WHAT DO I KNOW ABOUT GARDENING?

IN SHORT - NOTHING!!

The quarter acre behind the house is my wife's domain. Apart from the occasional heavy lifting job and collecting eggs from our chickens I have seldom ventured into the garden over the last ten years. I have been threatening to "cultivate" (forgive the pun ) an interest in the dark art of horticulture for years but to date have always found other things to do.

This year, more through good fortune than strategic planning, I will have more free time so decided to find out a little more and have a go.

GARDENING ON A BUDGET
I am aiming to spend as little as possible on my gardening project. Fortunately my wife already has all the necessary tool so no problem there. I acquired an aluminium cold frame from a car at the local dump (a few pounds for some glass and 25pm on a nut and bolt and it is in tip-top condition. A friend was disposing of a 8x6 greenhouse (including all but one sheet of glass) so that has been erected in the garden. I was also given a 10x8 greenhouse which will require some glass but hopefully I will have that sited and glazed within the next few weeks.

I was horrified to discover the price of seed trays and plant pots at our local garden centre. A trip to "Poundstretcher" was most productive with trays and pots costing a fraction of the price. The also had bargain seeds (although a limited range) but the local Lidl shop had a special offer on seeds (34p per pack) and Asda had Johnston's seeds on offer at 4 packs for £3. Recycled plastic milk bottles with the tops cut off, yogurt cartons, tin cans (the type with a plastic coating on the inside), cardboard tubes (discarded from a friends factory) and various other recycled containers reduced the spend further. I also acquired a little wooden device for making seedling pots out of discarded news print for the pricely sum of 99p

The plan is to recover all costs through having fresh produce to eat and bedding plants for tubs and hanging baskets used at our B&B (we normally spend about £40 per year buying bedding plants)

So . . time to start . . . WISH ME LUCK!!