tomatoes Re going great guns now!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Silverleaf on March 14, 2016, 23:14:17
I haven't done very much yet as we're in the middle of replacing the old raised beds and making some new ones.

Moved my perennial onions into the new perennial bed and planted shallots and garlic the other day, finished off the legume bed and built a cane structure for the peas/climbing beans.

Tomorrow I plan to sow peas, chickpeas and broad beans outside, and tomatoes and chillies in the propagator inside.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Hector on March 15, 2016, 20:27:06
I haven't done very much yet as we're in the middle of replacing the old raised beds and making some new ones.

Moved my perennial onions into the new perennial bed and planted shallots and garlic the other day, finished off the legume bed and built a cane structure for the peas/climbing beans.

Tomorrow I plan to sow peas, chickpeas and broad beans outside, and tomatoes and chillies in the propagator inside.

Silverleaf, we will be copying you next week. We are re-doing our beds to make them more physically accessible for family member. I suspect wheel-barrelling lots of soil may be a bit "interesting".

Sunloving, I grew Drunken Woman before...it's lovely.
Drunken Women and Monkeyface sounds like a reality TV show.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Nora42 on March 15, 2016, 21:03:44
i missed the autumn clear up because I have not been feeling at all well - it turns out I had an underactive thyroid which has taken six months to get back up to speed. went to the plot today the grass paths have encroached on the beds so I pulled the grass back ready for the chop. the brambles are also growing again so I need to dig them up but we are winning the war. It's still cold and damp here in north London so the potatoes can wait for a week.. I am thinking of peas in one bed.

Going to school tomorrow to plant potatoes in bags.

Nora
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on March 17, 2016, 17:07:32
today sowed my long carrots in split 4" tubes around 4ft long and prepared my stub nose carrot tubes will sow them tomorrow weather permitting all topped off with bottle cloches  to keep them snug might takes some pics tomorrow again weather permitting  :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on March 18, 2016, 14:21:32
on this dull day on the east coast thought id finish my long and stub  carrots notdone many just thought id give it a go
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on March 18, 2016, 14:22:46
and the stub
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Silverleaf on March 18, 2016, 15:17:28
I'm cursing my chilblains because it's just too painful to stay outside for very long, so everything's going really slowly at the moment.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on March 18, 2016, 19:09:55
Definitely, with this grey, cold drizzly weather, it was a greenhouse only job for me.  Even so I got quite chilled and had to have a large mug of cocoa afterwards.  :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: clumsy on March 18, 2016, 19:36:04
Chickpeas and garden peas sown direct in the soil today.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: ACE on March 19, 2016, 19:24:32
This week it has been drier underfoot to be able to wheelbarrow about 4 tons of well rotted down to the plots. Some topped up the raised beds, loads dumped on a very claggy area. Top dressed a large area, even got some peas in. I shall get another ton tomorrow (weather permitting) to use over the spud bed and spread some around the fruit bushes. Should have been done months ago but it was too wet. The trailer holds 20/25 barrow loads of muck and with a 300m round trip it has helped me to lose the last few pounds of my 3 stone between xmas and easter target. Now to lose another 3 to get me to a healthier weight by august.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on March 19, 2016, 22:11:25
thought id take home some rhubarb today for a nice crumble for tea put a second load of peas in today and sowed some early cabbage and some leeks
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jeannine on March 19, 2016, 22:39:03
Tomato seedlings all doing nicely, great as they were very old seeds, peppers still hiding.. a nice microgreens tub started ditto a slad patch. I sowed some Daubentom kale seeds and some 9 start broc yesterday so my fingers are really crossed on those two, the seeds are old as I have done very little gardening over the last three years.. hoping jut one plant may make it.

Also sown a packet of TPS that had been lurking from ages ago so I guess I am going to keep all my fingers crossed.

Some of my tomato seeds where over 10 years old though and they are doing well, I sowed many types and only 4 have failed so I am doing OK.

All my seeds have patiently been waiting to see the light while I have been unable to do anything with them, it seems most have forgiven me so I am still blessed.

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Silverleaf on March 19, 2016, 23:28:31
Have now replaced my two old raised beds and put in a new one today. Planning to fill up the new one tomorrow with rotted straw and compost and let the worms do their work. The soil's really sticky right now with all the clay so I'm not going to even think about digging until it's improved.

I can certainly keep piling on straw/manure/compost for a few years and grow in that...

I also want three small 4' x 4' beds - one for herbs, one for plants I'm growing for my rabbits, one to use for things I'm growing for seed (peas this year). So that's the next project.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on March 20, 2016, 18:42:29
Gosh lots going on ace that's a lot of manure! And lovely to see jeannine again.

I've been digging new beds each day and making progress on the newcpoly tunnel. This week I used five internal doors to make the benches and have been prepping the 40 ft tomato bed. Feeling achey but lucky to have such growing space again after two years of no garden. Yippee. Almost at tender sowing date and can't wait!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Silverleaf on March 21, 2016, 02:14:17
Poked a million holes in the clay bottom of the new raised bed, hoping that organic matter will work its way down and lighten the clay up.

Dumped in about 6 months worth of rabbit litter (newspaper, paper pellets and hay as well as rabbit waste) which was absolutely teeming with worms and rotting beautifully. On top of that went four rotted bales of straw. Just the top compost layer to do now!

I still need to finish digging couch grass roots out of this year's potato bed as well.

I really want to crack on with things but I'm plagued with aches and pains and injuries. If it isn't my chilblained toes forcing me inside it's fibromyalgia backache or golfer's elbow (I've never played golf ;)). I'm having to take it really slowly. Frustrating.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: ACE on March 21, 2016, 07:50:13
Gosh lots going on ace that's a lot of manure! 

Can never have enough manure, especially on my clay ground. Did get into trouble though, with 'you silly old bugger don't you realise how old you are'.  She thinks I should slow down, but I've always worked like that. Now I will have to wait until she goes out today before I can get to work again as she stopped me yesterday.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on March 21, 2016, 13:15:00
peas today and some more potato pots drilled
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cambourne7 on March 21, 2016, 17:44:09
Done absolutely nothing shattered at the moment.

I sewed a lot of things last week and there all being kept watered but not felt up to doing any more.

I drove to birmingham for the NEC sewing show on friday and back via banbury and did over 7000 steps walking around the show. Have come back with an overlocker and lots more fabric :) But even 2 tired to unpack things.

Hubbie is taking me away friday for a relaxing getaway so i had not wanted to leave 2 many things needing watering but do need to crack on with a few jobs now the weather is on the turn :)
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Deb P on March 22, 2016, 12:11:11
Had a pricking out and potting on session this morning in the greenhouse, chillies and peppers in second pots, tomatoes in single modules. Things are starting to move now. Amazingly I'm up to date with my sowing list which is a novelty. I'm growing a lot more flowers this year, thanks to cheap Sarah Raven seeds in the Wyvales sale last year, which have been more straightforward had I used a waterproof pen for the labels, I'm now faced with trying to decipher what several trays are once they get bigger, it's more difficult than I thought it would be as some plants I haven't grown before so have no idea what they are supposed to look like!!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: ACE on March 23, 2016, 08:41:21
Fingers crossed for our usual island weather. Spuds in, peas in, carrots, beetroot and turnip seed sown. thermometer shows over 10  and rising and the grass needs cutting. Got plenty of fleece though, even though a frost will be very unlikely due to being so near to the sea.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on March 23, 2016, 19:46:10
Since it was rainy I started the big dig in the polytunnel the middle bed 7ft x 28ft! Managed maybe a quater today, looks like I might have a mares tail issue as lots of brittle black roots! Well the sonnet I get started on rooting that out the better. Might prick out some tiny antiryhinum tonight from last years saved seed.
Isn't it satisfying to germinated your saved seed, a feeling of continuity and no money required!
X sun loving, ps debs we could have a crack if you want to post seedling pictures if that might help!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Silverleaf on March 24, 2016, 00:51:31
Finally managed to get some seeds in the propagator: chillies, tomatoes, TPS, potato onions, shallots. I know I'm a bit late but I'm sure it'll be fine!

I need some more fleece to keep the blackbirds off my raised beds - they keep digging for worms and displacing my seeds. Once I have that I'll sow oriental veggies, my breeding project peas, spinach and probably some cut-and-come-again salad.

