Hello

[Sheneval]

We were told by the seller that the soil is shellet...shillet...something like that! There's a slate quarry in the valley over from us, so it's quite slatey, but heavy too!! Has my complete lack of correct terminology showed me up as the total beginner that I am!?!!? Never had a garden before, so totally in at the deep end! Think I will be on here a lot!!

Shillit is very slatey quite rough soil with slate bits in it

I would never have known this but I goggled it

[Bill HH]

Regarding your wet soil, I think everyones soil is soaking at the moment, you would think with all those slate bits it would be well drained. It sounds a wonderful spot with a well etc.

[NewbieLucy]

I'm just the other side of Totnes to you Bill HH.
Forgot to say our plans. This season I think we want 4 veg beds with a mix of a lot of different veg to see how we get on/ what grows well etc. don't want to bite off more than I can chew to start with. Might plant some soft fruit and another apple as well. Want to plant a few hedges and trees for firewood too. We would like to have chickens, ducks and bees in the long term, but that might have to wait until next year! Eeek! So excited just talking about it!!!


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[PyreneesPlot]

Hello and welcome from down here.

Your plot sounds amazing - ponds and streams and stuff. Willow is supposed to be the best thing to grow quickly for fire wood. We looked into growing it here, but have a share of the forest instead.

And where are the photos?

[NewbieLucy]

This is the only photo I have on my phone at the moment. It shows my little boy enjoying the impromptu pond that has resulted from all this rain! In the background you can see the apple trees (in desperate need of pruning!!) and the well is under the concrete block behind my little boys head!! We've got one willow that you can see in this picture. Am I right that we can just cut stems off that and they can be planted?? Off to google now!


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[WendyC]

Willow grows easily from cuttings. You need to cut it and replant it before it starts to sprout so probably no more than 3 to 4 weeks time. Plant it so about a foot is below ground in a hole or slit made with a spade.

[NewbieLucy]

Thanks WendyC, better get a move on then!!


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[Florence Fennel]

Hello Lucy and a very warm welcome to the Vine