Progress so far for novice

[where2start]

I just wanted to share really

Last weekend hubby built first raised bed and the soil wasn't great but good enough, so i planted a batch of spuds.

Hubby then finished second raised bed last night so at 7 this morning out i went and dug it all over, its good soil in there but i added a big bag of compost to help it along. Dug it again and it was all smooth and lovely. I planted 4 rows of carrots and two of the smaller pickling onions. So that's done for the time being. I put some drawing pins into the wood and tied string over the bed, and put some cut up carrier bags to stop the birdies eating the seeds (one step ahead of the eagerly watching birds sitting on my roof!)

Using the bag that the compost came in, we filled it up with the green turf and some little bits of wood some cardboard and a whole bunch of worms. Watered it and now hoping that it will rot down enough to add back into my soil. So that's exciting.

Last weekend in seed trays i planted some savoy cabbage seeds and some beetroot. Checked on them the other morning and the savoy have started sprouting even after we had snow the other day!!

So hubby is working today, but i have already tasked him to build the 3rd raised bed, only 5 to go after that!

But i have filthy finger nails (and i work in an office) and a lovely big blister on the palm of my hand to show for all my hard work today....but i don't care i am happy

[tootles]

Well done you,
I was about to say that perhaps your timings were a little out of synch - then I noticed where you are! My tiny brain is having trouble marrying the two climates as we are approaching the winter solstice I suppose that you are approaching the summer one?? So you are perhaps where the UK would be in Maytime???
Keep up the good work and enthusiasm!!!

[where2start]

Hi tootles

Yes well technically we are heading for summer but like i say the weather is a bit odd. We had snow the other day! But when i think back to this time last year my house was just a frame and i would wake up every morning look out the window at the snow and the rain and the gail force winds and think it was all a conspiracy!!

I checked the pattern of weather over the last couple of years and it seems that our summer is later starting but obviously later finishing. I think everything is out of whack at the moment. Global warming maybe?

I am just waiting for 2 o'clock to nip down to the GC, we only have one here and it doesn't open for long but i just love it down there. I really really want my hubby to build me a compost heap but at the same time finish the other raised beds. But in reality i have to understand that hes not super man and this evening we will probably sit in and have a nice cold beer seeing as its the weekend. Oh i wonder can i pour beer in my compost bag?!?!

Slightly obsessive behaviour, and very determined might make me a good Gardener or a VERY bad one?! will have to wait and see with that one......we have both decided that we want to give up work, move to a nice sunny place and grow olives and drink wine, that sounds like the life for us

[Alice]

Well done WheretoStart. I think you're right in going for a raised bed system. I use beds too and find them much easier and more manageable than growing in a large plot. Hope you get great crops - I'm sure you will.

[FionaH]

Well done! Sounds like a great start. Slightly obsessive? Dont worry it will get worse

[geoff]

Hope the enthusiasm doesn't wear off!

My Dad was a builder; here's his tip for keeping finger nails clean Pack them with soap by scraping your nails down the soft gooey soap that forms underneath a bar when you leave it by the side of the sink. Afterwards all you have to do is wash it out with a nailbrush

Best Wishes Geoff

[where2start]

Right that's me knocked off for the day. Went to the GC and bought two established pumpkin plants, sorted them out into bigger bags (bags big enough to leave them in) i just planted two garlic bulbs, 12 peas, and 9 onions. Oh and in an empty compost bag i also planted two more spuds

Swept the deck and sorted out the hose which was all twisted, and mighty annoying.

Hubby just got home and was well impressed with my effort.

Just took a shower and scrubbed my nails with a nail brush which hurt so bad!! Now my hands are all rough and not very lady like at all, so will try Geoff's tip tomorrow (thanks). On the plus side holding a nice cold beer should ease the discomfort

Well busy day, but still very happy......

[womble]

Don't think beer would be that good on the compost heap, but the resulting liquid that comes out of your OH certainly would be.

Nice to see your plot coming on.

[where2start]

Morning all. I had a couple of beers last night but didnt really settle down, was reading gardening mags!! And my blister is not better (so it turns out beer is not a miracle cure after all?!)

Woke up this morning at 6:30 ready to go....how sad is that!

