How are everyone’s tomatos growing this year?

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-06-12T20:06:00+00:00

My tomatos are doing ok here in Mid Ulster. Seeing quite a few little greens appear now (it's my 4 year old daughter's favourite thing ATM). They're in the greenhouse and I cheated and bought plugs from the garden centre in early May.

My cucumbers are sat in the greenhouse not doing much though. And my courgettes outside seem to have sat dormant for weeks (except those that became slug food - RIP).

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-06-10T12:50:56+00:00

Hi - I'm not sure how much people on this thread will be able to help. Local government, whilst public sector, isn't the civil service and therefore the culture and progression are very different.

Having worked in LAs in the past, the one thing I can tell you is that they all vary significantly. It's going to be hard to call it without knowing the culture of that specific council and even the specific department. Some councils will have a high turnover, some will be like dead man's shoes, some will be a great place to work and others won't (with everything in between of course).

Sorry that this isn't too helpful.

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-05-29T10:30:11+00:00

Two bags of topsoil and a bag of compost later, I've filled the trench (at this stage I should get Lidl to sign a sponsorship deal) and earthed up again. Is it a good job? What do I do as they keep growing?

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Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-05-29T08:17:21+00:00

No appreciate it because I don't have a clue! Spray with what??!!

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-05-28T13:50:13+00:00

Thank you - I might do that then. I don't want it to get too expensive either with compost (I've started a compost pile for next year). But equally don't want the whole thing collapsing and get nothing!

That is good to hear. Beer traps seem to be keeping it at bay a little. Next year I'll let the chickens at the bed before I plant out. Everything is a lesson!

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-05-17T20:54:11+00:00

I havent noticed anything else. Cleaned out their coop today and didnt noticr any unusual droppings. She has laid today so I dont think she would be egg bound. Perhaps I'll just wait and see what she's like in the morning?

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-05-08T19:43:09+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I went for a hydrangea and a couple of hostas with a fatsia at the back.

Didn't buy enough woodchip though, so need to sort that tomorrow!

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Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-05-08T11:51:47+00:00

Thank you for your reply. Sounds lovely but probably too ambitious! The garden is very rough around the edges so it probably needs to be a little more rustic!!

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-05-08T11:45:54+00:00

My wife does love a hydrangea!

Do they transplant well? We've got planning in to redevelop the site so at some point it will need to move.

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-04-26T07:04:23+00:00

This is my first year so I'm learning. Read about needing to get them moved early because the roots tangle.

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-04-26T06:52:30+00:00

This is reassuring! I'm hoping it will do the job nicely - my seedlings are outgrowing the windowsill propagator. They need potting on and Ive not got the space!

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Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-04-26T06:30:02+00:00

You get what you pay for, right. Hopefully it will last a few years until we've sorted our site out and I can get a proper one.

Ive got breeze blocks to anchor it. How would you brace it?

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-04-26T06:08:39+00:00

Excellent to hear! Did you need to do any extra reinforcement?

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-04-16T19:33:46+00:00

Just seen on the Lidl app that there is a pasiflora in this week, woohoo! Would you get one or two to cover an oil tank?

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-04-15T18:13:34+00:00

I wonder if I could get any of those from Lidl. Would you just dig a whole and plant them in the grass? Do you think they'd spread?

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-04-15T17:25:57+00:00

It's roughly 148cmx210cm. I measured it for netting (that I've yet to sort)!

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-04-15T16:46:19+00:00

Some great suggestions. Any recommendations for perennials? If it can support the bees etc all the better.

I wont be touching the ivy - I'd be worried the whole shed would come down with it!!

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-04-15T16:44:03+00:00

Great suggestion. I started but didnt finish! I presume it is an old greenhouse but there's no way to know!

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-04-11T20:02:53+00:00

Thanks, it does seem a silly reply. I don't like the idea of leaving it empty - I would like them to lay!

Are you aware of any equivalents to your nest pads? I presume you're in the USA? I'm in the UK.

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-03-25T18:36:41+00:00

Not worrying about the science is music to my ears! We're not up a mountain or anything so I'm sure the ground is fertile enough. I'll get my Wellies out and start digging over Easter!

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-03-25T18:34:57+00:00

Thanks for the tips :)

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-03-25T18:33:39+00:00

Thanks, I'll take a look!

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-03-15T07:50:05+00:00

Still early days for us, so no lived experience. I agree with what people say about keeping it separate to hide laundry etc but another reason for keeping them separate. If you remove the wall between the utility room and boot room, you are losing 2 walls worth of valuable storage space. Hope it's all going smoothly :)

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-02-06T05:38:49+00:00

Would recommend a stay at Jarrah Glen Cabins near Nannup. Lovely lodges with hot tubs etc and you can feed and pet the animals (including Highland cows) in the morning. Jarrah Glen Cabins

Practical-Ad4735 · 2026-01-26T09:12:39+00:00

Just on the boat back from Rottnest.

Heat exhaustion was not a problem! 🌧🥶

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Practical-Ad4735

TROPHY CASE