Very exciting time of year!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: BarriedaleNick on March 24, 2016, 14:17:16
Still feels too cold to me for a lot of things.  I have sown some peas/sugar snaps down the plot and some purple podded in the poly in root trainers - we'll see what germination we get.  Still the window sill is filling up - chilis and some toms pricked out, others will be this weekend and trays of broccoli, cabbage, khol rabi etc popping their heads up.  I keep feeling like I should be doing more and then I step outside and feel how cold it is and go back to reading my seed catalogue!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Silverleaf on March 24, 2016, 20:55:45
Toes are improving so I can spend longer outside, yay!

Almost finished digging the raised beds. That'll be done tomorrow and then I can put potatoes in.

If it isn't too rainy this weekend we should get the small raised beds constructed. I don't mind rain, but the electric screwdriver does... ;)
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jayb on March 29, 2016, 09:45:40
I've not done very much , sown some brassicas, dwarf French beans, and a few bits and pieces. I've some tomato, chilli, aubergine, tomatillo seedlings coming on indoors. Also lots of tps sown, some are up others are dragging their heals. My early courgettes are up in the propagator and soon to move to a sunny windowsill. I did a late sowing of sweet peas and they are growing on very well.

The february potatoes in buckets are doing really well and I'm looking forward to these  :blob7:

I've sown some of my saved oca seeds and I'm just waiting for them to germinate, they don't seem to be doing anything yet!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cambourne7 on March 29, 2016, 12:56:27
Got back at 2:30am this morning thanks to purple parking leaving us for over an hour before collecting us and dumping us in car park to find car :( so rather than going to work i slept and am now up and about and considering next steps in garden.

Bulbs i had wanted to plant out have mostly all gone over now so will be popping these into pots for next year :)

Suspect peas and beans will be my primary focus today :) after laundy
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on March 29, 2016, 21:50:10
I've been digging in the polytunnel, it's such a big job, taking up the turf digging and weeding out mares tail!. But at last I have reached the halfway mark and feeling good! I've now got a lovely row of turf raised beds topped with manure and covered in the hope it will rot down into loam by mid summer for the next stage of planting. Might just be mares tail heaven though! X sun loving
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 30, 2016, 13:31:19
Sorry, I missed the post asking what ulluco is. We've just closed down and advice centre which has been there for thirty years (we ran right out of money), and it's been rather difficult. Ulluco's a small South American tuber, and like a lot of them, it's frost sensitive and tubers extremely late.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on March 30, 2016, 18:58:06
Today is a milestone for me as I've been planting out the first veg in my new garden, good life's oldambuster weir bloom and bun yards exhibition broad bean plants and a row of early onwards. Under plastic for now to settle in!
Pictures are of the poly bed half dug and some microwave dried ranunculus petals

Discovered that you can dry flowers in the microwave, what a revelation!
 So close to last frost now and chomping at the bit! X sun loving
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jeannine on March 30, 2016, 19:33:52
My tomatoes are potted on, my indoor salad garden is flourishing nicely.I have spent the last couple of weeks researching and finding a selection of mini veg seeds to start my mini garden. I have succeeded in finding pretty much everything I wanted so am waiting for a good day both in the weather and my bones to make a start. It is exciting but silly as it sound also a bit scary as I am expecting a lot from a little  and all with varieties I don't know but we will see.

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Digeroo on March 30, 2016, 20:58:12
Quote
So close to last frost now and chomping at the bit
You must be somewhere warm.  I do not reckon to be frost free until mid may and sometimes into june.  But I have bought two packets of fleece.  It will soon be time to get some straw bales to keep my courgettes warm.  And there are always the plastic bottles.

Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on March 31, 2016, 13:48:47
un covered my cut flower bed today lifted the straw and sowed some miracle grow flower seeds around the edge all set for summer flowers now
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Silverleaf on March 31, 2016, 16:58:45
Finished digging out couch grass roots, put in potatoes and onion sets, sowed all of my rabbit food bed, sowed about 700 F2 peas (7 breeding projects).

Exhausted!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Hector on March 31, 2016, 19:03:56
Walking like a penguin. My body is not a temple Been clearing couch/nettles/buttercup and putting in high raised beds...and filling them.

Bought a garden trolley/ cart and so relieved we did it...much better for moving the manure than manhandling it.

S
Daughter and I had a lovely time sowing seed and monitoring progress of chill seedlings.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Silverleaf on April 01, 2016, 09:25:59
My TPS germinated yesterday, hooray! Most of my tomatoes are up too, peas outside are germinating, and the weeds are growing so fast that finding enough tasty green stuff for the rabbits is an easy job.

Such an exciting time of year. :)
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on April 01, 2016, 15:49:48
tomato bed finished today despite a trip to the hospital with my dad
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Silverleaf on April 01, 2016, 16:42:42
Sowed carrots, spinach, mispoona, kai-lan, turnips, and salad leaves. Lots more work to do, but I'm starting to feel like I'm on top of things now.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on April 02, 2016, 09:02:42
Quote
So close to last frost now and chomping at the bit
You must be somewhere warm.  I do not reckon to be frost free until mid may and sometimes into june.  But I have bought two packets of fleece.  It will soon be time to get some straw bales to keep my courgettes warm.  And there are always the plastic bottles.


June frosts that's unlucky! Ours are usually over by second week in April. But like you say fleece at the ready for those surprise nights!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on April 02, 2016, 11:32:53


[/quote]
June frosts that's unlucky! Ours are usually over by second week in April. But like you say fleece at the ready for those surprise nights!
[/quote]

Here too, and after a warm May, plants can be quite advanced, large and somewhat tricky to fleece effectively.  Difficult fleecing a whole garden!  We had two incidents of June frosts and on the first occasion half of the beans of one variety died.  As it happened I grew the same variety again (from own saved seeds) when we had another very late June frost.  And the frost survivors from the first event did much better than my other beans - not a single lost plant.

I wish we were reliably nearly out of frosty weather - good luck to you Sunloving on your first garden at the new location!   :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on April 02, 2016, 14:25:29
pricked out 36 Saladin lettuce topped up my spud buckets they are growing really well and outdoors cut the grass and edged both plots of to romford dogs tonight so had to come home early by orders of her  in  doors  however tomorrow ill be sowing sunflowers and may even sow some courgettes  cucumbers are up and potted on all my pepper and chillis to 3inch pots its ment to be a good week weather wise this week so can really get on and get setfor summer
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cambourne7 on April 02, 2016, 15:50:58
Trying to clean out some space in greenhouse have moved all the bulbs out into pots (i have finally found some) and moved some tulips into the house to flower.

3 bags of potatoes are doing well and i will be adding more soil to them tomorrow.

Have received part of my order from T&M some little plugs which i have not potted on.

Greenhouse vents and door have been open all day so far :)

Bell peppers are sown and tomatoes and chillis will be started tomorrow.

Focus today has been getting the new slabs and concrete pressure washed so that i can have this dry and brush in some dry sand tomorrow and carry on with the fence painting.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on April 03, 2016, 14:10:06
sowed my sunflowers today and courgettes  crumbed 3 beds and done the monthly walk around the site and home for dinner at 1
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jeannine on April 03, 2016, 22:10:52
Planted out onions seedlings, cauli, cabbage, sprouts  and kale, sowed broadies, peas, carrots,  regular turnip, Gilfeathers turnip, beetroot and germinated parsnips. Fed my Garlic,potted on tomatoes again. Got all my pots ready for potatoes and beans, maybe do that tomorrow. I am taking a couple of chances but it works more often than not.

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on April 04, 2016, 15:01:58
earthed up my spuds in pots they are really growing strongly peas are just peeping through rhubarb is now 2ft long crumble tomorrow yum
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Deb P on April 04, 2016, 16:48:15
Tried going to the plot this morning with the intention of planting my sweet peas, but as we arrived it thundered and thick hail came walloping down!! We managed to move the supports to the right beds, but then just ran for it!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on April 05, 2016, 18:16:53
Gallina thats the very heart of selection! Impressive!