Only problem today is the wind, the sun is up but its blowing a bit rough out there. Might have to put some more compost on my seed trays with cabbages in it, there are too many little seeds showing and one is even hugging the side of its cell with no soil at all! The wind has blown the top layer off, i paid good money for that compost, seems a little unfair that the wind has just stolen it!!!

Never mind will give me something to do today, its all about trial and error......

[BrideXIII]

Morning all. I had a couple of beers last night but didnt really settle down, was reading gardening mags!! And my blister is not better (so it turns out beer is not a miracle cure after all?!)

Woke up this morning at 6:30 ready to go....how sad is that!

Only problem today is the wind, the sun is up but its blowing a bit rough out there. Might have to put some more compost on my seed trays with cabbages in it, there are too many little seeds showing and one is even hugging the side of its cell with no soil at all! The wind has blown the top layer off, i paid good money for that compost, seems a little unfair that the wind has just stolen it!!!

Never mind will give me something to do today, its all about trial and error......

well get hubby to build you a little cold frame, then you can put your seed trays in it to keep the wind off

[where2start]

Hi Bridie.

Your right a nice little cold frame would work wonders but the poor old bugger has so much to do! He has a full time job, we have three kids between 10 and 16, hes a part time artist and on top of all that he is my personal landscape Gardner!! To top all this off i am just no good with a hammer and nails and he has to send me away

The problem is the house is new and this is a completely undeveloped site, but its on a 1:3 slope (according to hubby). The foundation hole for the house looked like a swimming pool!

So today was probably the most annoying day ever. The wind was just so bad we had to give in. The old man has a commission to do so he got on with that, i on the other hand paced around thinking "there is so much to do" blah blah blah.

We need to get the raised beds in so i can get the rest of the veg going but at the same time we need a fence putting up as a wind break....then on days like this we can still get on with the garden.

I feel a little sad that not much got done today but i cant argue with the weather can i.

I have just looked out the patio door and its a full moon, would have been just the right time to get some more plant in but hay hooo that's life.

[BrideXIII]

well patience is a virtue they tell me not that i have much

not sure what shops you have there, i picked up some really cheap plastic cold frames from woolies this year £4 each, maybe you have similar shops you can get them from, like your GC? they will need pegging down well in the high winds you have, but, you can get a fair few seed trays in each one.

[where2start]

We have just one garden centre and its just nothing like the UK!! They don't have the range of goods elsewhere in the world and to top it all off due to transportation costs things can cost a bit more than anywhere else.

My old man said today that a sheet of 1 x 2 perspex cost nearly £100 so i think i will have to wait and see whats on the dump!!!

A small cold frame (flat pack) was priced at £58.

I don't think we earn enough to justify that just yet, like i say will wait and see whats lying around and build one from bits and pieces. As long as its stained the same color and all my decking i will be happy!

Life in the Falklands is very expensive.....its called the Falklands factor [sulk]!!

[BrideXIII]

We have just one garden centre and its just nothing like the UK!! They don't have the range of goods elsewhere in the world and to top it all off due to transportation costs things can cost a bit more than anywhere else.

My old man said today that a sheet of 1 x 2 perspex cost nearly £100 so i think i will have to wait and see whats on the dump!!!

A small cold frame (flat pack) was priced at £58.

I don't think we earn enough to justify that just yet, like i say will wait and see whats lying around and build one from bits and pieces. As long as its stained the same color and all my decking i will be happy!

Life in the Falklands is very expensive.....its called the Falklands factor [sulk]!!

ouch!! do you know anyone that may be visiting that could bring something out?

[where2start]

Its a bit harsh isn't it!

We can shop overseas and get it sent over but with xmas coming and all i don't mind waiting.

Hubby found some bits of good wood this morning to get the fence sorted, and hes very good and finding goodies lying around.

At the moment i have pumpkin, beetroot and runner beans starting in my kitchen window (they are doing well). In the porch are the rest of my seed potatoes and on my first step deck are more beetroot, cabbage and [der] carrot seeds in trays! As long as i can move them around into the shelter its OK as the sun is bright but a typical FI summer includes gusty winds.

I was just going to ask one question (for the day) should i water my pots every day twice a day? The wind has completely dried out the soil twice today (i think we had 35 mile per hour winds today) so i gave them a good soaking. They have been in a week and i don't see any little shots yet, i just hope i haven't upset them. I sooooo want to "check" them....but i wont!