Hi All,
Getting very jealous reading/ seeing all the posts on here.
I haven't got an allotment, but moved into a house with a back garden last September.
had a small veg bed dug in time for some PSB that saw us through to May.
I may have got a little over ambitious since then.
Fruit trees (3 apple, 2 pear) fruit bushes (2 Red current, 2 Black current, 2 green gooseberry, 3 Red goosberry, blackberry and tayberry have gone in.
(Oops and the dozen or so strawberry runners my mum rescued from her compost heap and posted up!!!)
Another 2 beds dug, a green house and a cold frame contraption have gone up in the following months
I'm away working at the moment so haven't seen the garden (apart from in photos) for 7 weeks.
I had most of the garden planted up before i left.
I planted a load of salad/radishes/spring onions a week or so before going away. The girlfriend had had enough by the time i'd been away 4 weeks (of eating the salad and having to look after "my" garden).
Anyway, if anyone is interested here are a few Photos of the Garden developing.
(http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/arv_photos/25-11-200811-57-14_0034_resize.jpg)
(http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/arv_photos/06-12-200814-26-45_0038_resize.jpg)
looks good and welcome to A4A ;D
Looks like you are doing really well. Like the look of the raised beds. Now I'm jealous of you.
Looks great.
Your garden looks much more tidy than my allotment.
Nice big garden there. Lots of scope. ;D
And a few more photos from May (about 3 weeks before i left for work)
The Apple (closer) and Pear (nearer house) Trees (Espaliers on dwarf root stock) Under planted with Strawberries (unwanted runners from my mum posted to Scotland from Dorset and thriving!!)
(http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/arv_photos/2009-05-02BackGarden01.jpg)
First early Tatties and (a small) Latah Tomato
(http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/arv_photos/2009-05-02BackGarden09.jpg)
Mangetout (Bijou giant mange-tout and Golden sweet mange-tout) and Salad Leaves
(http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/arv_photos/2009-05-02BackGarden07.jpg)
Nearest bed, Garlic, Shallots, Salad leaves and Neaps under the cloche, Further bed, Carrots and Parsnips under the cloche, PSB still hanging in (just) and more carrots behind. Soft fruit against the fence.
(http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/arv_photos/2009-05-02BackGarden04.jpg)
Thank you for the replies,
These are the last few Photos my girlfriend sent me a few days ago
Mix of Squash, Courgette, Tomatoes, Potatoes in bags and Herbs
(http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/arv_photos/insidethegreenhouse.jpg)
I Knocked this Cold frame up out of some Ikea shelves the previous owber had left and a sheet of polythene from B&Q. Filled it full of manure (well rotted) and some top soil. Planted 1 Courgette, 1 summer squash and 1 winter squash. All doing very well. 2 or 3 courgettes harvested so far.
(http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/arv_photos/Imsquashedinhere.jpg)
and the Mangetout. Can't wait to get home and try some steamed, and served with a thingy of butter!!!
(http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/arv_photos/Monstergarden.jpg)
(http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/arv_photos/peasorbeans.jpg)
There are some Beans (runners, Climbing and Bush french beans) in front of the Mangetout. They had to go out a little early so i hope they haven't been stunted too much!
Right, thats it for now. I'm sure i'll have a load of questions once i get home but for now the garden will have to fend for itself!!
Hiya, ARV, welcome to a4a ;D
that looks fantastic, hope you get to eat some of it ;D
Go home quick..............
Seven weeks is a lot of weeds, I am away for only two and dread the weeding when I return.
You have done a great job and I hope your girlfriend likes gardening!
If she can put up with the maintainence of your plot and your absences, then hang onto her.
Welcome to the site. My OH wouldn't let me use any of our garden for veg growing if I didn't have my plot.
I have had to promise not to dig up any more of the garden (but i never said anything about putting pots on the paving slabs!!!).
