New to Newcastle

[singleseeder]

Blimey, it's different to inside the M25 isn't it?? Still there's no going back now.

I've got a smaller garden than I used to have, might have to wait 18mths or more for a 'lottie', have so much less to spend now and just look at the weather last week

Well, having got that off my chest, 'Hello everyone', who else is in the NE? I am looking forward to learning how it is done up here.

[selfraising]

Hi singleseeder and welcome to the vine!

[SarzWix]

Welcome to the Vine
I think the main thing that's different in gardening Oop North, is to remember to do everything 2 weeks later in the Spring, and 2 weeks earlier in the Autumn
Sure you'll soon feel at home

[Lorraine70]

Welcome Singleseeder! I have been living in Northumberland for the past three years after having lived 14 years in London. I love it here, but the weather can be a little grim. This is the nicest weather we've had in my three years of living here! SarzWix is right about timings when you're growing outside, but I still sow my tomatoes in January and put them inside on a lovely sunny south facing windowsill. They are now in my polytunnel and I have my first trusses! If I can help in any way just drop me a line.

[singleseeder]

Thanks for the welcome. The 'vine' has a really friendly feeling and I'm looking forward to watching what all the northerners are doing.

I am finding it hard waiting for the season to start. I've got the skeleton of a mini greenhouse inside the patio doors with seeds and seedlings but I've no shelter outside yet.

Oh how I envy those with the space for a polytunnel. I am planning a greenhouse but am watching the sun in the garden to see the best place to put it. The back of the house is south facing which gives me shade at the bottom of a 40" (ish) garden. I've even considered a lean-to greenhouse over the kitchen window.

Perhaps I can wait for the allotment and there might be a greenhouse there.

Oh, another thought, do we benefit from a longer day here in the summer and does it compensate at all for the late start?

Well, enough of rambling. Hope to spot more of you in the NE soon.

[Lorraine70]

I've been a member for a few months and love getting involved in conversations! It's also invaluable to have so many people on hand with really good advice.

To answer your question about longer days - yes sirree our summer days are really long which is fantastic. In the height of summer you can still be outside in the garden after eleven and there's still enough light to see by. Definitely compensates for it being pitch black at 3.30 in winter!

Good luck with getting set up in your garden. Hope an allotment comes through soon - what is the waiting list like?

[mendacious dog]

Hi and another welcome to the vine from me too!

I'm also based in the NE, just south of you near Durham. For what its worth I am sure you will really enjoy your new life up here - wonder how long it will be before you have your first real 'northerner/southerner' moment though!

Good luck with the allotment and greenhouse.

Woof

[singleseeder]

I've got an allotment!! Well I will at the end of the year and newbies are only allowed 'half plots' which is fine for me. The plot has a shed, but the greenhouse will be removed; at least it should be easy to replace it though.

I didn't get around to putting a greenhouse in the garden as I really couldn't decide where it should go. Perhaps it will be better at the allotment; I won't be tempted to spend ALL day in it

Oh roll on retirement..... at 85 now did I hear you all cry?

I've only been lurking recently, but will be back to speak to all you luverley people next season for some help I'm sure. I hope all the other NE gardeners didn't do too badly this season. Everything I grew in pots in the garden did OK, but they do run out of ooomph sooner than stuff in the ground don't they?

[Davyburns]

I got a great deal on a new a powder coated aluminium and twin wall polycarbonate 8x6 off the net, pm me if your interested

[Florence Fennel]

Hello and a very warm welcome to the Vine!

[northepaul]

Hi singleseeder and welcome to the vine. I am sure you'll make yourself at home here

[singleseeder]

Davyburns, thanks for the reply and sorry for the delay in answering; my laptop has been to 'computer A&E'. I don't get the keys until the new year, so I will just have to dream for a while.

I will have enough to do at home too. Builders are here for 12 weeks and making a right pig's ear of the back garden. I am sure next Autumn I'll just look back and laugh. Hopefully.