Thankyou for the good wishes!things are starting to shape up!  All my new beds are around the polytunnel and so I'm hoping it will act a bit like a radiator and help keep the frost damage low! When I was in Lancaster 2012 was a year with no frost after 23 rd march, but the year after we had May frosts!
But worse was snow in July when we lived in the Peak District!
Here's to warm nights ahead!  X s




June frosts that's unlucky! Ours are usually over by second week in April. But like you say fleece at the ready for those surprise nights!
[/quote]

Here too, and after a warm May, plants can be quite advanced, large and somewhat tricky to fleece effectively.  Difficult fleecing a whole garden!  We had two incidents of June frosts and on the first occasion half of the beans of one variety died.  As it happened I grew the same variety again (from own saved seeds) when we had another very late June frost.  And the frost survivors from the first event did much better than my other beans - not a single lost plant.

I wish we were reliably nearly out of frosty weather - good luck to you Sunloving on your first garden at the new location!   :wave:
[/quote]
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on April 05, 2016, 20:18:39
Feeling good today about the progress I'm making. I'm halfway around creating this years 14 beds. Lovely to plant things out, I've never had the room for three varieties of broad beans before and looking forward to summer stir fries with fresh young beans. Even have strawberries in flower, this year I treated myself to some pink flowered roman. They look lovely. And greyhOund and komatsuna cabbages planted today. Looking out fo hungry pigeons but not seen any same can't be said of the slugs though!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: ACE on April 07, 2016, 08:28:04
Loads of stuff in the ground now, all the doom and gloom plotters saying it is getting colder, but only colder than the sunny spell last week, another week before we shall be really free of frosts according to who you take notice of. Sod it I've planted spuds, turnip, beet, carrots, radish plus all the hardy stuff that is usually goes in about now. I'm still twiddling my thumbs though, so a straight line down the sides of the plots for some edging up and some slugging to take care off. Greenhouse is busting with all the plants waiting to be liberated.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cambourne7 on April 07, 2016, 11:18:26
First seedling has popped up (fennel) so hoping the others will follow soon.
Husband has emptied the pond and were hoping to get this properly setup this weekend he has also been pressure washing the slabs and the concrete so i am hoping that i can get the veg trugs into position for filling this weekend as well and maybe soil in the next 2 weeks.

yesterday had 2nd delivery from Crocus and nipped out in between showers to unpack them from there box. Dahlia (Chat Noir) was soaked and planted up and left outside to get a good soak from approaching storm. I have potted up the Begonia (Bertinii) and Begonia (Pink Giant) into peat pots and will go into hanging baskets at the weekend. The other plants Cornus Canadensis (dogwood) Hydrangea (miss saori), Filipendula purpurea (purple medow sweet) and Monarda Squaw (bergamont) are all in trays with some water in greenhouse for now. End May will be ideal for planting up main bed in back garden.

Front garden i am going to plant this up at the weekend and give everything a good feed when add the extra bark chips. Plants were bought off ebay and were amazing quality although i have popped them into green house i will be taking them out tomorrow to aclimatise before planting.

Harriet had requested that i leave her in holiday club with her friends tomorrow so i have the whole morning in the greenhouse to plant more seeds :)
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on April 07, 2016, 14:01:58
onions garlic and shallots all coming along nicely just for the white rot to come along in six weeks time
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cornykev on April 11, 2016, 15:41:55
Six earlies under cloches have had their first earthing up
Garden Carrots in a Belfast sink are coming along nicely
Winter Onions are getting going
Sweetcorn are showing their heads in their pots
Rhubarb flying away
But my biggest progress is the OH helping over to the lottie on a regular basis.    :blob7:
       
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: ACE on April 12, 2016, 08:29:56
caused a bit of murmuring yesterday. I put my bean sticks up. I needed to see if I had enough, there was a lot of rib nudging and nodding my way as I bet they thought I was going to start bean setting. Now I know how many to plant in their fibre pots. But there is a bit of green showing on the turnip row.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: okra on April 12, 2016, 08:55:31
Shallots, garlic and onion sets are now showing well. Planted second earlies and maincrop yesterday. The soil is at last becoming more workable, it seems to have taken forever to start drying out.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on April 12, 2016, 09:41:36
It's so wet this week it's hard to make progress, however things planted and sown are doing well, my first rows of carrots and lettuce are up , a row of early onwards planted 37 days ago are finally showing! And the planted out broad beans are looking great! The tomatoes and peppers clog up every window ledge and sunny table in the long wait to the end of the frosts and they are soon to be joined by melons cucumbers sweet corn and beans!

But being inside is bad for the bank balance! I just spent £15 on more seed!
Need a heated bench in the poly to cope , that or a conservatory! 
Isn't it lovely to be putting the winter behind us and looking at a long season of growth and fingers crossed sunny weather! I've hopefully been making gardening shorts!
 X sunloving
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cambourne7 on April 12, 2016, 11:23:13
Yesterday i made start on the bean bed spent 2 hours in the garden and now cant move and have had very little sleep so frustrated.
Some of the herb seeds i had sown have not started to germinate but no side of tomatoes or peppers.
Potatoes are looking ace and will be covered again this afternoon :)
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on April 12, 2016, 13:44:57
pricked out some more lettuce today sowed  some little gem and some basil and parsley also garlic chives the fruit plothas burst into life my williams espalier is full of buds plums all on flower my fantasia blackberry is all budded up waiting to go into flower
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on April 13, 2016, 15:29:51
as said my fantasia blackberry has some great buds on
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Tee Gee on April 13, 2016, 16:36:32
In the Greenhouse

http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/slideshow/13th%20April%202016-GH (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/slideshow/13th%20April%202016-GH)

Around the Garden

http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/slideshow/13th%20April%202016
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: ACE on April 13, 2016, 17:51:29
Planted some Chinese cabbage out in fibre pots, went home and had a cup of tea. Arrived back to net it up. Too late the thingy pheasant had been scrabbling about in the bed. Planted them back in again and netted up, then I heard the little bugger calling on another plot. Got the cattie out of the shed and bullseye! Guess what's on the menu this week, plus a set of new feathers for my morris hat.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: InfraDig on April 13, 2016, 18:33:46
Does that make you a pheasant plucker?!!!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on April 13, 2016, 18:36:35
Does that make you a pheasant plucker?!!!
or are you his son
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jeannine on April 13, 2016, 19:30:19
Just had a walk outside and there peeping at me are my parsnips, my turnip  my beets  and my Gilfeathers, still no sign of the carrots but I think that seed  is probably too old..
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on April 14, 2016, 15:58:41
made some new trellis to screen my engine  room today ordered two passion fruit edulis to cover it and kiwi fruit on the other you can just see it in the pic i took of my two plots  this afternoon
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on April 16, 2016, 17:12:28
first flowering clematis of the year at my seating area at my plot
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cornykev on April 16, 2016, 20:06:41
Picking Rhubarb tomorrow
Sweetcorn are 4/6 inches high
Early spuds under cloche have been earthed up twice and flying
Strawberries planted in a new bed
Old manure moved to one bin and fresh into another.   :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: BarriedaleNick on April 19, 2016, 07:50:53
Well I laid a bit of decking (found in a skip) outside the shed and started sorting out my neighbors plot who is a bit crock at the moment.  Seedlings are doing well in the poly but it still feels cool and slow on the plot.  Spuds are in and the earlies in the garden in containers need earthing up a bit.   
 
At least the loft extension is coming to a finish and by the end of the week we may not be living in a building site - so fed up of living in a dust bowl!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on April 21, 2016, 13:44:59
started my comfry pigeon poo fertilizer today it takes around 6 weeks to brew it has a certain pungent aroma when its ready
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jeannine on April 21, 2016, 19:49:43
Thinned out some beets and turnips and earthed up some spuds in pots,talked nicely to the dwarf beans I had  sown in a tub in the greenhouse, they are up about 6 inches now.. I have a table top full of fridge bottoms, you know the bin that we put the veggies in, well I found 7 of them all the same and they fit really well on my greenhouse table with a small gap to pot on still. They are about 8 ins deep and the width of  a fridge so they are great for growing stuff out of season, anyway carrots are well up in one. green onions in  another, the beans as mentioned , lettuces are happy in another and  tight packed Kale about 8 inches tall. I clip of as much as I need. Time to start another one I think.

My rhubarb is well up but it looks very spindly, it was a small new plant last year though so I am hoping ut is it's youth and not shortage of full sun.

Life is good today.

