https://gardenandgossip.org/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:07:42 +0000 MyBB https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2469 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:33:31 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2469

I don't know about you, obviously, but I have never followed any of the soil rotation plans  - where a specific group of veg move to another area each year - the theory being that each veg benefits from whatever was grown there in the previous year. Don't expect me to explain it  as its beyond me!
I've realised that I always grow beans in the same place - always grow peas in their own place, every year - because that's where the supports are.
Perennial vegetables - leeks, kale etc stay put and seem to thrive. ...............
.........So, why, are we advised to grow annual leeks and brassicas in a different place every year?

You can probably see where I'm going with this........to create permanent "beds" for each veg that I grow. It would have the added benefit that self seeders would be in the right place to grow, year on year.]]>

I don't know about you, obviously, but I have never followed any of the soil rotation plans  - where a specific group of veg move to another area each year - the theory being that each veg benefits from whatever was grown there in the previous year. Don't expect me to explain it  as its beyond me!
I've realised that I always grow beans in the same place - always grow peas in their own place, every year - because that's where the supports are.
Perennial vegetables - leeks, kale etc stay put and seem to thrive. ...............
.........So, why, are we advised to grow annual leeks and brassicas in a different place every year?

You can probably see where I'm going with this........to create permanent "beds" for each veg that I grow. It would have the added benefit that self seeders would be in the right place to grow, year on year.]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2467 Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:07:25 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2467 Let's start with essentials - the veg that you always grow and couldn't do without. For example - tomatoes - but which one?

Let's start with 10 (or less) essential veg, then we'll narrow it down to naming the variety. 
 My essential veg are :-
Tomatoes
Courgettes
Lettuce
Mangetout
Beans
Cucumber
Rocket
Kale]]> Let's start with essentials - the veg that you always grow and couldn't do without. For example - tomatoes - but which one?

Let's start with 10 (or less) essential veg, then we'll narrow it down to naming the variety. 
 My essential veg are :-
Tomatoes
Courgettes
Lettuce
Mangetout
Beans
Cucumber
Rocket
Kale]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2454 Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:14:40 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2454
The aim is to SPY and identify each of the following:-
A Bird
A Butterfly or Moth (incuding caterpillar, chrysalis and imago)
A Bee or Wasp
A Mollusc
An insect or spider
Another living creature (you can only use a "named human" or a "pet" once )

Every day must be different - for example, once you're seen a Robin, you can't SPY him again.]]>
The aim is to SPY and identify each of the following:-
A Bird
A Butterfly or Moth (incuding caterpillar, chrysalis and imago)
A Bee or Wasp
A Mollusc
An insect or spider
Another living creature (you can only use a "named human" or a "pet" once )

Every day must be different - for example, once you're seen a Robin, you can't SPY him again.]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2427 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:14:04 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2427
You can look up your Birth Animal here 
https://proxy-www.chinahighlights.com/tr...w-year.htm

I'm a Dog Find Your Zodiac Sign
You are a:Dog

• Personality: lovely, honest, prudent
  

• 
  Lucky colors: red, green, and purple
  
  
• Lucky flowers: rose, cymbidium orchids
  

• Lucky numbers: 3, 4, 9
  

]]>
You can look up your Birth Animal here 
https://proxy-www.chinahighlights.com/tr...w-year.htm

I'm a Dog Find Your Zodiac Sign
You are a:Dog

• Personality: lovely, honest, prudent
  

• 
  Lucky colors: red, green, and purple
  
  
• Lucky flowers: rose, cymbidium orchids
  

• Lucky numbers: 3, 4, 9
  

]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2416 Tue, 13 Jan 2026 22:03:40 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2416

Imagine that all of G&G are coming to visit you and will be expecting something to eat. Can you suggest a menu, or even one item, that all of us would eat?]]>

Imagine that all of G&G are coming to visit you and will be expecting something to eat. Can you suggest a menu, or even one item, that all of us would eat?]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2417 Tue, 13 Jan 2026 18:28:39 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2417 https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2415 Tue, 13 Jan 2026 11:09:26 +0000 Vinny]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2415  Once through the initial training I will be allowed to utilise the facility once a week at a very cheap rate!  Surprisingly, none of the 15 arrows I shot strayed from the target and I even had one in the bullseye! We were trying different distances to target and it seemed to me that the further away they were the more accurate I was (Or it may have been me getting used to the Olympic recurve bow.?)

