I suspect growing veg in much of Scotland is a challenge that needs extra tricks like polytunnels, greenhouses or cloches or else a very restricted range of veggies. I garden in central Belgium and have had to give up growing winter veg such as leeks, garlic, kale and other cabbages because the last 4 winters have seen them frozen to mush. I have therefore rejigged my raised beds to make one large enough to protect with a polytunnel next winter. It'll be a home made affair of posts and pipes and plastic sheeting. If it works I may invest in a porper one.
No demo garden in the UK is going to be able to match the climate, soil and exposure of even half the rest of the country so you have to work on the basis that Monty's garden is probably 3 or 4 weeks behind Cornwall and 3 or 4 weeks ahead of Scotland but also know he can't get things through winter that grow happily on the west of Scotland with the warmth of the Gulf Stream to protect them..
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Surely it has to be accepted, without needing to be repeated every week, that gardening is a very different proposition in a country stretching 700 miles from N to S. After 40 years you must be an expert on gardening in Aberdeenshire. I'd second everything that Wintersong writes.
@ obelixx. I have a half allotment in Edinburgh. You're right, I use lots of fleece and a poly tunnel. I'm lucky to have sheltered sunny site. I tend to start off lots things in modules and grow suitable varieties. Everything is late this year. I expect to get a glut of broad beans and peas, as my second sowings are catching up with my first.
OK, I'm new here and I have obviously repeated other posts. I'll just keep my head down and hope the weather picks up. Thanks for all the feedback - much appreciated.
Alison-don't take it to heart a lot of us are from the now-defunct BBC board and this was a repetitive topic that did get hammered to death and in retrospect I was a bit harsh with the "old chestnut" comment
Do join in on other discussions-most posters on here a really a friendly bunch- please share your experiences of gardening in Scoland with us southern softies
Thank you! I'm very depressed with the awful weather here recently BUT I have got peas, broad beans, potatoes and lettuce coming up. No sign of the carrots or spinach yet, fingers crossed. Leek seedlings are doing nicely, too. Even mowing has been difficult with so much rain. And it's good that grasses are 'in' now because my flower /shrub beds are full of them! (don't mention the weeds!) I'm keen to partipitate on the forum and glean as much knowledge as I can and maybe give some advice. My biggest achievement this year is to overwinter globe artichokes which are already showing three fruits.
So all a bit of a challenge then-mind you down here it isn't much different-things are just not moving-all we need is a bit of prolonged sunshine and we will he happy bunnies again.
Here are a couple of threads-feel free-
Over here is June in you Garden-the title is a giveaway
@ Gaffelbiter you say you have an allotment in Edinburgh? My mum has allotment also in Edinburgh, where abouts in Edin do you plot? maybe you are my mums neighbour! @ Alisonfd,my mum in Edin always reckons they are about 4 weeks behind compared to down south with gardening stuff. Im living and gardening in the outer hebrides and I reckon Im about 2 months behind with flowers and veg. But hey look at the extra light we get at night... Last night I was out in my garden in day light till 11.30pm and then light again at 2am. No torches required here for slug patrol !! Enjoy x
Reckon we're about 6 weeks behind here. If the weather was better we would also have the extra daylight, hopefully that'll happen soon. Used to live in Fife (just north of Edinburgh) and gardened very successfuly. But that was in the 1970s and the only problem was watering. Used to water the garden with waste water from the bath or kitchen sink.
Posts
I suspect growing veg in much of Scotland is a challenge that needs extra tricks like polytunnels, greenhouses or cloches or else a very restricted range of veggies. I garden in central Belgium and have had to give up growing winter veg such as leeks, garlic, kale and other cabbages because the last 4 winters have seen them frozen to mush. I have therefore rejigged my raised beds to make one large enough to protect with a polytunnel next winter. It'll be a home made affair of posts and pipes and plastic sheeting. If it works I may invest in a porper one.
No demo garden in the UK is going to be able to match the climate, soil and exposure of even half the rest of the country so you have to work on the basis that Monty's garden is probably 3 or 4 weeks behind Cornwall and 3 or 4 weeks ahead of Scotland but also know he can't get things through winter that grow happily on the west of Scotland with the warmth of the Gulf Stream to protect them..
Alison,
Surely it has to be accepted, without needing to be repeated every week, that gardening is a very different proposition in a country stretching 700 miles from N to S. After 40 years you must be an expert on gardening in Aberdeenshire. I'd second everything that Wintersong writes.
Joe
@ obelixx. I have a half allotment in Edinburgh. You're right, I use lots of fleece and a poly tunnel. I'm lucky to have sheltered sunny site. I tend to start off lots things in modules and grow suitable varieties. Everything is late this year. I expect to get a glut of broad beans and peas, as my second sowings are catching up with my first.
OK, I'm new here and I have obviously repeated other posts. I'll just keep my head down and hope the weather picks up. Thanks for all the feedback - much appreciated.
Alison-don't take it to heart a lot of us are from the now-defunct BBC board and this was a repetitive topic that did get hammered to death and in retrospect I was a bit harsh with the "old chestnut" comment
Do join in on other discussions-most posters on here a really a friendly bunch- please share your experiences of gardening in Scoland with us southern softies
Thank you! I'm very depressed with the awful weather here recently BUT I have got peas, broad beans, potatoes and lettuce coming up. No sign of the carrots or spinach yet, fingers crossed. Leek seedlings are doing nicely, too. Even mowing has been difficult with so much rain. And it's good that grasses are 'in' now because my flower /shrub beds are full of them! (don't mention the weeds!) I'm keen to partipitate on the forum and glean as much knowledge as I can and maybe give some advice. My biggest achievement this year is to overwinter globe artichokes which are already showing three fruits.
So all a bit of a challenge then-mind you down here it isn't much different-things are just not moving-all we need is a bit of prolonged sunshine and we will he happy bunnies again.
Here are a couple of threads-feel free-
Over here is June in you Garden-the title is a giveaway
http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/the-potting-shed/june-in-your-garden/3638-9.html
and here-where we ramble on about anything from tv,food our adventures anything at all-
-http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/the-potting-shed/fork-handles/3533-62.html
join in
@ Gaffelbiter you say you have an allotment in Edinburgh? My mum has allotment also in Edinburgh, where abouts in Edin do you plot? maybe you are my mums neighbour! @ Alisonfd,my mum in Edin always reckons they are about 4 weeks behind compared to down south with gardening stuff. Im living and gardening in the outer hebrides and I reckon Im about 2 months behind with flowers and veg. But hey look at the extra light we get at night... Last night I was out in my garden in day light till 11.30pm and then light again at 2am. No torches required here for slug patrol !! Enjoy x
Miss B x
Reckon we're about 6 weeks behind here. If the weather was better we would also have the extra daylight, hopefully that'll happen soon. Used to live in Fife (just north of Edinburgh) and gardened very successfuly. But that was in the 1970s and the only problem was watering. Used to water the garden with waste water from the bath or kitchen sink.
Thanks for you links, Sotongeoff, I'll follow them and maybe find some kindred spirits!