New members first gardening attempt.

[bishop]

well done chopper, the garden and polytunnel look great,

[Bramble_killer]

welcome to the vine chopper!

how amazing to have done all that work! I'm in my third year of growing and we are nowhere that neat or tidy, it's a mess everywhere and whatever we harvest we are grateful for. Trying to get things neat but the FA cup means I'm not going to wickes to buy the timber today!!

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Wow, you don't do things by half, do you? Think you've generated some poly tunnel envy. Someone could live in your poly tunnel Your garden and poly tunnel look amazing, well done.

[Newbie]

Ooh what a fab transformation, i wish i had half the inspiration to achieve what you have in our garden. Thanks for sharing (keep us updated!).

[blue411]

Wow, what a fab size garden. I hope you feel proud of what you have done, as it looks a hard graft. I loved reading your posts, keep on posting them!
Welcome to the vine chopper!!

[Florian]

This looks awesome! If only you were nearer, I'd come and give you hand for sure.

[pjh75]

That is some tunnel. I'd love one like that but don't have anywhere near enough space for one. Well done on what you have achieved so far... I'm sure 2011 will be a productive year for you.

[pauco]

Welcome to the Vine Chopper.

WOW is all i can think to say!! You should be really proud of just what you have achieved! It's just amazing, and that tunnell, and those photos are brill too.
So all the best for the new growing season.

paul.

[Chopper]

Thankyou for the welcome and kind comments. Always good to get opinions when you are not sure about what you are doing.

When I started, I just had a mental image of what I wanted to do and how I wanted the garden to look. Worked out a budget, enlisted the help of the ever so clever Mrs Chopper and got stuck in. Still a long way to go before it is how I want it.

We had some brilliant sunshine today. It was 13c in the tunnel by 11.30am. The area in front of the tunnel was rather a mess after we finished building the tunnel. So I have used the last of the decking boards that I salvaged from the balcony, to build a small nicely shaped deck in front of the end of the tunnel. I only had to buy an extra couple of boards to finish the job. A lick of wood preserver and it looks a lot tidier. This is it before the timber preserver.



There are some concrete posts that are very solid and used to hold a chicken wire fence. It looked awful so I ripped the whole lot out and skipped it, but left the concrete posts in place.

I know a guy that has his own fencing company and he supplied all the timber for the old balcony and the new fence down the other side of the garden. I work on his bike for him and he does me a cracking deal on any materials I need. He delivered some gravel boards which I am using to make shelving between the concrete posts. I have a lot of perennials in pots that are taking up valuable growing space in the tunnel. They are all going on the shelves outside as soon as theweather gets a bit better. They should be able to cope with the spring. I also have lots of bulbs in pots and containers that can also go on the shelves.

So I got the deckling finished, got half of the shelves put up and had a bit of a tidy up today. Then I was given about 20 strawberry plants and potted them on as well.

Few people have commented on the tunnel. I got to tell you that I love it. Even when the weather is bad I can potter around in there and chill out. Anybody wants to get one, drop me a PM and I can give you contact details for the people I bought mine from. Very helpful and reasonable prices, good quality kit.

Chopper.

[salilah]

Chopper - this is fantastic!
From someone who didn't "do" gardening, to where you are now, is outstanding - what a lot of dedication and effort you've put in!
You've got all the basics set, it looks like - so now just working out what you want to sow when, and what you want to plant where - have you started on the first year of a rotation plan yet?

My hints from starting as a newbie (with tomatoes in pots for a couple years) would be:
a) subscribe (or read in library) to either GYO or (dare I say this?) another mag for a year or so - to get a feel for what happens when, and to pick up new ideas. the mags come out a month in advance, so lots of time for reading and thinking
b) buy a couple of really basic veg books that you like (not sure what would be in the library, but if you want recommendations, ask!) - for simple things like effective sowing of parsnips, basics about sideshooting tomatoes, timing for leaves or beet or spinach (and why it bolts when you've just sown it in July!) etc etc
c) keep a detailed record of what you do (as detailed as you can stand) - what you sowed when, when you planted out, what the weather was like, when things came up, what you harvested when - and which veg you thought was nicest... My record is now into its 4th year (just in a notebook) and it is great fun looking back to see waht I was doing this time last few years (though it is a bit dispiriting seeing "plant kale earlier" 4 out of 4 years!!)

