Hello

[rambleberry]

Hello all!

I've been a bit of a lurker over the last year, and I've decided to finally take the plunge and join the community properly so I can stop boring my family by going-on about my plants!

I only gained a space of my own in which to grow things last year, sharing a small garden and greenhouse in Herefordshire. I like growing unusual veg, or things that are expensive in the shops, lots of chillies and tomatoes, and I also managed to grow a decent number of aubergines last year which I was quite chuffed about.

I also fought a losing battle with the mice and voles that munched their way though all the peas - plant and seed - no matter what I did, so I'm hoping to do better this year.
I'd love to have some raspberry canes but I simply don't have the room.

Other than the veg, we try and have a 'wildlife-friendly' garden, and usually have several species of birds nesting each year, and occasionally a bumblebee nest. Since our neighbours removed their pond last year, we've been thinking about providing a tiny replacement for the local toads. Needs some more thinking about, though.

So that's a bit about me, my garden and interests. Looking forward to the growing season ahead and chatting with you all!

[burnie]

Welcome to the vine, you'll find plenty of advice on here

[Jimny14]

Hi and welcome. We wanted raspberries (because they're expensive) but have little space also. I put a large fence post I had lying around in to the corner of the veg bed and planted 3 raspberries around it, Glen ample, malling seedling and polka. The idea been that they should spread our season for fruit. I think if I keep them well pruned and tied in they should be OK but if they start taking over the world I may have to dig em out. Only planted this winter so will let you know how they get on.

[Lumpy]

Hello and welcome to the Vine.
Like many others I have a teeny weeny amount of space so my raspberries are all (3 of them) container varities that can be shuffled around the garden as and when.

This is a brilliant site for all growers but you will get some really good ideas about growing more in less space.

[Mr Bones]

Hello and welcome

[Ms-T]

Hi ya and welcome

[nickdub]

Hello all!

I also fought a losing battle with the mice and voles that munched their way though all the peas - plant and seed - no matter what I did, so I'm hoping to do better this year.

One thing I've done with mice problems in the past is to chit the peas first inside in plastic boxes until the roots start to show (this minimizes exposure time). Then I take a lot of prickly hedge prunings like hawthorn and blackthorn and cut it in to 3 or 4" sections - I make a flat bottomed trench a few inches deep then scatter the thorny stuff along it add a little soil, then place the pea-seeds among that lot, before covering with soil.

BTW I live near Ross so depending on where you are its always worth PM'ing me if you need something, as I try to recycle anything I think might come in handy (think scrap-yard combined with nature reserve)

[Chris11]

Welcome rb. Look forward to seeing you become a regular contributor

[rambleberry]

One thing I've done with mice problems in the past is to chit the peas first inside in plastic boxes until the roots start to show (this minimizes exposure time). Then I take a lot of prickly hedge prunings like hawthorn and blackthorn and cut it in to 3 or 4" sections - I make a flat bottomed trench a few inches deep then scatter the thorny stuff along it add a little soil, then place the pea-seeds among that lot, before covering with soil.

BTW I live near Ross so depending on where you are its always worth PM'ing me if you need something, as I try to recycle anything I think might come in handy (think scrap-yard combined with nature reserve)

I think prickly deterrents are what I'm going to try next. The voles were really taking the mickey last year; after one of my re-sowing efforts, they just came along and chomped through the base of my seedlings, then went on their merry way.

Thanks for the offer. I'm in North Herefordshire, but my family are in the Ross direction, so if I'm on the lookout for anything I will give you a shout.

[Small pumpkin]

Welcome to the vine

[Guest]

Hi and welcome to the vine

[Baldy]

welcome along...

[lottie dolly]

welcome to the vine,you will soon want an allotment hehehe

[Bren In Pots]

Hello rambleberry and welcome to the vine

Congrats on getting aubergines to grow all I ever end up with are pretty purple flowers.

[rambleberry]

welcome to the vine,you will soon want an allotment hehehe

Oh, don't, I already do, and I live near an allotment site!!! I just can't justify it yet but I'm sorely tempted when I walk past in mid-summer and see all the plots in the afternoon sun looking beautiful *sob*.