Planting & Digging

Since the last time  I posted I have been very busy in the garden. Not necessarily on the veg plot! but more of that in a later post.


The weather has continued  to be very dry without any significant  rain fall.  In fact I have  already have a lovely garden tan  since mid March. Below are some of the recent developments on the plot  these were taken on Saturday the 7th April  just before the rain on Sunday. About time too!

I  have sourced a regular supply of horse manure  from a contact on free-cycle and that is starting to build up and is not yet ready for incorporating into the plot yet.


I have really enjoyed the last couple of weeks;  clearing, digging through and  removing  debris and stones etc.  Once I get started  and get over the initial reluctance to put the effort in,  I  am  usually out  there until its dark. 


Although progress seems slow at times I know it will be time well spent later on in the year and in years to come. It is hard work digging over with a mattock, folk and  leveling the beds out and my back protests at  times. However, I sleep well!

 Peas, Spinach, Chard  and Broccoli  planted

herb circle constructed not completed and some herbs 

The last bed being dug over and prepared this is  for salad crops and succession planting crops 

Beds for runner beans with manure dug in !

What Next?

I have  actually measured the dimensions as promised in my last post and I will post them up soon. 

Currently planted  in the plot are early and mid season potatoes, onions (Stuttgart), red onions  Variety  unknown yet (from Wilkinson's) shallots loose from Zoars in Neath and two varieties of garlic; Wilkinson's again.  This weekend the chard,  spinach,  broccoli  and the herb circle were planted, along with runner beans and courgettes started off in pots within the house.  I have  received some  seeds from a friend of Lindy`s (thank you Angie) and these will be planted in the plot and if there is no room in containers.

  

In line with  my early attempts at growing I am not spending  too much on seeds and plant as I am growing in an unknown  plot.  I will I am sure, look to spend more as the plot gets up and running  and I have  developed the soil quality.

The real challenge for me now physically is  for me getting the site  laid out correctly to the rear of the shed. This i will  describe in some detail shortly and get some photos up very soon.  

As I have mentioned before I have the whole plot mapped out in my head  and where plants and beds are going to be, however I really need to draft up a plan and  keep a calender on my veg garden adventure.

A Variety of  seed I am  going to grow. Cheap & Cheerful

Wildlife and helpers in the garden

I will just let the photo in this post do the talking. Some of the wildlife and helpers in the garden.

 Old Robins bird nest in bucket

  Gratuitous cleavage shot  

 Clark-ey of works keeping an eye on all developmental within the plot

Tame young hedgehog feeding

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 Toad in compost heap.

 


Connie  getting hands on  loves messing, nosing and ideally viewing things from on high.

Planning

As I mentioned in the previous post  the garden had initially been put on the back burner through the Autumn and Winter. However now that spring is here all my planning in my head is starting to be put into action. I am keen to get the veg garden up and running as soon as possible.

My initial thought  for the whole garden is to divide this long narrowing garden into three areas. With the veg and growing area at the rear of the garden divided by  a decorative leisure garden  and a social garden space nearer the house with  with seating, outdoor oven etc.

Behind the shed there is currently an area of over grown scrub that needs clearing . It consists of over grown privet hedge, bramble  and lots of old scrap iron mongery. This is  where I would eventually like to site a  green house and chicken coup.

We will look to  build a large shed for storage and potential use for art studio plus summer house and a place for me to do man things  in!!  i.e. listen  to footie on the radio and smoke fish that I catch etc

Within the garden we would also like to keep chickens and bee`s. Not in the same coup!..

We will try to be chemical free and organic as possible. So there will be a lot to consider and learn about whilst planning . I am sure we will make more than a few mistakes along the way!

I will  post up (as near to  scale as possible) plans/drawings to illustrate my ideas and to help me keep on track! I will give the exact dimensions in metres of the plot and the areas I want to develop along with a growing list and veg plan too along with plenty of photos  as  we progress, so there will also be plenty of information available  if you  are new to garden and want to share in our experiences. Please feel free to comment or contact me.

The plot roughly orientates on a east west axis and  is slightly slopes towards the house and in a left to right direction across the plot. Check on the location  map to view the shape and layout of garden.
I had better get the measuring tape out and  my drawing books and start getting creative on paper before I progress any further.

In the begining

If you are reading this blog  I would like to personally thank you.


My goal in writing this blog is to reach out to new and experienced  gardeners  to learn  and gain from their experience as well as my own.  It will act as a road map and possible future resource of my experience, not only of  developing my veg garden but of undertaking the redesign of the rest of my garden.


I will try  to up date and provide pictures  regularly and try to write in a honest and hopefully informative and humorous way. Please feel free to leave as much or little feedback as you like. I am happy if any readers have contributions to make to this blog  please just get in touch. The more information, knowledge and experience  that I can help to share about gardening is my main goal and to  prove that veg gardening is something we should all try to attempt at least once in our lives.


By reading this blog, you will understand a little about me and how much I value  the importance of  being in the great outdoors, in my garden and the sense of  calm and feeling of satisfaction that I experience.


I am not fully sure where this blog will lead. I have plenty of ideas but it will depend on how much time that I can dedicate to this site. I will at least once a week post something!! honest!
When  I am not in the garden I am usually undertaking my other  hobbies that include fly fishing, running, surfing  & cycling; as you will gather I like to be out doors.


Myself and Lindy are both looking forward to spending many hours in the garden (and eating our produce) and we would welcome advice, feed back or comments on our journey into vegetable growing and gardening in general.


This is my (our) first proper attempt at developing a  veg patch and we soon  hope to follow it with a fruit patch. I have had  a first smaller attempt at growing veg and  have designed and  created a leisure garden in a previous house, (so too has Lindy) with what many others thought was an excellent attempt , So  I am  not short  of confidence and I know the right end of a spade and fork. I have  plenty of ideas too in regards to gardening, growing veg and fruit is now the next challenge!


Here are some snaps of the garden as it first met us.


This is the garden prior to clearing when we bought the house. Plenty of potential for a veg and leisure garden. The house takes priority in  terms of time and budget. So it wont be until late winter early spring  before I can get into the garden. Plenty of time to plan and dream then!!!

 The end of the garden over grown but will be reclaimed for a chicken coop  and green house

The Apple tree lovely but right in the middle of the plot. A creative design solution required

Shed, bins, conifers. 

 The rest of the Garden & House

 A view of the plot  from the house.