Next week we will be shooting with sighrs, which in the back of my mind, I feel is cheating? but going forward I would have a choice of type of bow and what additions I would add to it!

I was a bit worrried because I wear glasses, but it didn't seem to interfere with accuracy and I was very pleased with the result!]]>  Once through the initial training I will be allowed to utilise the facility once a week at a very cheap rate!  Surprisingly, none of the 15 arrows I shot strayed from the target and I even had one in the bullseye! We were trying different distances to target and it seemed to me that the further away they were the more accurate I was (Or it may have been me getting used to the Olympic recurve bow.?)

Next week we will be shooting with sighrs, which in the back of my mind, I feel is cheating? but going forward I would have a choice of type of bow and what additions I would add to it!

I was a bit worrried because I wear glasses, but it didn't seem to interfere with accuracy and I was very pleased with the result!]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2411 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 17:56:13 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2411

I needed to keep a Garden balance Sheet (showing what I've spent and what I've harvested); and to keep tabs on my £1 a day spend on food.  It would also be good to record any clutter that I give away or items I'm given. 

Result - I have a new, cunning Plan (I can hear you lot sniggering now. Stop it at the back).

I have found a shiny new Notebook to start me off. 
Everything I possess, money, food, seeds etc is the status quo - or Ground zero - or whatever you like to call it.

In the Notebook I will record the changes in the status guo (the Ins and Outs) that take place every day. Ins on the Right and Outs on the Left.
For example, any food I harvest, anything I'm given for FREE is an IN. 

On the OUT side is anything that leaves the house or my moneybox! 
The cost of any food (or seeds) that I buy is an OUT. 

However, any seeds that I sow from my seed stash or food that I eat from the store cupboard has NO value, it has been written off. When the seeds are sown they will be recorded as an OUT. When they grow and are harvested, they become an IN at shop value. Unless I can save seeds from them, they will need to be replaced and the cost will be an OUT.

Any clutter that I give away is an OUT with no value. 

I'm sure this is as clear as the bottom of the pond.]]>

I needed to keep a Garden balance Sheet (showing what I've spent and what I've harvested); and to keep tabs on my £1 a day spend on food.  It would also be good to record any clutter that I give away or items I'm given. 

Result - I have a new, cunning Plan (I can hear you lot sniggering now. Stop it at the back).

I have found a shiny new Notebook to start me off. 
Everything I possess, money, food, seeds etc is the status quo - or Ground zero - or whatever you like to call it.

In the Notebook I will record the changes in the status guo (the Ins and Outs) that take place every day. Ins on the Right and Outs on the Left.
For example, any food I harvest, anything I'm given for FREE is an IN. 

On the OUT side is anything that leaves the house or my moneybox! 
The cost of any food (or seeds) that I buy is an OUT. 

However, any seeds that I sow from my seed stash or food that I eat from the store cupboard has NO value, it has been written off. When the seeds are sown they will be recorded as an OUT. When they grow and are harvested, they become an IN at shop value. Unless I can save seeds from them, they will need to be replaced and the cost will be an OUT.

Any clutter that I give away is an OUT with no value. 

I'm sure this is as clear as the bottom of the pond.]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2393 Mon, 01 Dec 2025 10:07:26 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2393
What would you like to see growing in your garden. You can ignore restrictions of climate, garden size and or any other  limiting factors. let your imagination run wild. 

Last year's Advent Calendar https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2244 for amusement!

We'll start today with A.............of course!]]>
What would you like to see growing in your garden. You can ignore restrictions of climate, garden size and or any other  limiting factors. let your imagination run wild. 

Last year's Advent Calendar https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2244 for amusement!

