Just a thought for those living in Bexley who have recently had new bins delivered and have been left with three large plastic boxes kicking around.
I reckon with a few drainage holes drilled in the bottom they could be repurposed for growing things in. Particularly useful for potatoes because of their depth and carrots where the extra height will help ward off the dreaded carrot fly (who tend to keep to a low altitude).
I know at this present time it is difficult to obtain the compost and seeds etc. ... maybe next year?
The boxes (mine at least) are marked with a number 5 which is considered a safe plastic to use.
Brilliant idea.
Where are you getting the seed potatoes/tomato plants?
TBH I've never grown potatoes or carrots and haven't got the seeds this year either. It was just an idea after watching some Youtube videos.
I always grow tomato plants and just before lockdown visited Thompson's nursery on Shooters Hill. Unbelievably they had sold out. Luckily I stumbled on some old seeds in my shed and thought I'd try them out. They have (mostly) germinated so I'll see how they go.
I've become a little bit obsessed with growing roses over the last year. It started with maybe 5/6 around the garden, and I decided to take cuttings to propagate them, and potentially some point down the line cross seeds to create my own breeds. I think I manage to grow about 40 new roses last summer/autumn which have survived the winter.
At the moment I have about 100 different known breeds in my front and back gardens with about another 80+ unknowns which include a whole lot I grew from cuttings, so I'm very interested to see what they will end up being.
Eventually I'm hoping to be able to sell some at markets etc, but just as a hobby really to pay for itself, because the compost and pots can accumulate to a fair amount of money, as do buying the original roses. Some of the well known breeders sell them for £25 each rose plant!!
Anyone interested in seeing any photos let me know.
Having no hedge along any of our garden, but our neighbour an elderly lady does so I bought a cheap trimmer to keep it tidy on our side and the top bearing in mind she employs a gardener there’s no need for me to do anymore for her. The hedge nearest the house has grown quite tall and often triggers the motion cameras on our cctv or taps on the window bearing in mind our lounge window is 8’ from the ground we keep it cut back. Yesterday seeing me and thanking me she said feel free to cut it back as much as I wanted, having power tools and going a little stir crazy the hedge is now about 4’ high. 😂😂😂
Our grass is shite as the back garden is shady, patches everywhere.
Any recommendations of decent grass seed and possibly feed & weed etc that will do well with less than ideal conditions.
Shady Lawn, grass seed by Evergreen Garden Care is pretty good, only available in one size though.
For a lawn feed I always use Evergreen Conplete, a granular feed that feeds, weeds and treats moss in lawns.
Use only March - September.
Also be careful if you walk on the lawn feed after you've applied it. It will discolour patio slabs. I karchered my patio yesterday & could still the foot prints on my slabs after I walked off the grass after doing the feed last year.
Started using 'Nemaslug' nematodes again yesterday. Pretty expensive but seemed to help last year, along with wool pellets.
Nematodes are awesome, deal with slugs like nothing else and when growing veg that is important
That said I've still not managed to get the cost of anything I grow below about 4 quid per unit!
I try and forget the cost compared with veg crops the little bastards have eaten overnight. Last year they did my sprouts and it was too late to sow more seeds. Really disheartening!
Started using 'Nemaslug' nematodes again yesterday. Pretty expensive but seemed to help last year, along with wool pellets.
Nematodes are awesome, deal with slugs like nothing else and when growing veg that is important
That said I've still not managed to get the cost of anything I grow below about 4 quid per unit!
I try and forget the cost compared with veg crops the little bastards have eaten overnight. Last year they did my sprouts and it was too late to sow more seeds. Really disheartening!
Allegedly, sprinkling gravel/small stones/grit around the planted up area deters the little b*ggers...they don't like crossing it .
Started using 'Nemaslug' nematodes again yesterday. Pretty expensive but seemed to help last year, along with wool pellets.
Nematodes are awesome, deal with slugs like nothing else and when growing veg that is important
That said I've still not managed to get the cost of anything I grow below about 4 quid per unit!
I try and forget the cost compared with veg crops the little bastards have eaten overnight. Last year they did my sprouts and it was too late to sow more seeds. Really disheartening!
Allegedly, sprinkling gravel/small stones/grit around the planted up area deters the little b*ggers...they don't like crossing it .
Started using 'Nemaslug' nematodes again yesterday. Pretty expensive but seemed to help last year, along with wool pellets.
Nematodes are awesome, deal with slugs like nothing else and when growing veg that is important
That said I've still not managed to get the cost of anything I grow below about 4 quid per unit!
I try and forget the cost compared with veg crops the little bastards have eaten overnight. Last year they did my sprouts and it was too late to sow more seeds. Really disheartening!
Allegedly, sprinkling gravel/small stones/grit around the planted up area deters the little b*ggers...they don't like crossing it .
Might be worth trying ?
Also, finely crushed eggshells.
Frogs, toads, hedgehogs and birds are the best for controlling snails and slugs. I have lots of empty snail shells but almost no plant damage.
Started using 'Nemaslug' nematodes again yesterday. Pretty expensive but seemed to help last year, along with wool pellets.
Nematodes are awesome, deal with slugs like nothing else and when growing veg that is important
That said I've still not managed to get the cost of anything I grow below about 4 quid per unit!
I try and forget the cost compared with veg crops the little bastards have eaten overnight. Last year they did my sprouts and it was too late to sow more seeds. Really disheartening!
Allegedly, sprinkling gravel/small stones/grit around the planted up area deters the little b*ggers...they don't like crossing it .
Might be worth trying ?
Also, finely crushed eggshells.
Frogs, toads, hedgehogs and birds are the best for controlling snails and slugs. I have lots of empty snail shells but almost no plant damage.
Yes. But a lot of people don't really like finely crushed frogs.
Something that works for me pretty well. Buy a pot of living herbs from a supermarket - basil works well. Divide them up and plant out in a sunny spot. They'll provide fresh basil all summer. Much cheaper than from a garden centre (even if they were open).
Comments
I always grow tomato plants and just before lockdown visited Thompson's nursery on Shooters Hill. Unbelievably they had sold out. Luckily I stumbled on some old seeds in my shed and thought I'd try them out. They have (mostly) germinated so I'll see how they go.
SO sorry to hear that sad news.
Sleep tight, baby cucs.
Maybe there was a slug egg in your compost, which you put in the propogator?
At the moment I have about 100 different known breeds in my front and back gardens with about another 80+ unknowns which include a whole lot I grew from cuttings, so I'm very interested to see what they will end up being.
Eventually I'm hoping to be able to sell some at markets etc, but just as a hobby really to pay for itself, because the compost and pots can accumulate to a fair amount of money, as do buying the original roses. Some of the well known breeders sell them for £25 each rose plant!!
Anyone interested in seeing any photos let me know.
Any recommendations of decent grass seed and possibly feed & weed etc that will do well with less than ideal conditions.
For a lawn feed I always use Evergreen Conplete, a granular feed that feeds, weeds and treats moss in lawns.
Use only March - September.
That said I've still not managed to get the cost of anything I grow below about 4 quid per unit!
Might be worth trying ?
i have ordered a lid of copper strip which I have used before, they don’t like crossing it. Doesn’t help once they w got into a bed of course.
Must have googled " beer bellies " by mistake !
Other veg seed vendors are available.
Sutton’s seeds are ok but also have a queue even if it’s only 3 minutes long right now.
Should I continue to waste water on it?
Ta.