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Doing everything at once is a big mistake. Gardens need infrastructure and they need time to evolve into a system that works and is productive. Start by build
by sgt101 2y ago
Doing everything at once is a big mistake.
Gardens need infrastructure and they need time to evolve into a system that works and is productive.
Start by building compost bins. Use your mower (if you have a rotary one that bags) to mince up clippings from woodie plants (not actual bits of wood as that will kill the mower) and obviously to collect grass clippings. Start composting this down. Obtain a bag of good live compost or muck full of worms (you can see them) and use that to dope and infect your heap, loads of worm eggs will be in the muck and as the compost gets going the worm population will get going too.
Start your veg patch small and simple. If you have the space eight 3m * 1.2 m beds will be a big challenge to look after at first, but will provide more opportunities to grow things than you will be able to take advantage of (effectively). Remember, growing veg isn't just about preparing the soil, throwing seed on and waiting.
You will need to fence and net against pests. Pigeons will eat all brassicas in short order. Rabbits will eat most stuff, mice and rats as well. Good plants to get going with in the UK are: courgettes and other squashes (pumpkins need lots of room but can be a fun hobby plant), beans (broad, french and runners), peas, potatoes (blight is... a blight), celeriac and cellery, lettuce, broccoli (Calabrese), kale, beetroot, chard, carrots, corn, cabbage. You must net cabbage, broccoli and kale. You will also need to feed - organic seaweed feeds are good for this. Most importantly remember plants grow because of light and water and constant protection and pest management.
Once you are going and learn about the plants then get a green house and expand. The green house and cold frames are essential to get seedlings going - this is when you can move from paying more to grow than it costs to buy to saving money. You can also grow veg that only thrives under glass in a cooler climate. But, be warned.. commercial farmers are very clever and very efficient. You will always struggle to compete with them on a value basis. But it is very satisfying and the food often tastes better than shop bought.
- nothercastle 2y agoYou will not be price competitive with commercial plain and simple. You need chemicals volume , machinery and free water. Grass clippings are great but you will need to weed like crazy. Homemade compost is really hard
- pavel_lishin 2y agoSeconding this. This is my second year using compost, and this year I tried to only use the composted soil from last year, made from grass clipping and mostly-mulched leaves that over-wintered in the pile. There is crap sprouting up everywhere because my pile did not get hot enough to kill the seeds. Tomato plants are sprouting up in every single place I've put down the compost. Last year, it was pumpkins - I left some compost on a tarp to dry out, and forgot all about it, and when I came back, mystery plants sprouted up - so I replanted them in the front yard, and was rewarded by pumpkin plants that completely took over. And I do mean rewarded - it looked great, passers-by would comment on our pumpkin patch, and we got something like a dozen pumpkins out of the deal for halloween.
- timcobb 2y agoI'm trying this now, seems like it addresses these issues https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA-b1rQ42vU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA-b1rQ42vU
- pavel_lishin 2y agoAh, I saw that! I need to review this video. I'm basically just throwing crap at the wall and seeing what sticks; the money investment is basically zero, aside from occasionally watering the pile. And the time I spend on it is time spent outside, in mostly pleasant weather, working with my hands.
- positr0n 2y ago> Homemade compost is really hard This has not been my experience at all. Yes to get optimal compost at an optimal speed you have to carefully manage the ratios of browns to greens, moisture content, turning it, etc. But if you don't care about speed, you can just throw stuff in a bin (or a pile) and it will eventually compost. I never do anything to mine except turn it as I'm taking the finished compist out once or twice a year and I make great compost. I use the geobin compost bin. $30 and it has lasted my mom for over two decades now. Another trick to increase the volume is to go around and pick up all your neighbor's leaf bags and throw them in your compost bin.