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on April 23, 2016, 19:53:16
harvested the last of my spring cabbage today and noticed my fantasia blackberry has just started to bloom
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cambourne7 on April 24, 2016, 22:15:05
Having really poor germination rates in greenhouse
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jeannine on April 24, 2016, 23:36:31
Outside carrots are up now, I was worried because of the age of the seed but there they are,infact everything I sowed direct is up now. broadies are looking good. I pots I have blossom on a micro tomato and my Gigantes are showing in their post now, really pleased about that as the seeds came from Greece and they were old. It took me ages to find a seed that was as big as the previous ones I let die off/

Seeds arrived from Irish Seed Savers yesterday so more sowing to do.

I just need to get my tomatoes into their final pots but that is a big job for me and so far this week I have been struggling with things.

Not one of my best days.. but the Gigantes made up for it
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on April 27, 2016, 14:26:02
saladin lettuce out in the big wide world all on there own bless them
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 02, 2016, 17:12:53
blackberries flowering nicely
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 03, 2016, 14:07:01
first of my tomato supports in today along with some red lettuce
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on May 03, 2016, 16:48:44
blackberries flowering nicely

That's just ridiculously early.  Fabulous Johhnyco 
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jeannine on May 03, 2016, 17:19:35
Mine too are flowering and the currant have fruit si I missed those flowers. I bought a raspberry last year specifically for pots, it wasn't one cane but more like a bush, I was VERY skeptical and it was expensive but it is full flower and looks very promising, the old canes died off which I removed. So far it is looking good. I need to figure out how to do photos.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 04, 2016, 14:57:17
onions garlic late leeks and shallots all coming along well
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 07, 2016, 14:35:05
the pumpkin polythene cloche is starting to take shape should finish it in the week
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jeannine on May 07, 2016, 21:07:52
All my greenhouse tomatoes, cukes, melons , peppers and eggplants are in their final places in the greenhouse now, My hanging tomatoes are done too, they sit on top of a concrete birdbath with three varieties together in a huge pot. It looks good when they cascade down.  Gigandes beans, started inside are going in the ground today, they are already a foot tall.

Potato bins are filled to the top now with 6 inches of greenery showing.

So much lettuce I am giving it way now and I have sn=mall green tomatoes on a couple of micro plants

I have some more brassicas almost ready to go out , so all in all I am doing much better than I thought I would.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Tee Gee on May 09, 2016, 14:28:12
9th May got Chrysants in

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/9th%20May%202016/IMG_5106_zpsb38z9g5s.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/9th%20May%202016/IMG_5106_zpsb38z9g5s.jpg.html)
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Debs on May 10, 2016, 21:19:36
Mine too are flowering and the currant have fruit si I missed those flowers. I bought a raspberry last year specifically for pots, it wasn't one cane but more like a bush, I was VERY skeptical and it was expensive but it is full flower and looks very promising, the old canes died off which I removed. So far it is looking good. I need to figure out how to do photos.

What was the name of your raspberry Jeannine?
That sounds good and just what I need as I don't have an allotment

Debs
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Deb P on May 11, 2016, 01:36:29
I'm growing Ruby Beauty raspberry this year which is small and designed for pots. I got mine late last year and overwintered them in pots at home. All put on good growth and I planted some outside on the plot and two large containers with three plants in each.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 11, 2016, 15:19:32
blueberries are bulking up nicely
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on May 11, 2016, 15:38:30
Having really poor germination rates in greenhouse


How is it going now?
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Hector on May 17, 2016, 17:49:43
Outside carrots are up now, I was worried because of the age of the seed but there they are,infact everything I sowed direct is up now. broadies are looking good. I pots I have blossom on a micro tomato and my Gigantes are showing in their post now, really pleased about that as the seeds came from Greece and they were old. It took me ages to find a seed that was as big as the previous ones I let die off/

Seeds arrived from Irish Seed Savers yesterday so more sowing to do.

I just need to get my tomatoes into their final pots but that is a big job for me and so far this week I have been struggling with things.

Not one of my best days.. but the Gigantes made up for it

What litre pots do you use for final planting, Jeannine. You are ahead of me, just getting flowers opening on Red Robin :)
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 17, 2016, 18:28:46
wall flowers are all in bloom now loads of plants outside now just waiting to go into the plot had a lottle sit down today for half an hour and just enjoyed the plot
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 17, 2016, 18:49:35
the plots are really greening up now
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jeannine on May 21, 2016, 18:01:10
orry Debs and Hector, I missed this post ..to answer your questions. The raspberry is Shortcake, I will find  a picture. Hector I plant my tomatoes in 5 gallon global buckets, if you are not familiar with them take a look on the net, it will tell you how to make them, they are more or less self watering.

My tomatoes plnats need tying up now , they are well away, I have fruit on New Yorker, Islandaise and Kalinka and flowers on most of the others, the beans in the greenhouse are just showing the start of flower buds and I have 1 or two cucuumbers on Carmnen. The melons are slower. My two or three peppers have had to go out, citto to the eggplant as I was getting tight for space. All my micro tomatoes have fruit on now.

Outside I have scapes just starting too curl on my garlic, brassicas are up to about a foot or so. Blackfly on the broadies. Gigandes are climbing nicely  which is good as they are pushed in behind the garlic. My family beans are now out and starting to climb.Peas growing good but no flowers yet, I have flowers on 3 spud tubs, all russets but not yet on the other three kinds but they are all up to full size.

We are just starting to eat cherries from the new tree planted last year.. hoping to beat the birds

Inside I have summer squash ready to be potted on.

My rhubarb which was nearly planted last year is really struggling though, maybe not enough light.

Soft fruit in pots never does as well as in the ground but I have fruit od blueberries, red and black currants and gooseberries. The raspberry which is in a tremendous pot is doing very well , it now has lots of fruit.

My volunteer Sungold plants  which are outside are slower but they are coming on, it will be interesting too see what they produce.

The root seedlings are all up but slower than I would like.

So far so good.

Picture or raspberry, not mine, but the same although my pots is much bigger than this one
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Deb P on May 21, 2016, 18:46:15
I investigated raspberry 'shortcake', and apparently it is the same plant as Ruby Beauty, it's just named differently for the US and Canada....I have two big pots with three plants each in, and five in open ground at the front to make a little productive 'hedge'.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Hector on May 21, 2016, 22:30:48
Spookily I nearly bought one of those Raspberry plants today! Red Beauty is the same as/UK naming of Shortcake ( I believe....might be hallucinating )

I was waiting until I could find out a review on how they taste :)

Jeannine, I'll go look those buckets up :) Thanks.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Hector on May 21, 2016, 22:32:40
Spookily I nearly bought one of those Raspberry plants today! Red Beauty is the same as/UK naming of Shortcake ( I believe....might be hallucinating )...edit to add...Deb...just seen your post :)

I was waiting until I could find out a review on how they taste :)

Jeannine, I'll go look those buckets up :) Thanks.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jeannine on May 22, 2016, 08:27:50
I am surprised to hear that because of the size of these .I have mine in a huge oriental stone oval  pot which is almost 4 feet long and about three feet wide, and about 30inches high it used to be used as a small pool with rocks built up to it;s sides  to attract the frogs to the garden.I have only one plant in it and it is packed. I could not get three in there , no chance. It was only planted last year and came in a 10 gallon pot.

Good luck with them, they are pruned like summer fruiting raspberries and fruit on last years new wood, so you need to prune the old wood out that fruited the current year ..they taste pretty good by the way.

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Deb P on May 24, 2016, 11:31:03
Your raspberry plants must have been much more mature than mine when you got them by the sounds of it, mine were single sticks about 8" high when I got mine bare rooted last year and fit easily in a large pot. They are bulking up rapidly though, so perhaps they wont stay in there for long!!

Progress wise, my sweetcorn were transplanted to the plot yesterday, grown without a check in rootrainers into nice warm soil with a plastic bottle to protect each plant, plus a windbreak double walled cloche around all 30 plants. Nice warm rain late afternoon to help them settle in, happy days  :sunny:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jeannine on May 24, 2016, 13:54:32
Deb I think it may be a different plant I thought it was Sunshine originally/ They are not offered as bare root plants here, they come as large container plants and cost the equivalent of about 25 GBP each. This was the reason I thought they may be gimmicky. I will do a bit more searching for the label that came it.

The sweetcorn sounds good, you have given it all the right things so I hope you get a great harvest.