We'll start today with A.............of course!]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2383 Wed, 22 Oct 2025 14:35:13 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2383 Swim like a fish? Climb trees like a monkey? Run like cheetah? 
What would be your superpower?]]> Swim like a fish? Climb trees like a monkey? Run like cheetah? 
What would be your superpower?]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2380 Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:59:47 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2380
  IMG_9361.jpeg (Size: 316.9 KB / Downloads: 9) ]]>
  IMG_9361.jpeg (Size: 316.9 KB / Downloads: 9) ]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2378 Mon, 29 Sep 2025 10:03:33 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2378

As you know, I try to keep my daily food spend to £1 a day but I don't have a way to be accurate about it - so, in October, I'm going to give myself £31 to spend on food. If I go to the shop, I'll keep the till receipt and add up what I've spent on MY food - not anyone else's, like the dog.

Anything that I eat from stock (cupboard/freezer) is FREE. I'm hoping that this will free up some cupboard & freezer space  and make me use more homegrown fruit & veg. 
I'll probably need to buy butter & yogurt out of my £31 which will mean a visit to the shop, and, when I do, I'll try not to be led astray unless I can "afford" it. 
Its a bit like returning to the Covid lockdown days, when we were unable to go shopping and lived on whatever we had in the cupboard. I'm going to try it again, without the fear of running out of toilet rolls.]]>

As you know, I try to keep my daily food spend to £1 a day but I don't have a way to be accurate about it - so, in October, I'm going to give myself £31 to spend on food. If I go to the shop, I'll keep the till receipt and add up what I've spent on MY food - not anyone else's, like the dog.

Anything that I eat from stock (cupboard/freezer) is FREE. I'm hoping that this will free up some cupboard & freezer space  and make me use more homegrown fruit & veg. 
I'll probably need to buy butter & yogurt out of my £31 which will mean a visit to the shop, and, when I do, I'll try not to be led astray unless I can "afford" it. 
Its a bit like returning to the Covid lockdown days, when we were unable to go shopping and lived on whatever we had in the cupboard. I'm going to try it again, without the fear of running out of toilet rolls.]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2364 Wed, 23 Jul 2025 21:23:17 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2364 I seem to be learning new things every day so I thought I'd write them down here, before I forget!! Please share things you've learnt too, no matter how small or trivial - maybe we can all learn from them 

1. Montbretia spreads by seed as well as corms. The seedlings look like grass.
2. The spiky thing on a garlic press is for taking the stones out of cherries & olives.
3. Its better to put the wool insulation inside the pot, not underneath.]]> I seem to be learning new things every day so I thought I'd write them down here, before I forget!! Please share things you've learnt too, no matter how small or trivial - maybe we can all learn from them 

1. Montbretia spreads by seed as well as corms. The seedlings look like grass.
2. The spiky thing on a garlic press is for taking the stones out of cherries & olives.
3. Its better to put the wool insulation inside the pot, not underneath.]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2352 Sun, 08 Jun 2025 16:37:30 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2352
No prizes. Just the satisfaction of being right   . 


I will give the answer tomorrow evening.]]>
No prizes. Just the satisfaction of being right   . 


I will give the answer tomorrow evening.]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2351 Sat, 07 Jun 2025 16:48:39 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2351  
Imagine, if you can, a sort of Lockdown for your garden/plot. The rules say that you can't buy anything for your garden - not seeds, compost - anything. Whatever seeds or plants you have now are all you have for your garden. You are however, allowed to swap with another Locked-down gardener so you can grow plants or save seeds to swap.

How would you plan for next year? What seeds could you save? What plants could you propagate to swap or to build up your stock?]]>  
Imagine, if you can, a sort of Lockdown for your garden/plot. The rules say that you can't buy anything for your garden - not seeds, compost - anything. Whatever seeds or plants you have now are all you have for your garden. You are however, allowed to swap with another Locked-down gardener so you can grow plants or save seeds to swap.

How would you plan for next year? What seeds could you save? What plants could you propagate to swap or to build up your stock?]]>