The "Grow Your Own" Thread

[lemonjelly]

Don't suppose anyone can recommend where to buy a greenhouse?

Polycarbonate rather than glass

Just down to Googling if not. Sure it'll be OK either way

I've a Palram greenhouse. It was a gift though, so I didn't buy it.
It's pretty good, relatively sturdy.
Needs a thorough clean every year. Pain in the arse to secure down, so I have big pots surrounding it, especially for windy periods.

I bought a palram shed last year, my experience of that is/was less positive tbh.

Good luck,, and keep us informed! I really want to start sowing seeds this weekend. caulis and sprouts went in 2 weeks ago, and seems to be sprouting!

 

[b3h]

Where do you live?

Brierley Hill

 

[b3h]

I've a Palram greenhouse. It was a gift though, so I didn't buy it.
It's pretty good, relatively sturdy.
Needs a thorough clean every year. Pain in the arse to secure down, so I have big pots surrounding it, especially for windy periods.

I bought a palram shed last year, my experience of that is/was less positive tbh.

Good luck,, and keep us informed! I really want to start sowing seeds this weekend. caulis and sprouts went in 2 weeks ago, and seems to be sprouting!

Thanks, will take a look tonight. Want to get it ordered soon.

Got a 12 by 12 foot concrete area which was here when we moved in. Finally removed walls and other stuff (was a big dog kennel area). Annoyingly it's possibly the worst place in the garden for getting sun , but feel like having it anywhere else would be daft seeing as we have a perfect base already. I think it should be OK, still gets decent sun as summer comes in.

 

[lemonjelly]

Doesn't need full sun all day tbh & in peak summer some things can overheat if the sun is relentless.
If you can secure it to the base, do so. You'll feel so much better in high winds.

 

[Loki]

I've a Palram greenhouse. It was a gift though, so I didn't buy it.
It's pretty good, relatively sturdy.
Needs a thorough clean every year. Pain in the arse to secure down, so I have big pots surrounding it, especially for windy periods.

I bought a palram shed last year, my experience of that is/was less positive tbh.

Good luck,, and keep us informed! I really want to start sowing seeds this weekend. caulis and sprouts went in 2 weeks ago, and seems to be sprouting!

Toms, chillies, kale, lettuce all through. Spring onions and beetroot proving stubborn, always do for some reason. Thinking about investing in a small greenhouse. I`ve got one of those cheapo polythene ones at the moment that has seen it`s last winter, got more tape on it now than plastic. Will have to be strategically placed though due to constant incoming footballs from next door`s nippers.

 

[Mel Evo]

My mate absolutely loves his greenhouse. It’s mainly used for just sitting in, having a beer.

 

[lemonjelly]

Aside from general tidying at random times, 1st march is/was the official 1st day of spring, and the weather was pleasant, so I managed to get into the garden. It was a nice distraction, as I had a few things on my mind over that weekend.

I managed to sow the first seeds of the year in the first weekend of march – cauliflowers and sprouts. I actually have last years sprouts still in the ground! I think I have been planting these too late in spring, so trying to be a bit earlier to see if this works better.

Looking around the garden I can see daffs sprouting, but none in flower yet. Amazingly I located a crocus in flower. We’ve been here 10 years, and this is the first time we have seen it, so odd. Spotted buds on the wisteria. Hoping this starts coming into it’s own this year, as it should really be established now. Also spotted the first signs of growth of the fritillaries. The Pieris Japonica (fire tree) has it’s first blossoms. The camelia and rhododendron are full of flower buds.

I really want to start splitting the pots of European lilies, peruvian lilies, and daisy plants, but don’t want to do that too early.

I have lots of seeds I want to start sowing!

First daff flowered 5/3/25. Camelia flowers started opening a few days later, and the carnation has a lot of flower buds on it.