Have fun with your polytunnel - are you planning to grow four seasons?

It really is a fantastic bit of work and a lovely looking garden - many congratulations!
Salilah

[Glutton4...]

WOW!!!

I have to say, I started off green with envy at your Polytunnel. Then I remembered that I still have the frame I was given about three years ago, and have never got round to putting up! It isn't quite as big as yours, but you've certainly made me re-think my priorities!!

Well done you, thanks for posting the pictures, and happy growing!

[binley100]

Thankyou for sharing ........you've put in some hard graft and it shows......am now quite envious..

[j r hilton]

You have done a brilliant job and I wish you all the best in growing you flowers and veg.
I wish I had your space but I do very well out of my raised veg beds and 6 x 8 green house and am happy with what I can grow.

[Chopper]

Chopper - this is fantastic!
From someone who didn't "do" gardening, to where you are now, is outstanding - what a lot of dedication and effort you've put in!
You've got all the basics set, it looks like - so now just working out what you want to sow when, and what you want to plant where - have you started on the first year of a rotation plan yet?

Hi salilah

Thankyou for your very kind comments. I have started on a rotation plan, but it is subject to change while I still have time to do so.

My hints from starting as a newbie (with tomatoes in pots for a couple years) would be:
a) subscribe (or read in library) to either GYO or (dare I say this?) another mag for a year or so - to get a feel for what happens when, and to pick up new ideas. the mags come out a month in advance, so lots of time for reading and thinking

I am about to subscribe to GYO as I like the look of the mag and I will also be able to keep track of threads on here that refer to the mag.


b) buy a couple of really basic veg books that you like (not sure what would be in the library, but if you want recommendations, ask!) - for simple things like effective sowing of parsnips, basics about sideshooting tomatoes, timing for leaves or beet or spinach (and why it bolts when you've just sown it in July!) etc etc

I have already invested in some books and had some more from my stepdaughter for christmas. Been watching ebay and Amazon. I have also been given some books by a friend who is a very keen veg grower.


c) keep a detailed record of what you do (as detailed as you can stand) - what you sowed when, when you planted out, what the weather was like, when things came up, what you harvested when - and which veg you thought was nicest... My record is now into its 4th year (just in a notebook) and it is great fun looking back to see waht I was doing this time last few years (though it is a bit dispiriting seeing "plant kale earlier" 4 out of 4 years!!)

Yep, that is already being done. I was given an A4 page a day diary which is ideal for what I am doing. Recording what I do, when and how. Also keeping notes on the weather and temperatures.

Have fun with your polytunnel - are you planning to grow four seasons?

Lets put it this way. I intend to get as much out of the tunnel as I possibly can. I know I am going to make mistakes and miss out on things and I know that not everything will go according to plan. I am concentrating on putting a sowing and planting schedule together at the moment to get things started as early as possible. See how that goes before I think too far ahead. I am keeping an eye on the calendar and what other people are talking about. All being well, I shall be better prepared for the next late summer and autumn.

It really is a fantastic bit of work and a lovely looking garden - many congratulations!
Salilah

Thankyou for taking the time to read my thread and offer advice, much appreciated. Glad to hear that you like what I am doing.

Regards

Chopper

[Chopper]

WOW!!!

I have to say, I started off green with envy at your Polytunnel. Then I remembered that I still have the frame I was given about three years ago, and have never got round to putting up! It isn't quite as big as yours, but you've certainly made me re-think my priorities!!

Well done you, thanks for posting the pictures, and happy growing!

Hi Glutton

Thankyou for your comments. What can I say about the tunnel, except that I love mine and would encourage anybody to get one. I appreciate that not everyone has a large garden, but the tunnels are available in many different sizes. The company I bought mine from also sells all the materials you need to finish yours. Best of luck with getting it built.

If you want contact details for the people I bought mine from, drop me a PM and I will send the details.

Regards

Chopper