Enthusiastic newbie

[Compo72]

Thought I'd pen a few lines about myself

I'm from the north east .
Have experience in farming but not veg and fruit .

We moved here just before christmas last year .

Garden is about 70 ft by 30 ft . Very heavy clay with drainage problems .
To improve things got a land drain in .
I have taken out the gravel around the lawn . Took some of the patio up .
Put in and dug a mixture of long straw / manure / compost / top soil etc .

We inherited 3 large pots of what turned out to be rhubarb and Strawbs , tomatoes .
The Strawbs n Rhubarb considering the state they were in have done very well . Been fed n watered .

Am I correct the tomatoes won't yield . After been out over Winter .

I have put beet root , carrots , rocket recently into some planters
See what I get .

I'm not organic as such , but think to spray everything is a kop out .
You need to understand the soil , how to feed and water etc


It is going to a learning curve.
I apologise for asking the obvious

[Verinda]

Hello, welcome to the forum

[veggiechicken]

Hello Compo and welcome! Don't be afraid to ask - we love questions and, don't let on, but I like funny ones

[Samurailord]

Hi Compo and welcome to the Vine.

Just remember that no question is a stupid question if it is causing you problems - there is lots of experience on here ready to help out

Andy

[Two_Sheds]

We inherited ... tomatoes .
Am I correct the tomatoes won't yield . After been out over Winter

Tomatoes, outside, in the frozen North? Crikey. You may have discovered the UK's first hardy variety (you sure it's a tomato?)

I'm not organic as such , but think to spray everything is a kop out .
You need to understand the soil , how to feed and water etc

It's only recently that it's been necessary to brand natural gardening with a label "organic". Before the (60s?) chemical revolution, it was just called "gardening"

(although crop dusting started in the 20s, and Growmore in the 40s)


Compo, if you're interested in the science of soil and all that, I'd recommend these for starters:

- One Straw
- Sepp Holzer

Both have grown crops, lots of crops, for decades without chemical help

[Indigo23]

Hello, Compo and welcome.

[Tripmeup]

Welcome Compo!

[The Allotment Shed]

Blimey, them Geordie toms must be made of newcy brown if they can overwinter up there?

[PyreneesPlot]

Hello and welcome.

(Could I have some armpits off your tomatoes for growing in the mountains, please?)

[Compo72]

Hehe , I'm certainly not a Geordie , more of a White Rose of Yorkshire .
Originate from the north yorks coast , home of captain James cook . Plus arguably best fish n chips in the country .

Though I find it very amusing when I travel around and see Scampi with my hometown in front of it .
Considering the factory closed years ago .

We moved to our new house just before Christmas . Inside the greenhouse were a few large tubs that the previous owners had left . Likely they were too heavy to move .

Following heavy rain . The garden and concrete area where the greenhouse was sited .
Became a quagmire in the extreme . Y
I spent Xmas morning literally bucketing water out away from the house as the existing soakaway could not cope .

Fast forward to Spring . Drainage improved . Greenhouse gone , replaced by a new improved brick built outhouse . Some or gravelled borders been replaced with soil and flowers .

The tubs were left outside whilst the building was done in late Winter . Or Spring this year !
Case of give it a good dose of muck see what if anything grows .

the tub with the toms in has greened up a little that's all . So likely be replanted with something different next year .
The rhubarb did very well , made a lovely crumble !
We even had a few Strawbs last week . Though I think the birds have had a go . Yesterday i put a net over them .

This year has been very much give it a go with the plants and veg . More trial and and even more error .
Though the neighbours have commented on how good things look flower wise .

We have the space for a small greenhouse , which hopefully will appear for next year .
I intend to get one of them vertical planters as well.


Finally , thanks for people that have commented and advice so far on this thread .
The links about working the soil seem very interesting . Cheers , certainly my cup of tea .