The warm spell at the start of march might lull people into a false sense of security, but a cold snap is also forecast. I got the Asian lilies out of the greenhouse during this spell, as several pots had signs of growth sprouting in the pots, as well as weeds, so some weeding of these pots got done.

I bought a couple of coldframes/mini greenhouses from aldi. Very easy to build, so great for starting off planting things. Of course, the risk is I will have more space for seed trays, and inevitably when I start potting on, there will be insufficient room (as always!)

Third weekend in march I properly got started. Sowed peppers, tomatoes, basil, spring onion, lettuce, cucumber, cosmos, lavender, and morning glory. Still have loads of other things to sow.
I got a series of pots out of the greenhouse, and weeded them. It seems the first balloon plants are sprouting.
Noticed a calla lily inside the house has it’s first signs of growth, but the ones in the greenhouse do not (yet).
Spotted the fritillaries have sprouted and have flowers. The camelia is absolutely covered in buds, and a nice spring day will see an explosion of colour.
I really enjoyed the moments sowing seeds, I got very into listening to the birds singing whilst out there. It was really tranquil.

One of the evenings in the week the weather remained pleasant, so I was able to also sow lavatera, cornflowers (unusual white ones), echinacea, poppies, and some marigolds. Am looking forwards to the clocks changing, as the light in the evenings will allow more time for sowing and garden pottering. Another evening I managed to sow some dianthus, peony flowers, and some unusual/tall marigold seeds that I collected from a plant I grew last year.

The final weekend of march was lovely, so I was able to do some additional sowing (marigolds and the tall ones, rudbeckia, and more cosmos – whilst noticing that the first lot of this that I sowed has already sprouted!) I also moved the Asian lilies in their pots out – they’re kicking in now (the cat annoyingly sleeps on top of plant pots that are trying to sprout!) I also split one of the peruvian lilies we have that was filling a large pot. The camelia is in bloom now and the flowers are amazing – really pleased to see it, as we bought it years ago, and we put it in the wrong place, and in the wring soil for 2 years and it nearly died.

Start of April sowed more lettuce and spring onion so we have varieties being ready constantly. Split a couple of the daisy plants we bought a couple of years ago. Hope the nice weather continues, as stuff is sprouting.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Not sure if it’s the exceptional spring or the returns on a bit of learning but having some results in the garden I’m pretty chuffed about.

Firstly, my baby, the bamboo - planted to screen an overlooking window and whilst previous years growth had been ‘ok’, was still way off the height needed (which was probably a bit over-ambitious in the first place tbf). Fed last autumn as recommended and was nervous about what felt like going back to square one and removing most of the tall leafy growth which would allow light to get through for this years new spring shoots. The lovely weather must’ve made all the difference but wow, some of the new growth is 3 metres tall already. Once that has reached this years growth height the leaves will bush out and that will hopefully be bingo!

Had one or two minor losses but most things are really thriving and as obvious as it seems, the big takeaway is knowing when (and how) to prune, and likewise feed. There’s an acer that looked a bit sorry for itself now looking absolutely lovely, an Akebia Quinta (Chocolate vine) that was bought as a punt on the market for a tenner, climbing a trellis like it’s on steroids, two large rhododendrons looking very healthy and bursting into flower, and the roses doing the same.

Have a Virgina creeper that was doing nothing as it was blocked out from the sun hidden away, that really started to get on the move last year after some attention. It’s going like a train again now and will soon cover a pergola as intended. Was hoping to use it to screen a neighbouring fence also but not being every green that wouldn’t really make a lot of sense. Looking at the Akebia going crazy am tempted to try that given it’s a ‘semi-evergreen’ (whatever that means), and then possibly go up and over instead of the VC. I suppose at that stage you’re getting into the territory of long term garden planning and really having a vision.

