frensclan

Welcome to the fruit & veg forum

Hi everyone, We moved from south west wales ( been there over 20yrs and had a sheltered veggie garden on sandy soil) back home to northernmost Cumbria. Struggling with a garden on clay which resembles a pond most of the time. My husband built several raised beds to lift the growing surface 6" & 12" off the origional soil level but I am still finding that even the top of this soil is very wet. I struggled last year with all but broad beans and sweet peas; any suggestions about how to get the topsoil dryer and warm enough to plant my seeds this spring. I have got my garlic in pots in a cold frame. No greenhouse as too windy. Cheers

Cats causing problems

My neighbour recommended Caninia to me as she had used it the year before. We clubbed together to buy some of the plants and we have had them in the garden all sumer. From having persistent visits from a local cat my garden has been cat deposit free all year as has hers for 2 yrs now. I had about 10 of the plants dotted about  mainly in the veg bit. We kept them in pots and they are not overwintering in my workshop. One I inadvertently left out was killed off by early frosts up here in North Cumbria. I don't know if we can get them through the winter to be put out next year but I do hope so as they worked pretty well for us. I used to try the Jeys fluid (bought from the supermarket and diluted ( much cheaper that ready made garden ones) and it worked fairly well in a previous garden but I was worried about the effect on my veg so stopped a couple of years ago. The above plants are not cheap however hence our attempt to save them for next year. In warmer parts they may well over winter outside with some protection.

What's the weather like in your area?

Trying again! North Cumbria; woke up to a white winterscape. Had a very heavy frost and to the south the lake district hills look white with snow as do parts of the pennines to the east. Still although bitterly cold it is not raining  and the sun is actually shining so aim to make the most of it although no way to get out onto the garden and dig as the ground is frozen solid and according to the weather forecast will remain like that for some time. Hey ho!

Talkback: Dealing with a waterlogged garden

Much the same in North Cumbria. On thick clay we have had a pondy garden for the last year as it seems to have been raining here since July 2011!! when we moved back here Like you we have nowhere to drain the water to as we are lower than all the surrounding ground if only slightly. Our solution has been to raise everything up a bit where we can so decking and raised beds. Where we can not we have created a small wildlife pond. Were we planted our fruit trees ( thinking long term they would suck up a lot of the water) they have nearly drowned so we have put them in small raised beds and in the spring will dump a load of top soil on the grass and re turf, hopefully this will allow us to walk on it without sinking into water covering our wellies. Does anyone know why the top level of soil in my 12" raised beds is still "wet" and what I can do about it as I have had to sow my garlic in modules in the hope it will dry out by spring?

December offers online

Yes I have been getting stuff from them for longer than I can remember ( or care to!) I have had the odd thing arrive a bit the worse for wear over the years ( well only two that I can recall) but have phoned them up and they have readily sent replacements which were fine. Warning about the peonies noted but alas or perhaps hurray; too late as they are already ordered almost to spite the dreadful gardening year up here in north cumbria.

December offers online

Many thanks for this; ordered and now looking forward to the new year when they will arrive. Perhaps it would make it easier for oldies like myself who are not that hot on the old Internet to have links like this posted on the GW website. I did look before posting but perhaps not in the right place?

December offers online

Obvioiusly I mean the 10% discount!

December offers online

I have been trying to order the roses collection and the free peonies as offered in Decembers issue of Gardeners World. As usually happens to me i insert the given web address but can never get onto the relevant site. Has anyone managed to order these offers on line and if so how did you manage it. I would like to avoid having to phone in the order yet again as I would not get the 105 additional discount on offer?

I give up!

Thanks for that haggi; really weird as I have just last year moved home after living in Pembrokeshire for 24yrs. I will look them up tomorrow and see what is on offer. Had our first sunny "all day!!" since it seems like forever today hope you had the same. Good gardening and thanks again.

I give up!

Hey Haggi, I would be very interested to hear where you have sourced the seeds for Up North? I dont't think there is a problem with posting the source I have seen many others and indeed the web link to such producers on this forum. I come to Silloth once a month and the conditions except for the salt in the air are very similar to mine on a very wet and windy hill on the outskirts of Carlisle.

December offers online

Garlic in modules

Free guide for native pond and bog garden plants

Climbers for wet areas

annoying drop downs / popups

The Edible Garden

Drowning fruit tree