Lots more help needed please

[MrsKP]

roflmao - been bored stupid tonight apart from watching the rerun of giggling Carol (missed it on friday cos of Jo's eviction)  :P

so our "new" Jo kept me occupied !!!

and yes indeedy I'll definitely use the bath again.  won't overcrowd it with so many onions and marigolds this year.  less is more !

i had to empty it to be able to lift it onto my "borrowed" plot next door, so it will be fresh compost again (saves on soil borne pests, diseases and weeds) but i've got to improve the water retention so will use a JI type compost and perhaps some water retaining gel (unless someone says otherwise) and/or leave an extra couple of inches at the top for some SS mulch !

need to try and make it a bit more beautiful though (as it's in the neighbour's garden).  was thinking of a bamboo screen type affair to make it look more like a raised bed and less like a bath !   ;D

[MrsKP]

[jo9919]

Thanks for the replies.

MrsKP, I've just taken a quick look at your blog, I didn't have time to have a good read but have bookmarked it and will be going back later tonight (when I've put the rugrats to bed and have more time). At the moment I'm finding it really interesting to read how other people have started their gardening, what's worked for them, and what they'd do different.

I didn't see any pictures of your 'bath' though. Have you missed the pictures of this off or have I just missed it? One thing I'd like to know is what you filled your containers with to start off with. Did you use different compost to suit the different things you were growing or did you use something multi-purpose?

I have thought about starting a blog. I thought that this would be the best time to start one if I do decide to do one as then I will have a record of what I was doing at each particular time of the year.

Alishka_Maxwell, thank you for your recommendation for the Link-a-Bord. It's good to know that your friend has used them and that she's pleased with them. I still might go ahead and get some.

Jo.

[MrsKP]

The bath makes a guest appearance in the September archive Jo.

All the pots and bath were just filled with multi-purpose last year, but they did have a tendency to dry out pretty fast.  Watering wasn't a problem, just took up a lot of time, so am going to try a John Innes multipurpose mix this year to add to the water holding capabilities.

I started this blog at the end of the season but if you look through there is mention and a few pics of earlier on.  Now is an ideal time to start one.  I just kept a diary last year (from where I got all my info in my earlier post), but didn't keep strict records of how and what, just a matter of when I did things.

Once of the things I know to avoid is manuring roots - they fork !

I do need to discipline myself though and write up what I've done soon after I've done it.  I did a fair bit last weekend and still haven't got round to writing it up.  Maybe tonight after the banking!

;D

[jo9919]

Hope you got your banking done MrsKP.

I had a good read of your blog last night. I think it's really interesting to be able to read other people's experiences when they have just started gardening. The blog was very humerous too. I love your decking.

Have you heard anything about your allotment yet? It looks like you're in desperate need of one, you have so many things growing.

Thanks again everyone for all the advice.

Jo.

[MrsKP]

Indeedy I didy.  Confirmed my suspicions, too much month left at the end of the money.   ;D

glad you enjoyed it Jo.  I love being a nosey parker and seeing what other people are doing and grab inspiration and ideas where I see them.

I must admit to being in love with my deck.  Sadly it always seems to be covered in mud atm, but once I've done all the digging and got the power spray out, I hope to be able to sit out there on balmy summer evenings, listening to the birds and watching my garden grow !

Not been up to the lottie since before Christmas.  I started 21st on the list, and at last check was 11th.  So could be this summer or more likely next.  There are only 3 lotties within easy peasy reach of where I live, one never bothered to answer my letter, one had it's list closed which leaves the one I'm after.  It's in a big country park where they have cricket matches (with a bar) so the OH can escape when he's had enough of the digging.  Got to keep him sweet somehow !  It's also just about within biking distance should the car pack up.  No point in having a lottie if I can't get there.

Look forward to reading your blog and seeing your back yard develop. Pics, we have to see pics !!

Happy sowing Jo.

;D