For now will keep with more of the same and building confidence, and have to say am really enjoying this. A quick pic of one thing I’m really chuffed about though - had a nightmare with the foxes pulling out the new rose bushes so had to really work them hard with feed and pruning, but applied that learning to the other old ones too. In a corner is a tall rose bush/climber/tree (?) that was very woody and only ever gave a handful of small weak flowers, to the point I was thinking it was shot and pulling it out. After some serious pruning and feed, training and coaxing the new shoots across on wire supports, all amplified by the fantastic weather and we’re coming on leaps and bounds.

Will never be a natural but it’s coming!

 

[sycophantia]

Not sure if it’s the exceptional spring or the returns on a bit of learning but having some results in the garden I’m pretty chuffed about.

Firstly, my baby, the bamboo - planted to screen an overlooking window and whilst previous years growth had been ‘ok’, was still way off the height needed (which was probably a bit over-ambitious in the first place tbf). Fed last autumn as recommended and was nervous about what felt like going back to square one and removing most of the tall leafy growth which would allow light to get through for this years new spring shoots. The lovely weather must’ve made all the difference but wow, some of the new growth is 3 metres tall already. Once that has reached this years growth height the leaves will bush out and that will hopefully be bingo!

Had one or two minor losses but most things are really thriving and as obvious as it seems, the big takeaway is knowing when (and how) to prune, and likewise feed. There’s an acer that looked a bit sorry for itself now looking absolutely lovely, an Akebia Quinta (Chocolate vine) that was bought as a punt on the market for a tenner, climbing a trellis like it’s on steroids, two large rhododendrons looking very healthy and bursting into flower, and the roses doing the same.

Have a Virgina creeper that was doing nothing as it was blocked out from the sun hidden away, that really started to get on the move last year after some attention. It’s going like a train again now and will soon cover a pergola as intended. Was hoping to use it to screen a neighbouring fence also but not being every green that wouldn’t really make a lot of sense. Looking at the Akebia going crazy am tempted to try that given it’s a ‘semi-evergreen’ (whatever that means), and then possibly go up and over instead of the VC. I suppose at that stage you’re getting into the territory of long term garden planning and really having a vision.

For now will keep with more of the same and building confidence, and have to say am really enjoying this. A quick pic of one thing I’m really chuffed about though - had a nightmare with the foxes pulling out the new rose bushes so had to really work them hard with feed and pruning, but applied that learning to the other old ones too. In a corner is a tall rose bush/climber/tree (?) that was very woody and only ever gave a handful of small weak flowers, to the point I was thinking it was shot and pulling it out. After some serious pruning and feed, training and coaxing the new shoots across on wire supports, all amplified by the fantastic weather and we’re coming on leaps and bounds.

Will never be a natural but it’s coming!

View attachment 13699

You must have a garden the size of West Park, gunna need to get Capability Brown in soon.

 

[EpsomWolf]

You must have a garden the size of West Park, gunna need to get Capability Brown in soon.

I do feel fortunate, the legacy of an older house and mature garden - and previous owners willing to put some time and effort in.

A lot of the oldies around and those working who don’t want to give up weekends gardening get people in but I’m probably a bit tight for that. It was a bit daunting at first but it’s gone from the cusp of running away from me to becoming perfectly manageable and a thing of real pleasure. Couldn’t be done without the time, but it’s one of those few things in life where you actually get back what you put in, and then some.

 

[lemonjelly]

From mid April - The cherry blossom is in full bloom, and looks wonderful. Our cherry blossom seems to flower a little later than a few others round here.
I can see new growth in the white lilies pots. Uncertain yet as to whether this is new leaves, or flowers popping through. I need to repot these in autumn.
The perennial sweet peas planted a couple of years ago are sprouting. Also noticed 2 hybrid clematis have leaves, so hoping for flowers soon. There’s an older clematis at the bottom of the garden that we pruned very thoroughly last year, but it’ll be fine. Happily, we’d taken cuttings from this to cover a fence, and those cuttings are all developing leaves, so we hope this is the year they kick on.
The first bluebells are now popping through. We bought some bluebell bulbs when we moved in 10 years ago, and they always seem to come later than so many others.
I realised the snowdrops didn’t seem to have sprouted/grown this year. Hope they’re ok/just had a year off, or even that I just missed them.

