Scoundrel's gardening thread

**scoundrel** · February 10th, 2011, 10:48 AM

Here is the UK, early February is still winter. But winter is not the end of the gardening year; it is when the gardening year begins. After the lousy short days of January, complete with the bitter cold and rain, February is traditionally the driest month and the days get longer, and for the first time you can count on occasional sun. Spring is coming and it's time to get ready.

In my case getting ready means getting my backside away from this computer and going onto my allotment. Until 2 days ago I hadn't been there since October, due to pressing issues which needed my attention elsewhere. I knew this would happen so I did what I would normally never do, and sprayed glyphosate on all the weeds which had already conquered the world there due to my total non-presence all summer long. It's very slow-acting; the last time I saw the plot was about 6 weeks after I sprayed and the weeds were looking disgruntled but very much alive. I came back 2 days ago and found a pale brown biscuit of death.

This is actually a good thing. I now have what I never had all the time I was trying to be organic. It's a clean slate and I have an opportunity to stay on top of the weeds. But first I must dig.

So far, I've made two trips. I find that my cheap fork and spade are too short for sustained spells of digging, and I am far too out of condition. An hour to ninety minutes in one go is all I can do; I have a plot 25m by 5m and I find I can dig only about 10-15 square meters at a time; just rough digging too, no pulling out horse tail weed roots (which abound); no fine work. But if I can get the main area cleared this week, there's time for the dead weeds to rot in, for the last frosts to break up the soil texture, and to have the soil ready for the main planting which starts next month.

Are all you other green fingered VEF members gearing up for the new season yet?

Foxbark · February 10th, 2011, 01:25 PM

Everything I put into the ground tends to die, for some inexplicable reason.

MaxJoker · February 10th, 2011, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxbark

Everything I put into the ground tends to die, for some inexplicable reason.

Ah but did you make the mistake of touching the seedlings without first washing your hands

Me i`m a natural planter in the garden

Oh and when i say garden i mean cemetery and when i say planter

Anyway here`s a nice photo of a vegetable patch.

Or as i like to call it , a group shot showing the future leaders of our country.

**scoundrel** · February 10th, 2011, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSkull

Anyway here`s a nice photo of a vegetable patch.

Or as i like to call it , a group shot showing the future leaders of our country.

Vegetables are our friends.

**billybunter** · February 10th, 2011, 01:55 PM

I don't have a proper garden. But I have my name down on the allotment list. My paternal granda was a keen gardener, taught me a lot and grew some nice veg and fruit. His runner beans were to die for. He was in the Royal Navy and his ship got torpedoed. In those days they sent you to recover by the sea in a "bathchair" Eastbourne England in his case. That's where he met my Granny. But during the day he took up gardening. He died last year. And still loved his wee garden to the end. He made his own beer and wine for years as well. His ale was knock out juice

three pints and you were very merry!

**tony_grego** · February 10th, 2011, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoundrel

...

Are all you other green fingered VEF members gearing up for the new season yet?

Hi.
I am also an amateur to plants, but my case is not exactly like yours.
In my country, the season lasts about 12 months, (really do not know if this is good or bad), therefore, never begins a new season (and never ends) and i don't know if this is good or bad (not for the greens, ... for my body!)

There is always some work to do! ...

Salut !

**billybunter** · February 10th, 2011, 02:18 PM

IMHO gardening should be a class in school. Nature is around us even in cities. Kids today don't know what veg or fruit really is. We need to keep that basic alive.

MaxJoker · February 10th, 2011, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoundrel

Vegetables are our friends.

Is it me or is Elise Harris bloody sexy

Wonder if she`s fond of all types of root vegetables

As i may have a nice firm carrot she might want to have a look at

Alright alright radish , hey it`s been a very harsh winter ok

**billybunter** · February 10th, 2011, 02:24 PM

Radish is hard to get unless you go to a proper greengrocer.

**tony_grego** · February 10th, 2011, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billybunter

IMHO gardening should be a class in school. Nature is around us even in cities. Kids today don't know what veg or fruit really is. We need to keep that basic alive.

I totally agree, man.

I am happy to say here has already begun to work on that topic (of course, not to the extent that it would be necessary), but many schools have workshops on agriculture, planted their own gardens in class, often making trips to agricultural areas (near my village, for example) to see "in situ" what they do in class.

Not too much, but at least it's a good concept for city children

Salut !

February 10th, 2011, 10:48 AM	#1
scoundrel Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: England Posts: 26,237 Thanks: 162,392 Thanked 278,475 Times in 26,182 Posts	Scoundrel's gardening thread Here is the UK, early February is still winter. But winter is not the end of the gardening year; it is when the gardening year begins. After the lousy short days of January, complete with the bitter cold and rain, February is traditionally the driest month and the days get longer, and for the first time you can count on occasional sun. Spring is coming and it's time to get ready. In my case getting ready means getting my backside away from this computer and going onto my allotment. Until 2 days ago I hadn't been there since October, due to pressing issues which needed my attention elsewhere. I knew this would happen so I did what I would normally never do, and sprayed glyphosate on all the weeds which had already conquered the world there due to my total non-presence all summer long. It's very slow-acting; the last time I saw the plot was about 6 weeks after I sprayed and the weeds were looking disgruntled but very much alive. I came back 2 days ago and found a pale brown biscuit of death. This is actually a good thing. I now have what I never had all the time I was trying to be organic. It's a clean slate and I have an opportunity to stay on top of the weeds. But first I must dig. So far, I've made two trips. I find that my cheap fork and spade are too short for sustained spells of digging, and I am far too out of condition. An hour to ninety minutes in one go is all I can do; I have a plot 25m by 5m and I find I can dig only about 10-15 square meters at a time; just rough digging too, no pulling out horse tail weed roots (which abound); no fine work. But if I can get the main area cleared this week, there's time for the dead weeds to rot in, for the last frosts to break up the soil texture, and to have the soil ready for the main planting which starts next month. Are all you other green fingered VEF members gearing up for the new season yet? __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

February 10th, 2011, 01:55 PM	#5
billybunter R.I.P. Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Gone But Not Forgotten Posts: 14,404 Thanks: 51,687 Thanked 252,372 Times in 14,171 Posts	I don't have a proper garden. But I have my name down on the allotment list. My paternal granda was a keen gardener, taught me a lot and grew some nice veg and fruit. His runner beans were to die for. He was in the Royal Navy and his ship got torpedoed. In those days they sent you to recover by the sea in a "bathchair" Eastbourne England in his case. That's where he met my Granny. But during the day he took up gardening. He died last year. And still loved his wee garden to the end. He made his own beer and wine for years as well. His ale was knock out juice three pints and you were very merry! __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

February 10th, 2011, 02:18 PM	#7
billybunter R.I.P. Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Gone But Not Forgotten Posts: 14,404 Thanks: 51,687 Thanked 252,372 Times in 14,171 Posts	IMHO gardening should be a class in school. Nature is around us even in cities. Kids today don't know what veg or fruit really is. We need to keep that basic alive. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

February 10th, 2011, 02:24 PM	#9
billybunter R.I.P. Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Gone But Not Forgotten Posts: 14,404 Thanks: 51,687 Thanked 252,372 Times in 14,171 Posts	Radish is hard to get unless you go to a proper greengrocer. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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February 10th, 2011, 01:25 PM	#2
Foxbark Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 275 Thanks: 372 Thanked 2,021 Times in 259 Posts	Everything I put into the ground tends to die, for some inexplicable reason.