XX Jeannine

Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Tee Gee on May 24, 2016, 16:29:42
Got the Sweet Corn in this morning and the rest is progressing steadily along as you can see here:

http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/slideshow/24th%20May%202016
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on May 24, 2016, 23:12:34
Isn't it lovely to be out from under the frost risk!
 I'm making slow progress on the new plot , but at last I've finished planting my 40ft of tomatoes, this includes the winner of this years comp ;) Those big boys are in front positions. It's lovely to have the room to have multiple cucumber varieties plus 3 types of melons and gherkins growing up the poly tubes. Tomorrow if it's not to hot I'm planting two types of aubergine, maybe for the first time ever I will get some fruit from these! Also I'm excited that my edible passion fruits are doing nicely and just maybe will fruit in the polytunnel next year! That would be awesome!
 But for now I'm content ing myself with abundant salads and fresh strawberries for breakfast!
X sunloving
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jeannine on May 25, 2016, 03:25:41
Ho Ho  Sunloving I like your confidence...my Rebecca you know what and my Meg M. have flowers on  :blob7:

Lovely to have all that space though I do envy you
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on May 25, 2016, 08:00:31
No big tomatoes here this year, but Cuban Black, which I am growing for the first time, is flowering and a few others are not far behind.  Also flower buds on Pasila Bajio peppers and on one of the (indoors) Basket of Fire peppers.

Yes anxious looks on the 10 day forecast and (barring a bad surprise) we should be out of frosts here too.  It really is true what they say, that it takes plants a long time to get past a brush with frost.  I was not expecting one night to be as cold as it turned out and that checked plants that were hardening off in the greenhouse.  And the tomatoes that were already out for hardening off (the early sown ones), really did not like it, but finally, they are growing away again.

So now I am planting out like crazy, but because of our voles, most beans will get their individual bottle cloche which stays on all season.  Can't do that with dwarf beans and they are usually badly hit.

Had a rabbit in the garden earlier, but that has stayed away and the deer that come to munch chard over winter is also gone with more activity (and next door's yappy little new dog). 

Planted some more tps out yesterday that were in pots, these were from Picasso berries harvested last year, and it was pleasing to see a few tubers forming already.   :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: tricia on May 25, 2016, 12:32:29
 Twelve containers, four small raised beds and the 2 x 5 greenhouse all planted up now. Took me three weeks, a bit at a time, but great satisfaction to see it finally done. I have net 'food umbrellas' over the squashes and courgettes and plastic bottle cloches over everything else- membrane too on the raised beds. So, hopefully, I'm all set for a comparatively work-free summer  :icon_cheers:.

Tricia :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jeannine on May 25, 2016, 18:21:36
It must be very frustrating to think a good weather start is here and boom here comes that frost again.. we too have that occasionally but it is usually more likely to be cold rain and so far it has not done anything to me.

Everything except my roots are growing fast now, peas are in flower, scapes are curled and almost ready to be taken of the garlic. Potatoes are done growing I thik and are in full flower now, well all but one kind.

I have cucumbers about three inches long but just flowers on the melons, fruit on about half the tomatoes.

Finally got my Daubenton plants into their final place.

Sowed new micro tomatoes to play with later in the season and sowed kale for shoots and for the canary. Lettuce patch started again. We are eating green spring onions now with lettuce, another week or en days and I think the first cuke may be ready and I have one tomato changing colour..if I can lift a few early spuds, I shall get my Dad's wartime first of the season meal ..Can of corned beef, home grown  salad  with new potatoes and home made bread. We might even get a few peas. It was a ritual and it had to be done in early June.

I am concerned about my root veggies though, they look very puny, hardly growing at all.

Gigandes and family beans are climbing nicely, worried about the family beans  a bit as they are in tubs but it was Hobsons choice.

Got to stake tomatoes today otherwise I am in trouble.

it won't be long before we are all harvesting and comparing yields..LOL  maybe I should start a what are you growing in 2007 topic

Good luck to you all, I hope that cold snap goes away real quick. You know they talk about global warming but I remember distinctly as a child in England that I got a new dress etc for Easter, it always had short sleeves and I didn't wear a cardigan. I think it is getting colder not warmer!!

Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 25, 2016, 20:41:36
just back from a full day on my new plot shed roof all felted greenhouse all glazed 3/4 of the edges edged to make a straight 2ft6 " path all the way down all weeds strimmed ready to scalp tomorrow and then dig over its been a long day :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: oh and planted out some runners beans and squash
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 30, 2016, 20:00:01
had a salad today at the plot just red and saladdin lettuce onion chive flowers Nasturtiums radish and beetroot leaves  and feta cheese dressed with lemon juice fantastic even though it was a cold day all washed down with a glass of rose some days just dont get any better summer my friends  is on its way
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jeannine on May 31, 2016, 00:52:02
Well it looks a though I might meet my Dads challenge again this year, see above post.

I have green onions, lettuce, kale shoots. 1 Carmen cucumber is almost there and 1 almost ripe micro tomato to make a salad.Flowers are on all the potatoes and I have just had a firkle and felt a few I could sneak in a couple of days. So Mums birthday ,which is June 2nd,  I shall open the corned beef, make the bread, stew the rhubarb with just a tiny amount of black currants added and eat my first home grown meal of the year. She would have  had a good chuckle at keeping the tradition going another year.  Bless her, she was 50 on Coronation day, I  have missed her every day since she died..

My Dad used to say if we made it we could look forward to a great year.

Here's to a great year for you all :icon_cheers:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on May 31, 2016, 07:56:44
Jeannine,  we are almost there with your Dad's challenge, but there are a few days to go:  I now have one small pea pod and one of the Red Duke of York potatoes has flowerbuds on it (tubers hopefully developing underground).  The salad bit is easy as the lettuces in the garden are starting to grow away very nicely.  As it happens, we bought a packet of corned beef in last Friday's weekly shop. With the bank holiday weekend coming the shop was sold out of rolls or any other bread that OH fancied, so we made our own.  Honestly, I had not read your post before we went shopping  :sunny:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jeannine on June 01, 2016, 00:45:34
That is wonderful, tomorrow is the day. I shall toast you with a bottle of home made blueberry wine from last year, and get quite a kick out of doing it with you. It is a bit of fun each year.. we should start a post for next year maybe and pick a common  date..
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Tee Gee on June 07, 2016, 15:40:10
Got my late/winter Brassicas in this morning:

They are a bit small by my standards but I thought they might progress better in natural conditions rather than in a pot, particularly with the weather being so hot.

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/7th%20June%20%202016/IMG_5159_zpsqpsxjsc5.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/7th%20June%20%202016/IMG_5159_zpsqpsxjsc5.jpg.html)

The plot is now fully planted out and this is how it looks from various angles:

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/7th%20June%20%202016/IMG_5155_zpsdi7idpsc.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/7th%20June%20%202016/IMG_5155_zpsdi7idpsc.jpg.html)

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/7th%20June%20%202016/IMG_5157_zpsj7pskzqb.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/7th%20June%20%202016/IMG_5157_zpsj7pskzqb.jpg.html)

This is some late season brassicas I planted last week and some I planted out about a month ago this was done to give me a bit of continuity through the summer rather than feast and famine.

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/7th%20June%20%202016/IMG_5160_zps6qgkkna8.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/7th%20June%20%202016/IMG_5160_zps6qgkkna8.jpg.html)

The Potatoes from the top: 1st Early, 2nd Early & maincrop:

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/7th%20June%20%202016/IMG_5161_zpsa2iuzdlo.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/7th%20June%20%202016/IMG_5161_zpsa2iuzdlo.jpg.html)

The garlic is coming along nicely as are the tomatoes in the greenhouse:

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/7th%20June%20%202016/IMG_5162_zpsgqq4zjr9.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/7th%20June%20%202016/IMG_5162_zpsgqq4zjr9.jpg.html)

Sweet Peppers & Climbing French beans in the 12x8 GH

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/7th%20June%20%202016/IMG_5163_zpsuo9uedao.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/7th%20June%20%202016/IMG_5163_zpsuo9uedao.jpg.html)

Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on June 07, 2016, 16:43:48
nice pics tg took a pic of part of my rose wall planted two seasons ago now
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on June 08, 2016, 17:31:41
lupins are going loopy :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Jeannine on June 08, 2016, 18:36:17
Everything coming along nicely except my roots,I think the manufactured soil is lacking so I need to get it tested. All the cherries from my new tree are finished now, surprised we got about 4 pounds from a tree planted just last year,,Stella is the variety.

