tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709884173397352182014-10-05T07:01:21.970+01:00I see so many good alternative ideas online and want somewhere to save them so thought I may as well share them. Feel free to send any ideas you think should be here.Phillnoreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-70698321929778490032011-04-18T19:22:00.003+01:002011-04-18T19:29:01.964+01:00

Spring is well and truly here. I want to find ways of growing in my own small garden this year. The allotment society didn't like my recycling and I was tired of their complaining so I left. It is surprising how many fruit plants/trees I have managed to mix in with our existing plants, I even found room for the rhubarb!So far I managed to add:-Black currantGooseberryRhubarbRaspberryBlueberryNow

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-23845548728077865602010-11-08T22:10:00.000+00:002010-11-08T22:10:29.491+00:00

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-85056729239689059672010-07-13T19:06:00.000+01:002010-07-13T19:07:40.145+01:00

My no dig potato strategy looks likes it has helped my plants through the long dry spell. We'll soon see if the hay has kept the slugs away.I'll try and post some pictures soon.

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-61390354088719381912010-07-13T18:58:00.003+01:002010-07-13T19:06:30.856+01:00

I have to try this year.As my previous blog shows I had a go last year but forgot it takes two to tango and had no fruit.This year I am going to try two and see if they will produce any fruit. Fresh tomatoes at Christmas??

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-73825274393680336022010-02-06T18:04:00.004+00:002010-02-06T18:27:16.873+00:00

I found this on YouTube after checking quite a few this was the best one I found and shows all the principals you should need for your own system.The picture does not do it justice it is more comprehensive than that!

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-3317540550771804092010-02-06T17:22:00.003+00:002010-02-06T17:29:21.328+00:00

Had no time to post due to a few ill people in the family the last few months of last year. Looking forward to some experimenting and blogging this year!I had a tomato plant in my windowsill this winter as an experiment and although it was a little leggy it had plenty of flowers and grew about two foot high.I didn't expect it to work and with hindsight experimenting with two would have been a

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-78389577998554374662009-09-01T22:44:00.002+01:002009-09-01T22:48:37.039+01:00

Just a quick note about Freecycle. You will probably find a local group on Yahoo as there are 100s of them.People post messages of what they have available or are looking for. It's a great way to find recycleable materials, tools and other freebies and get rid of items to people who can make use of them.It saves the price of a skip. I found all the tools I needed for my new allotment on there for

Phillnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-7311701481724806802009-09-01T21:48:00.002+01:002009-09-01T21:54:56.414+01:00

Ok. I'll admit that I tried urine as a fertiliser and compost accelerator this year and it worked extremely well for both.This is the first time I have managed to get really excellent compost out of my bins and the plants I fertilised "naturally" grew very well.The only failure was as a weedkiller and I wasn't as happy about using copious quantites of stale (over two weeks old is supposed to be

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-36194111385505782422009-09-01T21:30:00.002+01:002009-09-01T21:46:48.677+01:00

I'm going to try a new project if I can find the right bits. It should work in theory but not sure how well.One small greenhouse max 12ft x 8ftBubble wrap the inside for insulation.A contained compost heap at least 1m square ideally insulated or one of those LBCs (Liquid Bulk Container) located as close as practical to the rear of the greenhouse.Copper pipe.Old radiator or coil of copper

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-930466280807768902009-09-01T21:03:00.003+01:002009-09-01T21:13:25.048+01:00

I am going to try Maris Peer potatoes this winter. I think they'll be ready for Christmas/New Year celebrations.They should ideally be grown in a greenhouse, it would be great to have a nice cedar wood greenhouse at the bottom of my garden but unfortunately it looks like being in containers about 12" (30cm new money) square. One plant per pot should give me a decent mid winter crop.Also getting

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-77886549670353249892009-06-06T19:46:00.003+01:002009-06-06T19:52:50.603+01:00

As well as making beer slug traps, cloches and basic plant pots I found this great way to use old plastic milk containers in the garden and greenhouse. You can also make self watering containers.Milk Carton Idea 1Remember not to put a beer slug trap level with the ground to stop useful beetles falling in. Always raise it at least 10mm ( about 1/2 inch) above the top of the soil.

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-13682127016088046302009-05-31T12:09:00.004+01:002009-05-31T12:12:02.855+01:00

Our local Wilkinsons has Veg U Grow easy french bean growing kit with container, support , compost and seeds for £3 (75% off) bargain!I bought one and it looks good and we should be able to reuse most of it next year.

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-52397757186781523442009-05-30T17:39:00.003+01:002009-05-30T17:46:31.662+01:00

I found this free site whilst browsing around for plans to make a wooden compost bin out of some spare wood.There are several different designs:-Wood and Wire Compost Bin Wooden Pallet Compost Bin Concrete Block Compost Bin Wood 3-Bin Compost Unit Wire Mesh Compost Bin Can Composter Barrel Composter

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-87979013305743341732009-05-25T18:13:00.002+01:002009-05-25T18:17:23.897+01:00

I spotted this organic gardening guide online whilst browsing. I have no idea what it is like but it sounds like a good beginners guideOrganic Gardening Guide

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-51749177725889256472009-05-18T18:50:00.007+01:002009-05-20T07:59:57.369+01:00

Why not make your own seed tape and weed barrier at the same time. Seed tape in the shops is always relatively expensive.If you make you make your own using newspaper or ideally the old type continuous computer paper the cover will also help to keep the weeds down.The link will take you to thriftyfun which has loads of money saving and recycling tips. It will take you directly to detailed

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-82542279118381729142009-05-17T12:16:00.004+01:002009-05-22T10:08:49.178+01:00

I made some very effective protective collars for my brassicas last year out of 4 inch (100mm) drain pipe. I cut it into approximately 4 inch long and put copper slug tape around the top. I then planted my brassicas in the ground and put this around. I'll try and upload a picture later.Yhe great thing is I can reuse them this year. I also put copper slug tape around my raised seed bed to reduce

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-48815767430481707852009-05-16T22:30:00.000+01:002009-05-16T22:38:17.020+01:00

Raised borders are a very popular way of growing crops in raised blocks making them easier to manage and are especially good if you have poor soil.I managed to blag some pallet collars off a local company who were closing their warehouse. My only regret is that I didn't treat them before I installed them.If you keep your eyes peeled around a local industrial estate you may spot them outside ready

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-81545443124379031942009-05-16T20:26:00.000+01:002009-05-16T20:31:17.327+01:00

I will always try and use whatever is lying around as opposed to buying anything.Recycling is King! It's good for both your pocket and the environment!This is the best demonstration of how to build a self watering container that I have found so far. It's a little showy but shows the principles very well.These are ideal for keeping your plants watered without the roots being constantly

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70988417339735218.post-63546094582410636952009-05-16T20:05:00.000+01:002009-05-16T20:12:25.082+01:00

Here's a useful homemade self watering system I found on YouTube for the irrigation of your pots.I was looking for a way to self water tomatoes and other thirsty vegetable plants and stumbled across it.Looks simple but effective and I'm going to try it out.YouTube Video

Phillnoreply@blogger.com0