After a whole week of pouring rain here in Nottingham (and most of the UK I think) it finally stopped on Sunday so I could finish the work I’d started on the veg patch 7 days ago.
If you’re wondering what I’m rambling on about see the Veg Patch Diaries #1 post.
The poor little plants that were already flagging from being left in trays in the greenhouse too long and frankly neglected by me were by now looking really sorry for themselves. The trays were just a mass of roots and the stems all floppy and pale looking. No wonder they looked so sad they’d run out of space and food.
It felt a bit like an emergency operation, having to quickly finish digging the patch, prepare a fortress of slug barriers and gently placing the various veggie plants in their new home before they die or before it started raining again - whichever happened first. I know, that’s all a bit dramatic isn’t it?
The patch digging and slug defence was relatively easy but the re-planting wasn’t, particularly with the cabbages as they’d grown so much in a confined space their leaves and stalks were intertwined and very difficult to separate without causing any damage. This is my first lesson for next year, either sew the seeds more carefully so they’re spaced apart or re-plant them in the garden much, much earlier.
Nevertheless I was determined to get them in the new patch even if it does kill them, so there they are now in rows - cabbage, spinach, broccoli, leeks and onions - looking a little less sad but not entirely happy, yet.
The indoor greenhouse re-potting was much more successful but tomatoes are easy aren’t they? Then we ran out of large pots for anything else (the peppers and cucumbers) and had to call it a day. At least the greenhouse is clear now to sew some more seed trays, next will be lettuce, asparagus (although it’s probably far too late), courgettes and more radishes. I’ve also planted an avocado stone but I’ve no idea if that has any chance of germinating, I’ll have to wait and see.
May 30th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
My mum and dad are bringing me tomato plants and runner beans tonight which is my first attempt at growing veg in my new garden too. Keep us updated on your progress !
September 19th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Fab Diary, Thanks! Stumbled across it today, perfect timing as i started digging out my lawn today to create a veggie patch - be a little more self sufficient. I started a compost heap earlier in the year, for no real reason other than to reduce waste - i’m not a big eco person i’m just a regular person trying to do my bit on that score. But today I got up out of my chair picked a spot in the garden and started removing grass - like yourself the drizzle came! We have loads of slugs too, nightmare - though the chickens love them! No I don’t live on a farm just a regular residential area lol, ex-battery chickens as pets and their mess is great for the composter
Anyway need to finish digging the lawn tomorrow, I’m not in a rush to get it done as I was planning on it being used for next year. Don’t know what to attempt to grow yet though I do fancy runner beans. How did you find out what to grow when etc? Internet or magazines etc? Looking forward to the next instalment 
September 20th, 2007 at 7:49 am
Hi Carolyn
Thank you for sharing about your new veg patch too. Keep in touch with how things are going.
I would love to get a couple of ex-bat hens but really need to make sure I have somewhere secure for them first as we do get foxes visiting the garden.
With regard to finding out what to grow I just thought about the veggies that I liked. As you’ll see in my later veg patch posts not much planning or research went into my growing (which is something I will change next year). Friends gave me some seeds and I bought a few mixed packs so grew a selection from there.
Will look forward to hear how your veg patch growing goes!