new member from Cambridge

[dim]

Hi .... I new (sort of as I have been 'lurking' and reading threads/posts on this forum for a long time)

I'm a full time landscaper/gardener, but have little experience with growing veg and I have lots to learn

great site, and I will have many questions, as I have just started growing my own veg/herbs at my own home

[Linnea]

Welcome Dim
Ask away there's lots of helpful folk on here

[PyreneesPlot]

Hello and welcome.

Umm, landscaper? Now I have this corner that needs...

Enjoy the forum

[veggiechicken]

Hello dim and welcome

[Linnea]

Umm, landscaper? Now I have this corner that needs...

what needs doing? are you talking hard landscaping or soft?

[Bren In Pots]

Hello and welcome to the vine Dim

[Feral007]

Ooooh, hard or soft landscaping! Now yer gettin' technical!

Hello, from here too.

[dim]

thanks guys .... I am a soft landscaper, but specialize in planting hardy exotic/tropical style (loads of Trachycarpus palms, musa basjoo, T-rex, ferns etc which seems to be the 'flavour' of the year ... added with some fragrant shrubs/plants in key areas and colour using plants such as heuchera), but I also do cottage style planting....

I also maintain a few pub gardens, and much of my work is mainly gardening maintenance (mowing, strimming, hedge pruning etc and lawn fertilization)

I also practise high brix gardening methods and brew my own actively aerated compost teas and use products such as worm humis (vermicompost), volcanic rock dust, bat guano, fish/algae extract, seaweed extract etc ... I also have 4 compost bins and am patiently waiting for the 1st batch to be ready (it's been a year now since it was full, and it's starting to look good, but still not ready yet)

I have recently moved into a new home, and have started a small veg patch (I have tomatoes, onions, spinach, lettuce, beetroot, chard, basil, parsley, thyme, sweet corn, coriander, and a few more)... all looking good so far but something is eating the beetroot leaves (its not slugs/snails as I use the blue pellets), and the basil looks sad (greek basil looks good though)... one of the chilli plants also looks a bit sad

I have lots to learn, and hope that I can help people with what I have learned so far

[Glutton4...]

Hello, and welcome to the Madhouse. I'm an ex 'scaper, now just a potterer for pennies, as per my signature. Hope you enjoy the 'Vine.

[rustylady]

Hello Dim - welcome to the Vine. Could you add your location to your profile please (nearest town will do), then it will show up on your posts. Helps us understand your weather conditions etc.

[dim]

Hello Dim - welcome to the Vine. Could you add your location to your profile please (nearest town will do), then it will show up on your posts. Helps us understand your weather conditions etc.

thanks ... I have added my location

[Indigo23]

Hello, Dim, from one newbie to another. I'm originally from Cambridge - I wonder if I know any of those pubs that you tend?

[dim]

Hello, Dim, from one newbie to another. I;m originally from Cambridge - I wonder if I know any of those pubs that you tend?

the latest one is the Jolly Brewers in Milton .... it was derelect for a while, and new owners recently bought it ...

I removed all existing plants and planted David Austin Gertrude Jekyll roses (for fragrance), heuchera georgia peach, heucherella solar power, hakanochloa macra aureola grass, dryopteris affinis king ferns and sorted the lawns (scarified, aerated and fertilized .... also (I seeded a new lawn in the back garden where they have now made a childrens play area)

and a few weeks ago, I planted hundreds of pansies .... the garden is not complete, as I would like to add a few more fragrant shrubs/plants such as mock orange etc but it looks good so far

its a good pub with 2 good chefs who prepare restaurant quality meals.

[Indigo23]

Spooky! Milton is the village I grew up in!! I know the Jolly Brewers of old - not since it was reopened though. My Mum worked there for about 18 months in the late 1960's and I even had a cleaning job there after school in the 70's. What a small world. I wonder if we know each other?

[dim]

the jolly brewers has changed a lot in a year .... it was a total refurbishment and the stables at the rear are now rooms (B&B) .... in my opinion, it's the nicest pub in the area and has the best food by far .... it stood empty for a very long time and became run down ... The Wagon and Horses pub is also under new management now

I now live in Great Shelford, but lived for 10 years in Milton