Easter was late this year. It allowed a little time for garden pottering about, although to an extent I have been neglecting doing garden stuff owing to trying to crack on with some decorating inside the house that started in February and is never ending! However over easter I did pot on the sunflowers which have sprouted (am sure last year all these got slugged! I also potted on the morning glory plants that have sprouted. I sowed yet more marigold and cosmos seeds.
I sowed some lupins, and also something called Spanish omelette.
The original tomato seeds I sowed have not done anything. It’s been 6 weeks now I think, and we had some warm weather in that period. Dunno if a bad batch of seeds, or impatience, but I have sown another lot. I think similar happened last year, as I didn’t have an amazing crop or set of tomato plants last year – indeed a friend gave me 6-7 plants.

Last weekend in April saw warmer weather appearing. I sowed some more lettuce, and more spring onions. (thinking about the above re tomatoes, I am also now thinking my lettuce seed germination has been rubbish the past year too – time to get some new/different seeds!)
I’ve sown a few wildflowers to attract bees. Alongside this, I sowed some nigella flowers.
I bought some new strawberry plants for the planter at the weekend. The old ones weren’t doing well. Changed all the compost in that in the hope of deliciousness!
The first dahlias are sprouting – started getting some of their pots out into the sunshine!

The May bank holiday weekend resulting in repairing one of 2 damaged fences, alongside sowing more marigolds. The first lilies are flowering. The daffs are gone, but the clematis is in flower, including a few cuttings we took last year. We also bought a different hybrid clematis that looks like it is settling in. That one has lovely huge blue flowers, so we really hope it takes.

Annoyingly, it looks like my tomato seeds are bunk. 2 lots of sowings with nowt to show for it.

Mid may saw me potting on the cauliflowers and sprouts that have come through. Have about 6 of each (from about 30 seeds sown for each). I also potted on the cucumbers as the seedlings were under attack from the evil slug empire.

I also seem to have one packet of useless lettuce seeds, as again nothing is germinating. So I am resowing those trays with the good seeds.

My mom has given me a few tomato plants, and a friend at work has also offered a few spares as both of them need space, so at least I will have some tomato plants!

The various spring onions I have sown are doing well – the sun and heat is working well for them. Harvested some that I sowed last year and left in the greenhouse over winter. Been weeding out the rest of them.

The Calla lilies that I split last year have all sprouted. I’ve got all the pots outside now. Most of the dahlias have sprouted. There’s always one or 2 that wait til mid or late may. The balloon plants are kicking in well.

It’s been exceptionally dry in the start to the year. On the day I type this they’re forecasting scattered thunderstorms and I hope we catch a few to soak the ground and pots, and fill my water butts. It’ll also give the clematis and wisteria a decent drink too.

Mid May I potted on the few lupins that have sprouted. The tomatoes my mom shared with me are getting bigger, so potted them on into individual pots. I started potting on the sunflowers too (I like sunflowers as they’re great for bees and birds. Last year the wet April meant all the sunflowers got slugged. So I went overboard this year, and the dry weather has protected them, meaning I have an excess. Nice!)
The Asian lilies are about to flower, and the white lilies are all flowering. The wisteria has flowerbuds appearing, which is nice (it needs tying on the pergola).
This excessive dry weather means I am having to water a lot. The ponds are getting low.

 

[sycophantia]

I've been musing about our lawn (just mowed it)
We've been here for 40 years and during that time it's had a hard life. Doubling up as Wembley, Lords and Wimbledon when our kids were young, always had dogs up till recently and me being a lazy bastard means it's been a bit of a battle. Currently it's looking a bit second hand due to the dry spell but the worst thing is what I thought were dandelions and I could shift with regular moving, turn out to be 'Cats Ears'. Never had them before, not sure why we've got so many. I'm going to attack them when we come back from a week away.
It's got me thinking about long term.
Do I just do what I've always done and fettle it a bit at a time? Do I just dig the lot up and re lay a new lawn? Or do I go mad and get rid of it altogether and try summat completely different?