Tomatoes are going great guns now, here and there I am getting a ripe one,I think maybe two more weeks and I will be in good production, cukes are already growing at top production.

I have a lovely double flower on one of my Biggie tomatoes so am hoping it grows on well.

r
The trailing courgette I am growing for the group is romping away and I have small fruit on my Hero of Lockings melons now too.

This year I am not pruning my tomatoes, usually I prune indeterminates and of course not determinates . I used to prune indets to I cordon only, very much like I know most of you do, over here  usually there is very little pruning apart from lower leaves and topping, sometime folks prune to two main stems, most don't prune any off. I have done the two stem, this year I am trying the leave alone to see what happens,,well I am hoping too, unless I end up with a jungle which is likely.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cornykev on June 18, 2016, 10:55:25
Fruit on my Tommies waiting for the sun to come out and ripen them
Five loads of Rhubarb picked
First early Spuds eaten last week
A handfull of Carrots ready to pick this weekend
Winter Onions being eaten now
Beetroot trying to catch up after being resown
Spring Onions coming along
Sweetcorn looking sweet
Cucumbers slow
Parsnips no show
weeds doing well though.    :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on June 19, 2016, 14:20:00
another week and i think my blueberries will be ready :blob7: :blob7: :blob7: :blob7: :blob7:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on June 22, 2016, 15:19:59
cut flower bed is starting to produce first bunch today
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on June 27, 2016, 17:03:32
well with the entertaining end of my 3 plots nearing completion id thought id give you all a peak
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Borlotti on June 27, 2016, 17:18:41
Beautiful, I have got allotment envy, and I never thought I was a jealous person.  Well done you. :sunny: :sunny:   
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Silverleaf on June 28, 2016, 14:57:25
lupins are going loopy :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny:

Nice, I love lupins but always manage to kill them somehow. Perhaps they don't like clay?
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on June 28, 2016, 15:33:11
did a bit of work on the other two plots today think they were feeling a little left out
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on June 30, 2016, 07:09:38
I also have a hard time with lupins, but usually they do a year or three, but they are always getting weaker.  Tried growing from my own seeds, but that didn't work out too well either for some reason.  Clay soil could be the reason, the other that all my flowers are around the veg patches and the flower areas don't get prepared as well perhaps.  I usually manage to stop the couch grass encroaching and pull the convulvulus, but in the end if the flowers are at all difficult, they won't survive.  Aquilegia and sedum, doronicum and several others always win through and there is always something flowering here in the garden.  Currently the mock orange bush is flowering beautifully and fragrantly. 

The best 'flowers' in the garden at the moment are definitely the peas and I have rows and rows of them.  The pods in all colours also add to the appeal. 

The photo shows a crimson flowered pea.  This is a variety that Silverleaf 'liberated' from a genebank and named Unity.  Great name and super new pea colour. 

 :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: BarriedaleNick on June 30, 2016, 09:10:16
Broad beans have been a huge success this year - i think the cold and rain has kept the blackfly under control somewhat.
Picked a couple of toms yesterday!
Climbing beans struggling to get out of the grips of the slugs.
Onions are all looking weird - they just haven't stood up as they should and some are curly - no idea what is going on with them.
Cucs, gherkins and squash are slow but Outdoor toms are shooting up with all this rain.

A very odd dreary season so far but at least I havent had to get the hose out yet..
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cornykev on June 30, 2016, 16:58:03
Digging up spuds as and when
Spring Onions and baby Carrots dug and ate
Carrots resown are getting there
Rhubarb going like a lunatic
Sweetcorn really coming along
Parsnips a no no
Beetroot catching up as are the late going in onions
Winter onions are being picked and eaten weekly
Cucumbers are getting a move on now.
 :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Silverleaf on June 30, 2016, 20:40:07
Lovely to see Unity "in the wild" Galina!

I have some Telephone x Unity F2s with crimson flowers. It's such a lovely colour! I have no idea why so many commercial peas have boring old white flowers. Don't get me wrong, I like white, but I like a bit of variety too. :)

Just wait, I'm going to provide the gardening world with loads of different pea colours one day! ;)
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on June 30, 2016, 21:26:02
That's nice progress Corny - but - no peas?

I envy you the sweetcorn progress, mine is just still really struggling, I wish it would start taking off.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on July 02, 2016, 11:55:49
cut flower bed  starting to produce well now
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on July 05, 2016, 15:34:07
soft fruit has been nice and big this year blueberry raspberry and blackberry and so many
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on July 06, 2016, 09:05:49
Well our blackberries are flowering - just shows how far behind we are compared to you Johhny!

But the loganberries are not far now,  cherries are still green too.  Everything is quite late this year fruit wise although we had nice early greenhouse strawberries and the goosies are looking good.  :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Silverleaf on July 06, 2016, 11:33:50
I'm seriously considering giving up on onions from sets, mine have been rubbish the last few years. They just hardly grow at all and then go to seed. Don't know what I'm doing wrong!

Shallots and perennial onions are doing fine though, I might just stick to them in future.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on July 06, 2016, 13:33:28
You also have clay soil Silverleaf and that I believe makes it all harder.  Shallots have always been easier for me too.  Really not sure why.  Perhaps more freely draining sandy soil is what they need and very even watering.  On clay the wet sticks around too much. 

There may be some merit in growing onions like shallots - they will split, but perhaps only into two or three bulbs. 

Looking forward to listening to advice from those who really can grow onions, especially on clay soil. 

I am really chuffed this year about my shallots from seed.  Not only did I get white shallots with 6 splits, but also some nice large types that are every bit the size of 'cooking onions'.  Even the shallots with 12 splits are of a very decent size.  :wave:


I'm seriously considering giving up on onions from sets, mine have been rubbish the last few years. They just hardly grow at all and then go to seed. Don't know what I'm doing wrong!

Shallots and perennial onions are doing fine though, I might just stick to them in future.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Silverleaf on July 06, 2016, 16:13:48
Yes I do have horrible clay but I'm growing in raised beds to which I've added manure, compost, sandy topsoil and rotted straw over the years.

I'd love any advice!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: ancellsfarmer on July 06, 2016, 19:14:31
Silverleaf,
Sorry to learn of your onion woes, but feel its not the clay thats the issue, more likely the condition of it and possibly how its been used in the past. My thoughts are: do you plant too early/while its too wet. Is the clay soil free draining, well fed and not compacted. My innovation of recent years is to forget autumn sowing, start good sets( pick out the best of the net, discarding any shrivelled, mouldy ones0) in trays (the sort your garden centre has deliveries of basket plants, 3" pot size, which they throw away- "re-cycle", and give for free if you cheek them!) into green-wate compost and place up off the ground outside somewhere ,starting about Feb 23rd When the plot is fit, days warming and welcoming, plant out the "plugs" 3" diameter into 3" deep holes, so that the top surface is just above your plot surface.I use 5" centres, rows just wide enough for the small draw hoe, about 8" apart. By this time (21 days from planting, the onion will likely have put a good rootball around the tray and should be holding the compost together.Its like planting out muffins.Once they look to be established, lightly hoe and feed with chicken pellets. Average size by july(Stuttgarter) will be 3" diameter,jousting their neighbours for space, not show winners but a good kitchen size.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Silverleaf on July 06, 2016, 22:26:09
Thank you ancellsfarmer, that's really helpful. :)

I planted Stuttgarter, Sturon and Red Baron on the 1st of April, 6" apart (I grow in blocks rather than rows) in a raised bed. Maybe I'm leaving it too late?

