Oh sugar.... the barrel or ground game

They are upcycled bus shampoo barrels cut in half - each one will take around two bales of compost, so around 240-250 litres each.

 

I'd forgotten how big your barrels are and how many. You have a good start there, they all look happy.

 

We sowed some squash seeds at the beginning of the week and they're 2" high now. This hot spell will help them germinate quickly.

 

I tried them in the greenhouse last year and failed miserably, but then I even failed with cucumbers last year....

 

They are one of the joys of being in the trade - had them a lot of years now too. I was at a meeting years ago, and at the end was having a natter with colleagues (the usual, what are you doing this weekend, sort of conversation) and I mentioned that I was going to be looking for some large planters or big pots for the garden..... I was offered 'a couple' of those barrels if I wanted them, which were ideal. When I got home, 7 barrels had been delivered and were sitting in my driveway

 

I usually don't have any problem with cucumbers, but last year was a bit of a disaster for them. Tomatoes on the other hand, it was a great year.

 

Been a busy day today, but at the other end of the garden. This is the area that once was grass that we turned into a sort of raised bed last year. We essentially ran out of money to put as much soil in as we wanted/needed, so for this year we are not going anything wild with it.

Here it is tidied up, but leaving the volunteer potatoes alone - no idea if they will come to anything, but they are looking good so far, so why not leave them be?



To keep furry little paws off, at least until the plants themselves are big enough to deter him themselves, we had to put a net around it. Quite comical being in a corner under a tree with a bit of old loganberry poking at your bum and a dog intent on licking your ear as you try and tie on the netting...







The brassicas will go over on this side, using the frame from an old sunbed to hold up the netting for those.



There will be a smaller area of netting between the acer and the hydrangea (probably broccoli)