Grow Your Own Magazine

Lived in Australia most of my adult life in Sydney. There I trained in horticulture and ran a small Nursery business for 10 years. It was successful in some respects but not financially so eventually I took off for UK to be with family.
I took on a small allotment in Histon Cambridge in 2006 that was just grass and is now shaping up quite well.
I was blessed with the donation of a second hand 10 x 6 greenhouse in late 2006 from some friends and after some teething problems have learned how to use it.
whilst I have some training in horticulture there is no substitute for other people's advice and experience and I have much to learn.
This site is not only good for advice but humour and I enjoy it immensely. An excellent resource and I love having my two bob's worth so bear with me spouting off at times.

sort of Spring Posted 12-04-2008 at 02:00 PM by Glasshousevirgin Updated 12-04-2008 at 02:02 PM by Glasshousevirgin (categorization) Variable weather but its sort of Spring now and progress on the tomato capsicum and aubergine department is hopeful although late enough to be frustrating at times. I am on to my third round with tomato seeds doing what I did last year but not getting more than fast growing spindly plants when they do sprout at all. I don't know if it is a valid observation (on top of all previous ones lol) that those from free packets are not so hot on germination or producing sustainable healthy plants... Continue reading... Glasshousevirgin Sprouter

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Back to front seasonality 23.3.08 Posted 23-03-2008 at 11:21 PM by Glasshousevirgin Seems Winter back after a warmer period a few weeks ago. Those storms were bad for my neighbours plastic greenhouse but amazingly my glasshouse survived it all. Snow today so stayed home to paint flat. Not much success with seeds sown and managed at home. Have only 3 peppers/chilies and 6 fennel in progress from early planting and have restarted with the tomatoes and some new peppers. Latest batch of toms sprouted very quickly went leggy and keeled over. Lots of possible factors but... Continue reading... Glasshousevirgin Sprouter

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Square one Posted 12-03-2008 at 06:29 PM by Glasshousevirgin Feels like I have been wasting a lot of effort to get seedlings off early indoors (as i did last year) as most have withered away and just not developed if they have survived. I will have to start again with tomatoes, aubergine and peppers of most varieties. I have had some restless nights of concern in the high winds about my greenhouse but so far has survived. Lost a roof panel of polycarbonate last week and some glass broken with the door falling off too; but plants unharmed. Just... Continue reading... Glasshousevirgin Sprouter

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24.2.08 Tilling the day away Posted 24-02-2008 at 07:15 PM by Glasshousevirgin Updated 12-03-2008 at 06:18 PM by Glasshousevirgin A bit worried my tomatoes and peppers not really developing much in their soil blocks so transplanted to pots. I suspect the seed raising mix may not be suitable or I compacted the soil too much leaving little room for air hence slow development. Currently researching net for info re good mixes for soil block making and techniques. Most are in USA and use unusual ingredients like greensand and colloidal phosphate. Need UK mixes or ingredients if anyone has suggestions. Probably needs to be fine,... Continue reading... Glasshousevirgin Sprouter

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14.1.08 Posted 14-02-2008 at 12:08 PM by Glasshousevirgin Cold with fog now after a nice period of sunshine mimicking ealy Spring. In fact looking forward I will probably heat the GH for a few days over weekend and restore some of the bubblewrap near the roof vent. A bit of trauma with a slug or three on main bench of GH taking out a few seedlings. Did some routing around and squished them. Must be more careful moving pots from outside without checking. On pruning a sage bush I found a huge green catapillar too. Surely not over Wintering there.... Continue reading... Glasshousevirgin Sprouter

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