Hello from sunny, if a tad nippy, Peterborough UK

Hi folks. I joined this forum a few weeks ago when I decided to try and re start my little back garden veg patch. I first attempted this a few years ago but due to health issues I didn’t get it off the ground.

I have a little 6x4 greenhouse and 4 4x4 beds which I may attempt ‘Square Foot Gardening’ in. I still need to fill the beds but I also need to construct some covers as we have loads of cats in the area that will think I am providing bespoke litter trays for them.....

I have just received some bare root strawberry plants which it says ‘if you are not ready to plant out, heel them in until your space is prepared’. We have a fairly hard frost forecast this weekend too so I don’t want to risk them going out until next week when the forecast is warmer.

I and totally new to this but am I right in thinking I can just take the plastic bag of the roots and put the whole bunch in some damp compost for a few days while I get things ready for them? Not totally sure what ‘heeling in’ means but I gather it is something similar to what I suggest above. Could be totally wrong though.

Looking forward to getting my project off the ground and sharing it on here.

 

Yes GrahamT, you can do exactly that That’s what “heeling in” is basically

 

Many thanks for that, it could be the only thing Gardening related I get right ever

 

Hi Graham T, If I dig over some soil & plant, I cover it with plastic netting (from Wilko) until the plants are big enough. This keeps the Cats & Fox off.

 

Thanks for that. I have got the plastic tube kits for the beds but I want to make them easier to lift off so I am making a frame that fits around the outside with the tube kit brackets fastened to that. I can then easily lift them off to work on. I was going to get some soft bird netting to stretch over the tubes to create a protective dome to which I can easily add polythene or fleece covers. I never think of a simple way of doing things

 

Many thanks, I am really looking forward to seeing how it takes shape

 

That sounds a great idea. I was wondering how to diary the progress this would be a great solution

 

Running your own thread is the best way to track your progress. Take photos as you go and look back on them occasionally. Ask all the questions you want and keep all the answers in one place.

G.

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner Graham and good luck with your veg patch.

 

Cheers, yes I will get some pictures of how it is at the start. There will be nothing impressive though. One, it’s a small space for a veg patch and two, I ain’t no gardener

 

Many thanks, I will need lots of luck and, if possible, a little bit of divine intervention

 

I think we all need a little bit of luck gardening Graham T. We all make mistakes, either planting too early, to late, to deep, to shallow.........And I usually make the same mistakes each season.........But if you enjoy being outside and get some crops to eat, then that's a bonus.

 

I'm sure you'll be fine and there's always our friendly members here to give you help along the way. I'm not really a veg grower but have grown tomatoes, cucumbers and runner beans in a previous garden. I bought my place here in the Highlands eighteen months ago and this year am attempting tomatoes and runner beans without a greenhouse. A disaster waiting to happen probably.