The Shed

 

 

I second this. I found many of the comments on the last page fairly unecessary really..

 

 

 

 

 

well, for God's sake would you all like to b****r off back to the Shred Room, where you can console James' 'bruised' ego in your own space??...

 

I think the person you should run this past is Lee (Man Erg) whose knowledge of planting is pretty extensive...

 

do you have a greenhouse? I think that might be the best way to go for 'earlies' this coming year, although it depends on what you're going to grow.  I'll be planting some more wild flower seeds from mid-late April, down the alleyway, but little more besides, in 2009...

 

No greenhouse at the moment but I'm planning on building a potting shed and putting in a wood burning stove for such chilly winter/spring days. Trouble is trying to decide where to put it. 'ap'n it needs to be south facing to make the most of the sun but apart from that I haven't got very far. I think it needs to be a bit more substantial than a ready made one. There's quite a few on the market but seem to me to be a bit on the flimsy side and not suitable for a stove.

 

I normally plant the usual for our clay soil - peas, french, broad and runner beans, onions and beetroot of course. This year I'll be a bit more adventurous I reckon but trouble is that getting the kids to eat veg is difficult. I did grow some brussel sprouts and broccoli last year but I planted them in a shadow tunnel and with them only getting a couple of hours direct sunlight they bolted and eventually fell over. I'll try them again this year but this time in full sun.

 

My perennials are raspberries and brambles. There's also strawberries as well but if they don't do well again this year they won't be there next year. The last two years have seen a good crop, but very mushy with poor texture and not what you would call a table eatin' strawb. Hopefully the loganberries will do well this year on last year's first growth.

 

If you are planting some wildflowers can I recommend Michaelmas Daisy. It's a late flowering plant and ours this year was covered in bees and other insects including butterflies well into November/December. It grows about 2-3 feet tall with loads of purple and yellow flowers. A must for all gardens I reckon.

 

Thanks Rob... I'll leave the bulk of your comments for them that know more about veg, eg Lee & Jim...although I didn't realise Yorkshire gardens had a 'south-facing' side..

 

the principal reason for my wild flower garden IS actually to attract bees, butterflies and other insects, for which I have recently installed boxes on posts, but it appears to be the lavendar which gets most insect attention... which is nice, because the customers can at least see this... the wildflowers will be in their 2nd year, and as I wish to give them a boost, I will bear your recommendation in mind when I head off to Lyonshall garden centre in a couple of months time...

Syzygy - Nice one.

 

Reet - off to get ready for the program on BBC2 about Victorian farming - might get a few tips (apparently there's a bit about cider making as well?!!.  9.00pm)

 

and if you ever fancy actually seeing both cider & perry being made before purchasing large cases of quaffable gorgeousness, then head down this way, and I'll take you to Dunkerton's...