The best I have is a Stuttgarter which is about 2" in diameter maybe. Everything else has hardly grown at all, split into two bulbs and started flowering, or just grown a little and then bolted. Complete waste of time, very discouraging. :/
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on July 07, 2016, 14:11:27
as we are around half way through  this season thought id share how im fairing in this strange year ill post a couple of pics today and some tomorrow as the file size is too big ill have post twice sorry about that here goes
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on July 07, 2016, 14:12:37
and
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on July 07, 2016, 14:14:41
and this one it really has been a strange year i have a battle on my hands this summer if you can call it that
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on July 08, 2016, 17:37:52
ok today was a little showery so i took these in a hurry 
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on July 08, 2016, 17:38:43
and
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on July 13, 2016, 17:46:55
the recent rain brought things on at a pace        and the weeds :coffee2:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on July 14, 2016, 17:33:50
first smooth cucumbers today  and started my fight back against bellbind its gone crazy this year while ive been plotting away on my new plot the fence where my roses are is a sea of green so this week its death to bellbind week here on the sunshine coast (i wouldnt put any money on me winning the battle)  let the battle comence
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cudsey on July 14, 2016, 18:45:39
Feeling disheartened carrots in a 3 foot raised bed all been eaten by ants (I think) also the strawberries, there is plenty of healthy top growth on the beetroot but nothing underneath  and worse of all slugs or snails have eaten the top out of nearly all my runner beans also the radishes but on the good side the leeks are doing fine also the parsnips and all the onions are nearly ready for digging up and the potatoes have been excellent so I should look on the positive side and hope things will be better next year   
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on July 15, 2016, 14:24:48
i got a donation of a new to me trough for the front of the shed        shed is deffo finished now
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Borlotti on July 17, 2016, 22:21:17
More sweet peas today, about 12 real peas, don't know what happened to the rest of the seeds I planted.  A bit of spinach, 6 raspberries, maybe they will be late this year.  Only one courgette so far (dont believe it).  But maybe all the wild blackberries will pay for my plot. The pear tree seems OK and the Bramley apple tree has recovered and got loads of apples, and the small Cox apple looks OK.  Counted 6 plums on the plum tree.  Oh well, good exercise and some lovely people to talk too.  Tomatoes looking OK so who knows, maybe a late harvest.
 :sunny:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on July 18, 2016, 22:53:27
Hi cudsey it's always the way that some things do great and other struggle, it has been a chilly June. I've had to use lots of organic slug pellets to stop my slow growing crops that were struggling from getting demolished by slugs. Thing is there comes a day when your plants will romp away , you've just got to help them out until it comes! Good luck. Sunloving
Feeling disheartened carrots in a 3 foot raised bed all been eaten by ants (I think) also the strawberries, there is plenty of healthy top growth on the beetroot but nothing underneath  and worse of all slugs or snails have eaten the top out of nearly all my runner beans also the radishes but on the good side the leeks are doing fine also the parsnips and all the onions are nearly ready for digging up and the potatoes have been excellent so I should look on the positive side and hope things will be better next year   
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on July 21, 2016, 13:56:25
sunflower teddy bear came out to play today sowed them in march i think they are my fav sunflower
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cudsey on July 21, 2016, 18:32:33
Thanks for the boost Sunloving I must admit there is an improvement since all the rain stopped, today I picked a cucumber, some lettuce a pepper and some charlotte potatoes also a few radishes which had not been nibbled so maybe everybodys season will end up fairly good 
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on July 21, 2016, 18:56:22
Thanks for the boost Sunloving I must admit there is an improvement since all the rain stopped, today I picked a cucumber, some lettuce a pepper and some charlotte potatoes also a few radishes which had not been nibbled so maybe everybodys season will end up fairly good 
cudsey all i know about gardening is every year there are successes and terrible failures however you get just enough to keep you interested for next season  ive grown wonderful stuff the next season the same variety same soil conditions same feed and it all comes to nothing this allotmenteering thing is not for the faint hearted question yourself and nature will give you a swift kick up the backside  i your having a bad season bet your bottom dollar thousands of other grows have their head in their hands  too me i think im too thick skinned to worry i just like being in the fresh air and a little me time the crops are a bonus hope this helps and good luck im sure things will surprise you over the next few weeks and you like me will forget about the terrible spring late summer we have had
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on July 21, 2016, 23:31:49
As this season progressed, it hasn't been as benign as last year regarding blight.  Without a recent warning (although we had blight warnings in June!) blight has really struck and I had to cut down potato foliage and destroy several outdoor tomato plants without a single ripe fruit on them.  Tidying up blighted plants has got to be the worst job in the garden calendar  :BangHead:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on July 22, 2016, 17:30:37
As this season progressed, it hasn't been as benign as last year regarding blight.  Without a recent warning (although we had blight warnings in June!) blight has really struck and I had to cut down potato foliage and destroy several outdoor tomato plants without a single ripe fruit on them.  Tidying up blighted plants has got to be the worst job in the garden calendar  :BangHead:
i agree with that  galina i lost two plants however the other 118 are fine and really putting on the trusess
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cudsey on July 22, 2016, 19:00:47
Yes you are right Johhnyco15  I have had an allotment for the last 10 years and like you I like to be outside if I can, so I have told myself that next year will be good
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on July 23, 2016, 10:21:35
As this season progressed, it hasn't been as benign as last year regarding blight.  Without a recent warning (although we had blight warnings in June!) blight has really struck and I had to cut down potato foliage and destroy several outdoor tomato plants without a single ripe fruit on them.  Tidying up blighted plants has got to be the worst job in the garden calendar  :BangHead:

It's so frustrating as tomatoes really make your summer plate  big hugs.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on July 24, 2016, 03:51:59
I'm feeling pleased with my progress. I moved to Ireland in jan and have been working hard to turn a pasture into a plot. After lots of wet muddy days things are finally looking good. There's a short lull to smell the roses before stage two begins!
These are a before and after photo. X sunloving
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on July 25, 2016, 17:17:30
sweetcorn is really growing now its up 6ft
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on August 01, 2016, 06:27:36
Sunloving, this shows a lot of progress.  Much hard work must have gone into this and so much achieved.  :sunny:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on August 08, 2016, 20:50:00
Sunloving, this shows a lot of progress.  Much hard work must have gone into this and so much achieved.  :sunny:

Aww thanks Gallina, it's lovely to be harvesting lots of lovely things and having flowers in the house, but the weeds! The blights really hit the poly tunnel and it's so hard to watch all that hard work go to rot! Here's to a blight free year for us both next year! X sunloving
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on August 12, 2016, 21:21:45
first butternut today which even for us on the sunshine coast is a tad early :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: however no rain for the last 4 weeks so maybe thats helped
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on August 13, 2016, 14:02:37
beans yes runner, french, flat french and bolotti bags and bags each day a carrier bag full and i could take another bag full in the afternoon this has been like this for 3 weeks now and no sign of stopping all down my street people are sealing their letter boxes shut so i cant slide another handful through long may it continue i say
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on September 09, 2016, 13:00:14
it may rain tomorrow so i had to pick some toms this is my 10th load like this  so far this season think the dehydrator will be on for a while
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on September 20, 2016, 13:33:20
had a fruitful visit to the plot today
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on October 09, 2016, 14:01:26
gathered up all the windfalls today and some small potatoes  and went to see my mate to get some pig muck and they were waiting as usual waiting for their treat fair exchange no robbery i say
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on October 11, 2016, 19:00:11
today picked a few more tomatoes for a change and planted some spring bulbs with the good weather may have some more to pick  by the weekend
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on October 31, 2016, 14:23:25
last day of the holidays for my youngest so  i thought a little pumpkin carving would help pass the time as its Halloween and all that
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on November 04, 2016, 13:55:24
well its the 4th of november and im still harvesting outdoor tomatoes
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on November 04, 2016, 14:22:33
You really must have some of the most benign climates in the UK, Johnny.  Looking good. :sunny:

Here we are several months past blight and now also past first frost.  I still have about half a pound of green tomatoes in the greenhouse from a couple of plants that are still hanging on, but that's it.   Enjoy!  :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: BarriedaleNick on November 05, 2016, 08:56:51
I'm just about still picking outdoor toms but I expect to strip all the plants out today.  Haven't been down all week as it is now dark after work but I picked cucumber from the garden yesterday and expect a few more toms will have ripened up..
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on November 24, 2016, 19:35:58
all seems to be coming along for the winter all 7,680sq foot of it
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Digeroo on November 25, 2016, 10:00:39
Ground very soggy at the moment.  Have been filling a compost bin with manure so it is ready and waiting for early next year.

Also collected a bin full of leaves, there are a lot this year.  And buried some more where I will have beans next year. 

And planted out some new blackcurrant plants.  Ordered some big ben but they substituted a different variety, so I am now waiting on another company for big ben.



Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: galina on November 25, 2016, 10:36:43
Digeroo, very similar here, except that the ground is now just right for digging.  I made good progress yesterday.  Yes lots of leaves.  It is still the quickest and easiest way to mow and let the mower collect them.  What grass is mixed in helps break the leaves down.

