Does anyone grow stuff?

I'm a complete amateur and YouTube is my teacher & companion. A few years ago I started with Strawberrys. I hardly had to do anything with them. Piece of piss. But I've extended my growing portfolio over the years. This year it's carrots and cauliflowers. I've also got about 20 of them whopping sunflower on the go. I wouldn't go as far to say that it's an obsession (even though I have bought a cheap-as-chips greenhouse) but I'm really getting into it.

51 minutes ago, Underpants said:

Does anyone grow stuff?

I'm a complete amateur and YouTube is my teacher & companion. A few years ago I started with Strawberrys. I hardly had to do anything with them. Piece of piss. But I've extended my growing portfolio over the years. This year it's carrots and cauliflowers. I've also got about 20 of them whopping sunflower on the go. I wouldn't go as far to say that it's an obsession (even though I have bought a cheap-as-chips greenhouse) but I'm really getting into it.

That’s how Pablo Escobar started 

@Tonge moor green jacket

Done a fair bit over the years. Some of it pretty successfully - tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, beans, garlic. Some utterly miserable failures - carrots, radishes, courgettes. Currently only have a horseradish root and some chives. Need to get back into it as I do genuinely love it.

Like @Lt. Aldo Raine says @Tonge moor green jacket is your man

Chives grow like mad at the back of my gaff, just spring out of cracks in paths and all sorts, you can strim them like grass & weeds and they are back in a couple of days, but on the plus side they taste great, smell savery and are a massive diterant for vermin.

 

As above, keep trying.

Mix and match, so if one thing doesn't work, something else will.

Lad was just hardening off some legumes etc, and a bastard mouse went through and nibbled the stems through- he actually saw it. Similarly, they dug up my early broad beans.

Just have to go with it, and find deterrents. 

For me, soil, feeding and water are key.

Sounds obvious, but I don't think I've watered veg enough at times.

Maybe also true of feeding at times. Veg can be "hungry".

Just enjoy doing it- avoid overspending on compost-and see where it takes you.

NiC also does some.

2 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

As above, keep trying.

Mix and match, so if one thing doesn't work, something else will.

Lad was just hardening off some legumes etc, and a bastard mouse went through and nibbled the stems through- he actually saw it. Similarly, they dug up my early broad beans.

Just have to go with it, and find deterrents. 

For me, soil, feeding and water are key.

Sounds obvious, but I don't think I've watered veg enough at times.

Maybe also true of feeding at times. Veg can be "hungry".

Just enjoy doing it- avoid overspending on compost-and see where it takes you.

NiC also does some.

Just mulched all my flower beds... Wickes have an offer on for bark chippings, brought 10x100 litre bags... £8.50/bag worked out cheaper than bulk bags (and the delivered for £4.00).

Also I am fortunate to live near a stable, lady has a big pile of well rotted manure and is glad to see the back of it so cots me nowt, I fill the empty bags half a dozen at a time. My tip... find someone with horses

13 hours ago, royal white said:

That’s how Pablo Escobar started 

Thread title made me think of "Rear Of The Year 1981".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rear_of_the_Year

8 minutes ago, bolty58 said:

Thread title made me think of "Rear Of The Year 1981".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rear_of_the_Year

My neighbour is a former winner...

57 minutes ago, Traf said:

My neighbour is a former winner...

Michael Barrymore?

59 minutes ago, Traf said:

My neighbour is a former winner...

Will Young?

4 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

As above, keep trying.

Mix and match, so if one thing doesn't work, something else will.

Lad was just hardening off some legumes etc, and a bastard mouse went through and nibbled the stems through- he actually saw it. Similarly, they dug up my early broad beans.

Just have to go with it, and find deterrents. 

For me, soil, feeding and water are key.

Sounds obvious, but I don't think I've watered veg enough at times.

Maybe also true of feeding at times. Veg can be "hungry".

Just enjoy doing it- avoid overspending on compost-and see where it takes you.

NiC also does some.

Full weekend last weekend doing it - couple of new beds dug.

I just take it step by step - and each year the garden gets progressively better and using the winter mulch so not overspending on compost but there are good deals if you are willing to shop around. Found an excellent garden centre with healthy plants rather than the rubbish at B&Q - but Home Bargains do a nice cheap line in summer bedding plants for some inexpensive colour and they do excellent boxes of wildflowers whicj again is very cheap and easy to do . Doing more drought resistant plants down here, helps in the heavy clay soil (and our usual hosepipe bans) so the likes of Euphorbia which spreads well and looks lovely.

Gardeners Question Time on R4 came from Chorley two weeks ago and had some great tips for growning in the North West - worth a listen on BBC Sounds.

Things will fail, you'll make mistakes but crops like Raddishes or Corgettes you can't really go wrong with and will give you the confidence to go on with it. Also, if you have space make some raised beds - cheap to make and easy to do (even ive done it) and makes the world of difference and TMGJ has always been a helpful source of advice for me when im stuck.

Oh amd hanging baskets of toms were a boon last year - carrots went ok but should have left them in longer - harvested waaaay too early.

Edited April 28Apr 28 by Not in Crawley

I bought an azalea this weekend,

4 hours ago, bolty58 said:

Thread title made me think of "Rear Of The Year 1981".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rear_of_the_Year

 

4 hours ago, Sweep said:

Michael Barrymore?

 

4 hours ago, freds dad said:

Will Young?

female

1 hour ago, Traf said:

 

female

I'd like to think it's Kym Marsh....but I bet it's the dog from Hollyoaks, Jenny Metcalfe

2 hours ago, Traf said:

 

female

Barbara Windsor

1 hour ago, freds dad said:

Barbara Windsor

Is she not dead?

14 hours ago, L/H White said:

I bought an ale this weekend,

Me too

17 hours ago, Traf said:

My neighbour is a former winner...

How former mate? Still pert or a hag with a sag?

4 hours ago, bolty58 said:

How former mate? Still pert or a hag with a sag?

She's still in her early 40's

Tracy Shaw?

27 minutes ago, athywhite1958 said:

Tracy Shaw?

I've been racking my brain as to who I remember reading about as winning it back in the day

Knew she was from Corrie but couldn't remember her name or arse

So cheers

1 hour ago, Zico said:

I've been racking my brain as to who I remember reading about as winning it back in the day

Knew she was from Corrie but couldn't remember her name or arse

So cheers

Does this help?

 

 

7 hours ago, athywhite1958 said:

Tracy Shaw?

No.