2023 - Plans & Hopes

The big recycling bins and 50 L pots (except for the 3 potato ones) will be converted to wicking containers, which proved so successful with the bush tomatoes. The wicking containers require less frequent watering, the compost stays consistently moist and doesn't shrink away from the sides, there is much less water waste through run off and if I put enough organic fertiliser in at the start they shouldn't require any feeding. This means the cucumbers, celery, courgettes and bush winter squash should all do better and require less looking after.

I am going to grow all of the peppers in the ground instead of pots. Making the potting mix and filling the pots is tough work and growing in the ground instead means I can really reduce my use of perlite, bagged compost and chemical fertiliser. Sweet peppers also need a lot of water in pots, much more so than chillies, and I find frequent watering such a chore.

The outdoor plum tomatoes need sturdier supports as when the plants are top heavy with fruit, vertical bamboo canes are no match for 40mph winds.

I want to be better with getting a constant supply of kohlrabi, spring onions and lettuce.

The tree roots of next door's silver birch are invading the greenhouse borders and 3 of the raised beds. In the height of summer the tree sucks all of the water out of the soil. In the raised beds this bakes the soil into a crust so any water runs off down the sides and doesn't penetrate the surface. To rewet the soil I have to break up the tough layer and rub the water in by hand. Dry soil means stressed plants which makes them more vulnerable to pests. I am going to have to dig a trench and put some sort of root barrier down along the wall which the roots are coming under.