Still harvesting and storing apples.  The later varieties are hanging on and on, probably because the harvest was so delayed this year.  :wave:
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on November 27, 2016, 15:36:37
well today iwas back at the plots my new strawberry collection came on friday so i had to get them in today 24 plants from suttons 4 varieties in a 12ft x 6ft bed  all went in no problems
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Tee Gee on November 27, 2016, 16:40:30
All you need now is an Ice cream maker is there one on your Christmas list?

I tried that membrane once and I was never enamoured with it, particularly at harvest time when I walked on it!  Perhaps you will be able to harvest from either side of the bed!
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on November 27, 2016, 18:06:42
All you need now is an Ice cream maker is there one on your Christmas list?

I tried that membrane once and I was never enamoured with it, particularly at harvest time when I walked on it!  Perhaps you will be able to harvest from either side of the bed!
yes indeed tg i can reach the middle easy  i  gave  each plant a lot of space i plant every 16" so should be able to control them no prob i used membrane as having 3 plots now trying to do my best to cut down on weeding when ever i can
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on December 18, 2016, 10:12:44
its starting to get chilli even here on the sunshine coast so i put my cut flower bed to bed for the winter
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on December 22, 2016, 17:24:34
started my pumpkin bed this week will finish it after the festive break
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: sunloving on March 15, 2017, 01:17:40
I thought we might resurrect this thread before it drops of the page. A new season has begun we've had a brill week of sunny weather and I've been getting around to all those jobs I should have done before Xmas ( but had to replace the floor in half my old house instead ouch! )

What struck me was how amazing it is to make compost, I've got a big heap that I mistreated with perennial weeds and ash and to much grass and all sorts of the wrong things as I've been making the garden from irish wilderness but 10 months later I've got 27 bags of lovely rich compost ( the bind weeds still hanging on through it but apart from that it's lovely) - what amazing free stuff from rubbish! Was a two day dig to harvest though because it's tough going!

Lovely to have some fabulous seeds germinating and to have the first sprouting broccoli for teas, and sit in the deck chair with the sun on your face. Onwards!! X sunloving
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Tee Gee on March 15, 2017, 12:57:47
Quote
I thought we might resurrect this thread before it drops of the page.

Agreed!

Perhaps we ought to open a new thread entitled:

2017 Progress Reports

What do you think?


*******

For the moment this was some of my stuff this morning:

My tomatoes are nearly ready for pricking out:

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/15th%20March%202017/Tomatoes_zpsretszbmk.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/15th%20March%202017/Tomatoes_zpsretszbmk.jpg.html)

These are a few things I pricked out earlier:

Pelargoniums / Geraniums

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/15th%20March%202017/Pelargoniums_zpsilqz6sm7.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/15th%20March%202017/Pelargoniums_zpsilqz6sm7.jpg.html)

Lobelia

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/15th%20March%202017/Lobelia_zpssqzm55bv.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/15th%20March%202017/Lobelia_zpssqzm55bv.jpg.html)

A few 'Freebie' Fuchsia I received from Parkers:


(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/15th%20March%202017/Fuchsia_zpsaexb8ijk.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/15th%20March%202017/Fuchsia_zpsaexb8ijk.jpg.html)
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Paulines7 on March 15, 2017, 13:33:33
Tee Gee, is your greenhouse heated? I have no electricity to mine and I don't want to fiddle with paraffin heaters. 

I have all my seedlings indoors and they grew leggy so I have potted them on deeply so the leaves are now just above soil level.  They are mainly tomatoes, chillies and pepper plants.  However, because I have put them from large pots into individual ones, they are taking up far more room and I have now filled all the available space indoors. I have grown many more than I need as when frost is no longer an issue, I can put some on a table, set up in the village, where people put their excess plants or produce for sale and the proceeds go to cancer research.

Do you think they would survive in the unheated greenhouse if I put them in flat polystyrene boxes and covered them with fleece?  I also have propagation trays with transparent lids so I could put some in those and cover with fleece.  I want to get some bedding plant seeds sown too, so if the toms could go in the gh, I would have room for more seeds indoors. 

The alternative is that I could put an extension lead from the summerhouse to the greenhouse and then stick a fan heater in there, but I am not sure that it is a good idea to have an extension lead out in all weathers.


Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Tee Gee on March 15, 2017, 14:00:42
Quote
Tee Gee, is your greenhouse heated?

Yes! (See here: http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Greenhouse%20heating/Greenhouse%20Heating.htm )

Quote
I have all my seedlings indoors and they grew leggy so I have potted them on deeply so the leaves are now just above soil level. 

As you can see my Tomatoes are slightly elongated so when I get around to pricking out I will sink them in upto the seed leaves (cotelydons)


Quote
However, because I have put them from large pots into individual ones, they are taking up far more room and I have now filled all the available space indoors.

Tell me about it I get the same problem every year in my greenhouse! Meaning no matter where we keep them we all seem to run out of space.

Quote
Do you think they would survive in the unheated greenhouse if I put them in flat polystyrene boxes and covered them with fleece? 

I also have propagation trays with transparent lids so I could put some in those and cover with fleece.
 
I want to get some bedding plant seeds sown too, so if the toms could go in the gh, I would have room for more seeds indoors.


Faced with this problem I would do as you suggest and put them in the cold greenhouse in the manner you suggest then keep an eye and ear on the weather forecasts.

If extremly cold weather is forecast you could move the boxes/containers into the house overnight and take them out the following morning when the worst of the frost has passed. A lot of work I agree but it should help!
Quote
The alternative is that I could put an extension lead from the summerhouse to the greenhouse and then stick a fan heater in there,

but I am not sure that it is a good idea to have an extension lead out in all weathers.


Well my electric supply is an overhead cable so it is out in all weathers so providing the protective coating/sleeve on your extension cable is not damaged in any way it should be OK

It would be quite easy to trail it out on a daily basis and wire up your fan heater.

I hope these suggestions help...Tg
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on March 15, 2017, 16:44:26
all looking good tg i have no heating in my greenhouses however lettuce ,leeks ,cabbage,calabrese ,dahlias and half hardy annual flowers all all doing well will sow my tomatoes this week chiilis,peppers etc are indoors at the mo not a window sil left in the house anyway at least the violas on the allotment shed are loving the spring weather   
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: Paulines7 on March 16, 2017, 10:59:13
Tee Gee, thank you so much for your help. 

My OH is not keen on putting a 3kw fan heater on an extension lead as he thinks it could blow all the electrics in the summerhouse and I do not want gas or paraffin.  It's a large greenhouse too, 8ft x 18ft so would take quite a bit of heating. 

I could put a few of my tomato plants inside the greenhouse, in a self watering polystyrene set up such as this: http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,80191.0.html
cover them with fleece and then, if they survive a hard frost, I could put the rest out.  I will be away for ten days in April so need to sort it before then. 

My gerbera has survived the winter like this and when I lifted the fleece yesterday, I noticed that it had a lot of flower buds coming and plenty of fresh new leaves.  Some of the outside leaves had turned brown and died but overall, the plant is looking good.

Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cambourne7 on March 21, 2017, 15:25:20
other than onion and garlic i have not managed to do anything due to a chest infection, i am hoping to get parsnips, leeks and carrots in this weekend will be my last chance till end April.
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: ancellsfarmer on March 22, 2017, 20:26:16
Reckon you should prepare the ground, cover and then sow when you get back. Its only the 'frontiersmen' who try to get an 'earlier than him@ crop by dashing into action. Great if you can, but not to get mithered about IMHO
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on March 23, 2017, 12:56:22
black/red currants are in  about to bloom spring is well on its way
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: johhnyco15 on March 25, 2017, 15:44:35
kiwi fruit starting to bud up  will be in flower mid april
Title: Re: This Season's Progress Reports
Post by: cambourne7 on May 05, 2017, 13:04:23
Picked up 2 bags of onions and 1 shallots in wilko yesterday and have popped these into large trays of soil for now to see what survives as some were a little soft and will put into final position in a few weeks.

Have sewn peas and beans which look like there about to pop through.

I need to get my other seeds sown but my energy levels are through the floor so just doing a little as i can :) Husband is going to help me move my greenhouse about for plannting

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