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Grow your own

LisaDWLisaDW Posts: 21
in Plants
Hi all. So after moving into a house with a large garden 5 years ago I have wanted to grow my own. Unfortunately it’s taken 5 years (and a 3 month lockdown) to finally get my garden into a usable state, so this year is the first year I’ve been able to give it a go (mainly bedding plants but some veg too) I’ve made a some mistakes and lost a few but I figure that’s to be expected in my first year. I’m trying to learn from those mistakes so that next year is more successful and have been spending half my life in google looking for tips. Whilst searching I came across a guy who said his Grandad told him to never plant out before the Lilac has flowered and its a rule he’s lived by for over 30 years. I just wondered if anyone else has rules they live by? Be that for growing, hardening off or planting out? 
P.s. This year I’ve just used a cold frame but by next year I will have a greenhouse 
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  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    How many seeds do you need to sow?   "One for the pigeon, one for the crow, one to rot, and one to grow."
  • LisaDWLisaDW Posts: 21
    josusa47 said:
    How many seeds do you need to sow?   "One for the pigeon, one for the crow, one to rot, and one to grow."
    I like that! There was one flower I particularly wanted a lot of but I’ve only ended up with 3. I will remember that in future 😄
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    Sadly the only one that has ever stuck in my head is
    "One year seeding, seven years weeding"
    make what you will of that  :D 
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    I love the old sayings, particularly like getting to the bottom of whether they have merit.

    Planting potatoes on Good Friday is a fun one to research.

    Logically on our clay here in Essex, the soil is warm enough and dry enough to plant potatoes on Good Friday (not that it is the same date each year) and it's not too late in the season to get a great crop.

    Research shows for busy cottages it was the only day between Christmas and Easter they had time to do it.

    Then there are the religious meanings and moon cycles to consider too!

    https://www.dalefootcomposts.co.uk/latest-news/news/2016/3/tradition-says-plant-your-potatoes-on-good-friday.aspx

    Needless to say I was busy this year on Good Friday  :)
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    Ne'er cast a clout 'til May be out

    Is another one. Made total sense this year with late frosts well into May here in Essex this year.
  • mikeymustardmikeymustard Posts: 495
    LisaDW said:
    josusa47 said:
    How many seeds do you need to sow?   "One for the pigeon, one for the crow, one to rot, and one to grow."
    I like that! There was one flower I particularly wanted a lot of but I’ve only ended up with 3. I will remember that in future 😄
    And, of course it works the other way. Which is why our neighbours call my partner "the courgette ninja" because she leaves piles of votive offerings on various doorsteps 🙂
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The 'May is out' refers to the maythorn not the month  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • HelixHelix Posts: 631
    Where we are the local saying is “to beware the ice saints”.  The saints days for the saints de glace used to be (I think they may have been de-sainted as no longer have a day)

    Saint Mamert, 11 May
    Saint Pancras, 12 May
    Saint Servais, 13 May

    And no-one round here plants out before then unless they have a lot of fleece and cloches to hand.
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    edited June 2020
    Fairygirl said:
    The 'May is out' refers to the maythorn not the month  :)
    That's probably true. The original saying referred to clothing, so basically don't go out without a jacket until the Hawthorn flowers. I think over time it has drifted into being more of a gardening saying and more emphasis on not planting out non-hardy plants until June.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It certainly doesn't flower here until very end of May/early June.  :)

    Jackets can be required at any time of year too  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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