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[jools]

Hi everyone,

I used to post here a few years ago but then career and some fairly serious health issues intervened. I have continued to garden but would now like to �up my game� a little.

I have a reasonable sized garden in sunny Surrey, but neither the garden nor my greenhouse are large enough for my dreams and ambitions! I would really like a large veg patch, but I have to make do with a small semi shaded area where I have some raised beds. I don�t think it�s sunny enough for most crops, but I would like to make better use of it. I would also like to incorporate more veg/fruit crops in my flower beds.

I am a member of our road�s gardening club ( as one member quipped - our drinking club has a gardening problem). We have a spring sale every year and use everything we make (fairly considerable sums) to improve the common parts of the road and to supply a Christmas tree and Carol service each year. I�m the mad tomato plant lady. I�ve excelled myself this year with providing lots of new varieties. However, it�s all trial and error with me.

I�m also really interested in wildlife and I am trying to improve how I garden with wildlife in mind.

I�m really looking forward to learning from the experts on here.

Jools

[Small pumpkin]

Welcome back to the vine

[nickdub]

Hi and welcome, and a few comments :-

a) a lot of soft fruit will tolerate quite a bit of shade eg gooseberries
b) tidiness in the garden tends to be an enemy of wildlife - messy, scrubby, weedy bits provide homes for beasties (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it)
c) if you find any experts on here let us know, as we've been looking for one for ages.

Happy gardening :-)

[bikermike]

I like the sound of your gardenning club...

[Snoop Puss]

Hello and welcome back. What a fantastic gardening club! Brilliant initiative. And congrats on the toms.

[veggiechicken]

Hi Jools and welcome back.

Can you grow anything in your front garden? There are a lot of neighbourhood groups that grow in their front gardens and share the crops with their neighbours.
Your street group sounds ideal for this!!

[Lumpy]

Too Hoo. Hello and Welcome Back.

[SarrissUK]

Welcome back! I like the idea of a gardening club with street neighbours that drink, and I like the idea of growing and sharing in the front gardens too! This could get messy! LOL

[mothhawk]

Hi Jools. Welcome back!

[Jay-ell]

Welcome back - do any members of the gardening club grow grapes, hops, barley? Or do they just consume them

[jools]

Thank you everyone.

Veggie chicken, actually have a fairly large front garden which we are in the middle of re-doing. It was full of the wild type rhododendrons. When we removed them we realised that the area was completely devoid of wildlife - no worms or anything. Apparently these shrubs are quite poisonous, so i’m Glad they’ve gone. We have borders and lawns now, and i’m Aiming to stick a few vegetables in there (squash and kale) and blueberry bushes and a cherry tree. I’m very interested in combining veg/fruit in flower borders.

Jay-Ella - grapes - yes. But our monthly meeting do involve tasting home made alcoholic concoctions from time to time - all in the name of scientific advancement, you understand ��