Great to read you are all digging for victory! I'm an old returning forum member in the middle of reclaiming the veg plot as it seems like the most useful thing to do at the moment. Was such lovely weather last week, I really enjoyed the time outside in the garden. I'm glad to see you are all getting inspired.
I did the same Tin pot, I really should know better but I totally over ordered the seed potatoes. Normally I would go round the neighbours and offer them the spares. Don't really feel I can do that at the moment.
There is a cheat way to grow spuds, I noticed you said you have ample manure. One way is to lay the manure in a line, drop the spuds in then cover with a sheet of black plastic. Find someway, bricks or soil to hold down the edges of the plastic. You'll see when the tatties start growing because they will poke at the plastic, make a slit and let them grow out of it. To harvest, just lift the sheet. It can work to save space, it's a good way to make use of an old law etc without the usual huge digging effort normally put in for spuds and is a simple alternative to containers. Though containers work well too.
I have some seedlings! Only the lettuce and radish so far, but a bit of warmth from the sun today and hopefully all the others will be peeping out too.
I am amazed at how fast things have come on. I was two weeks later than usual starting to plant ( as not well at that time) so didn't get going until the first week in March. Then planted cucumbers on the 17th, but this is this morning, a mixture of flowers and veg.
As I have a greenhouse to put them in, I can start early @Songbird-1 😃 Mind you I have never grown this many flowers from seed ( and two pots of seedlings bought from a GC before lockdown Gaziania and Snap dragons) as well as the veg.😁
Hello Diggers I've only just discovered this thread. Great idea Tinpot! For a small town garden I'm cramming in loads more food produce this year too. Having to be inventive with space. Courgettes already in, second lot coming through in seed trays. French beans and mangetout just showing their heads. Spinach to be pricked out today, lettuce just showing. Tomatoes went in 2 days ago. Potatoes chitting currently. Annual flowers seed of sweet peas, stock, cosmos and snap dragon coming through to attract pollinators. Window box of night scented stock sown. Think that's it.... mind you, I didn't go on late night slug patrol last night so it may have all been eaten by the time I have a second coffee and get out there!
I've not even started on veg seeds yet. My tatties are just beginning to chit though!
I live in Essex on London Clay. Reviewing success/failure over the years I came to the conclusion clay soils warm very slowly, so best not to rush in the spring. I now tend to sow at the later end of the advice on the seed packets.
The one year I put in tons of hard work for an early spring, was the worst season I ever had. Failure this year doesn't seem like an option.
Itching to get going with everything though. I need to clear the propagator of flower cuttings I took in the Autumn and early sowings for hanging baskets, so a weekend of potting on and filling containers. Next week I'm hoping to get properly going with the veg.
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I was expecting something like 5-10 seeding potatoes but I’ve received over 30...planting them 30cm apart Id need...a 9m bed😱
I did the same Tin pot, I really should know better but I totally over ordered the seed potatoes. Normally I would go round the neighbours and offer them the spares. Don't really feel I can do that at the moment.
There is a cheat way to grow spuds, I noticed you said you have ample manure. One way is to lay the manure in a line, drop the spuds in then cover with a sheet of black plastic. Find someway, bricks or soil to hold down the edges of the plastic. You'll see when the tatties start growing because they will poke at the plastic, make a slit and let them grow out of it. To harvest, just lift the sheet. It can work to save space, it's a good way to make use of an old law etc without the usual huge digging effort normally put in for spuds and is a simple alternative to containers. Though containers work well too.
(And all my tulips are out)
For a small town garden I'm cramming in loads more food produce this year too. Having to be inventive with space. Courgettes already in, second lot coming through in seed trays. French beans and mangetout just showing their heads. Spinach to be pricked out today, lettuce just showing. Tomatoes went in 2 days ago. Potatoes chitting currently. Annual flowers seed of sweet peas, stock, cosmos and snap dragon coming through to attract pollinators. Window box of night scented stock sown. Think that's it.... mind you, I didn't go on late night slug patrol last night so it may have all been eaten by the time I have a second coffee and get out there!
I live in Essex on London Clay. Reviewing success/failure over the years I came to the conclusion clay soils warm very slowly, so best not to rush in the spring. I now tend to sow at the later end of the advice on the seed packets.
The one year I put in tons of hard work for an early spring, was the worst season I ever had. Failure this year doesn't seem like an option.
Itching to get going with everything though. I need to clear the propagator of flower cuttings I took in the Autumn and early sowings for hanging baskets, so a weekend of potting on and filling containers. Next week I'm hoping to get properly going with the veg.