Veg patch advice required please

Hi Again,

Do have another question though,  the greenhouse is covered in bubble wrap, do I need to take it off, or will everthing grow ok if it is left on?

Also there is a big square metal open water butt in the greenhouse that the previous owner set up, the GH itself has guttering all around it, and so the rain constantly fills the butt up. Not sure if I should empty the butt though, as I don't think the GH has been used for a few years. The water doesn't smell, so do you think it would be ok to use. Would be great if so, as won't mean a long trek down the garden to the other butt.


Soaplady

If you are growing things now up to March/April, I would be inclined to leave the bubble wrap on for extra insulation.  Sometimes the bubblewrap in my greenhouse doesn't always come down over summer :oops: and has been no problems.  But if the greenhouse hasn't been used for a while, then give it a thorough clean and if necessary, disinfect it before using.

As for the water butt, it might be wise to empty it as you do not know if there are any contaminants eg weedkiller.  If it is not rusty, give it a really good scrub and rinse it out well if you want to keep.

... if your sister is anything like any other horse owner I know she'll have some well rotted stuff about somewhere, so do ask her ...  

Just one thing I would mention though, as you dug the runner beans into the ground it wouldn't surprise me if you got baby beans popping up as a reminder of your hard work last year.

As for being ambitious with your seed choices, go for it, but don't get started too soon.  Make a planting plan, from the seed packets so you know what to plant when, taking March to April to mean late March or early April.  It'll give you something to do now and keep you keen, but not too fast off the marks.

Enjoy your garden!

thankyou all so much for your advice, very much appreciated. I will empty the water butt I think, as there seems to be some muck at the bottom, I am sure it will get filled up pretty quickly with the great weather we are having

 I have some sweet peas in the greenhouse at the moment which I planted last October, (on advice from Monty Don) and they are growing really well. mainly due to my Mum who comes over, and reduces the plant by picking out all the tops, but they have got bushier so I feel that I am growing something already. My hubbie planted some purple sprouting  broccolli last year, the pigeons got to them before he covered them, but they are not doing too bad, should I poo them as well?  Sorry about all the questions, I have Carol Kleins book, but it's not as explanatory as I hoped it would be, so I will probably be pestering you all loads on here.
I will definately have a look at the other forums, I have posted on the gardening equipment one about my lovely wellies (crocs), so expect to see posts on all of them at some time or another. hee hee

Just as an afterthought. You're probably doing this already, but you can start composting all your uncooked organic kitchen waste, with a view to feeding the soil.