 

[EpsomWolf]

Be interested in hearing comments about the lawn as mine has a lot of room for improvement too. Reading online it does appear lawn care is a bit of an art and it’s maybe asking me a bit much expecting it to look good unless there’s a bit of time (and money) put into it. I know these lawncare companies are very popular but there’s a sizeable monthly fee and I’d rather learn and do it myself if possible.

I put some weedkiller on last year which worked well, then got a bit carried away and applied some other stuff which seemed to leave the lawn looking a bit scorched. I pretty much mowed the lawn right through the winter which was probably a very bad idea and this year it just looks a bit weak and patchy. There are a few weeds here and there, but it’s more the general health of the lawn itself that is the concern, if that makes sense. Am thinking of putting some basic weed and feed type stuff on (eg Miracle Gro Complete 4 in 1 Lawn Treatment) but suspect it might need a good bit more thought and work than that. Was quite nice when we moved in and going backwards now, so I must be missing something.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Scarify and aerate baby!

 

[lemonjelly]

Personally can't see any point in spending hours to get an immaculate lawn. Lawns are to be used. As per @MARKakaJIM scarifying twice a year, aerate, then mow regularly, but not too often as this manages most weeds.

When I was a kid, a bloke in our street was fecking about with his lawn daily. Never understood to what end.

 

[sycophantia]

I don't want it immaculate, just ok, atm it's just the wrong side of that.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Personally can't see any point in spending hours to get an immaculate lawn. Lawns are to be used. As per @MARKakaJIM scarifying twice a year, aerate, then mow regularly, but not too often as this manages most weeds.

When I was a kid, a bloke in our street was fecking about with his lawn daily. Never understood to what end.

I put a bit of effort into mine when I first moved in - property had been vacant a year or so and nature had done it's thing so a lot of weeds and the whole thing was generally pretty uneven. Few treatments of weedkiller sorted the worst of it, scarifying helps and whenever I ended up with spare soil from planting things I'd mix it through with sharp sand to use as top dressing to level out the dips. Biggest issue I had was moss though - clayey soil that doesn't drain well - could be fine all summer then a few weeks of damp weather and the stuff was everywhere. Next time I think I'll pretty much do away with a lawn don't think they contribute a great deal in terms of habitat or anything either if you're looking to bring nature into your garden.

 

[sycophantia]

Personally can't see any point in spending hours to get an immaculate lawn. Lawns are to be used. As per @MARKakaJIM scarifying twice a year, aerate, then mow regularly, but not too often as this manages most weeds.

When I was a kid, a bloke in our street was fecking about with his lawn daily. Never understood to what end.

Once I've got rid of the Cats ears, I'll have a go at scarifying etc.

 

[Mel Evo]

That 4 in 1 stuff has been pretty good for mine. Low effort and a visible improvement. Just keep mowing it is pretty good advice I reckon though.

 

[b3h]

I've been musing about our lawn (just mowed it)
We've been here for 40 years and during that time it's had a hard life. Doubling up as Wembley, Lords and Wimbledon when our kids were young, always had dogs up till recently and me being a lazy bastard means it's been a bit of a battle. Currently it's looking a bit second hand due to the dry spell but the worst thing is what I thought were dandelions and I could shift with regular moving, turn out to be 'Cats Ears'. Never had them before, not sure why we've got so many. I'm going to attack them when we come back from a week away.
It's got me thinking about long term.
Do I just do what I've always done and fettle it a bit at a time? Do I just dig the lot up and re lay a new lawn? Or do I go mad and get rid of it altogether and try summat completely different?

Mow it every weekend like me, they barely have chance to come up