(Un)fortunately i learnt about gardening from my mum. More is better, and it'll fit in some where are her mottos.
She can't throw anything out. it all finds somewhere to fit in. And her seed box (actually about 3x 4l icecream tubs) are overflowing.
I'm trying (honest) to be good and buy exciting/unusual seeds. The whole garden is a bit of an experiment as i grew up in Dorset, but am now living just outside Edinburgh. Will be interesting to see what grows and what doesn't.
(Any hints/ Tips on veg that prefers a cooler climate welcome!!)
that's great. Wish I could do that here in the garden
by the way I hope when you're getting your GF to send you all those pics of your veg, you don't forget to ask how she's doing as well. Easy thing to overlook, what with all the excitement, and could lead to Trouble :D
That's wonderful work, and you'll get an amazing amount of food from it.
Here's how to keep the little girl friend happy: make sure YOU pick and wash the vegies and you do the cooking.
Quote from: ktlawson on July 10, 2009, 20:43:52
My OH wouldn't let me use any of our garden for veg growing if I didn't have my plot.
Don't be put off ktlawson. Mine was like that, but then she tired of me loafing about inside and getting "under her feet", so agreed to letting me have a corner.
Once she tasted fresh food, she handed me half the garden, and now I am preparing to dig the rest.
Looking great ARV, better get yourself home, but who do you look after first though, the girlfriend or the veg. :-[ :-X ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
ARV,
Do not be put off by these people who have their lotties. I lost mine to the developers but have been growing well in the garden for some time now and boy does it feel good to go out the back door and pick something up and just eat it. Sweet fresh and tasty. Cannot do that in a shop now canyou.
Welcome and keep going with what you are doing, it looks great. ;D ;D
I've only just got a lottie, had 30 years of getting the most out of a small garden space, much to the annoyance of some of the neighbours have been growing veg in the front garden. I try to get attractive varieties. Runner beans in with four colours of flowers, purple podded peas, red flowered broad beans, climbing french with red stems and leave veins, and corn with a red strip to the leaf. etc. I get comments from various passers by saying they like it but rather suggesting that others do not. Saw a potager designed by Rosemary Verey and decided to give it a go. Veggie plots can be very attractive.
I am totally amazed about how far apart people are planting things, I see the bare soil and want to put something in it.
That looks great! I'm seriously thinking about giving up my allotment at the end of this season and just growing my favourite stuff in the garden.
Thank you all for the comments,
I'll be getting home in 11 days (and counting) as long as everything goes to plan and my boss can find someone to relieve me!!! The first night home will definitely be spent looking after the girlfriend (with a homecooked meal of fresh veggies!!!). I've already got the posh restaurant booked for the following week (to allow for my boss not finding a relief and me having to do another week!!!).
The neighbours seem OK with me growing veg, one side has a garden full of Blackcurrent bushes so I'm hoping to do some swaps with her (until mine get established). I have already swapped some PSB for some ramsons (wild garlic).
The other side recently had her grass bricked over, but we did gain a strimmer from that. she has kept her flower borders which is good for me as it keeps the insects happy!!!
I have tried to go for slightly unusual veg......summer crookneck squash, white beetroot, yellow mangetout (GF was waiting for them to go green before picking!!) Yellow carrots etc. I bought my seed from the real seed company and have had very good success rate with germination. But I'll look into some of the more decorative vegetable plants, i certainly like the idea of a potager but not sure my design and DIY skills are up to it (at the moment anyway).
What a beautiful mini-allotment! I think that veg are just as pretty in a garden as flowers, and certainly more useful! Enjoy your harvest.
I understand how you feel ARV, I used to work away from home a lot, and in summer practically the 1st thing I'd do is grab a glass of wine and go for a wander round the garden, with my OH (of course ;D). So pleased I'm not having to work away from home anymore, I wouldn't be able to keep my lottie up if I did!
Anyway, the pics look great and enjoy the harvest!
1066