It is the cloth like stuff, so yes it should drain ok.  I just don't know if it is best to lay turf onto this stuff ?  I have got to get some soil in from somewhere as i have been wheelbarrowing gravel for three days it was that deep

So on top of this barrier there will be a couple of inch of soil before the turf goes on.

Might be worth spreading some sand over the gravel first to fill the voids before spreading the soil otherwise it could all sink in when we get some heavy rain.

Yes,leave it, unless you really really want to shovel tons of gravel to dig it out. As it's the permeable fabric type it will do no harm at all to your lawn.

agreed Foinavon - week 1 of it added nothing to the table tbh


only bit was i recognized a few of the radishes - whey!

Photosynthesis

"The air we breathe, and all the food we eat, is created from water, sunlight, carbon dioxide and a few minerals. That's it, nothing else. It sounds simple, but this process is one of the most fascinating and complicated in all of science. Without it there could be no life on earth. It's that important.

For centuries people believed that plants grew by eating soil. In the 17th century, pioneer botanists began to make the connection between the growth of a plant and the energy from the sun. They discovered how plants use water, sunlight and carbon dioxide to produce sugars - how, in fact, a plant grows.

The process of photosynthesis is still at the heart of scientific research today. Universities across the world are working hard to replicate in the lab what plants do with ruthless efficiency. Their goal is to produce a clean, limitless fuel and if they get it right it will change all our lives."

Did some sowing yesterday, carrots in raised beds made from builders bags, broad beans (dreadnought - these were fabulous last year), and radishes in the borders.
Glad I did as the weather today is awful.

First flowers blooming on the greenhouse tomatoes this morning. Not long till summer.

Saw just a few minutes of that BBC programme on photosynthesis. The presenter was describing commercial greenhouses, where carbon dioxide levels are tripled to improve the sweetness and yield of tomatoes and peppers.

He had an excellent opportunity to describe how photosynthesis evolved at a time when the planet's atmosphere contained vast quantities of CQ2 and no oxygen; how plants have stripped out virtually all of that CO2, converted it to oxygen and thus allowed animal life to appear. Would the BBC allow him to tell us directly that vegetation, and thus all life, has been at its most abundant when CO2 levels were far higher? That current levels of CO2 are dangerously low?

"In the past," he droned, "carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere were very..."

Go on! Say it!

"... Very different from how they are today."

Censored? Bottled it? I don't know, but I switched off.

They will smell like they used to, and they will have a more subtle, tomato-ey taste, but to be honest I find shop ones are sometimes sweeter than the ones I grow, because commercial growers usually raise the levels of carbon dioxide back to those which were prevailing when the plant evolved.

An interesting point about the early days of photosynthesis is that the seas were rich in iron. The oxygen reacted with the iron to form haematite which precipitated out to form the vast deposits of iron ore we exploit today. This regulatory process ensured that oxygen levels didn't become too high and kill of the cyano-bacteria which were the first to use photosynthesis as far as we know. Eventually cells evolved which consume the oxygen, releasing energy, creating the present self-regulatory system.

I read about the square foot system some years ago Ovalman. Sounds good for people like you with limited space. Let us know how you get on.

Finally got my Rhubarb wine on the go, added 6 over ripe Oranges and a couple of apples, it has to ferment for a week before I transfer it to a demijohn.

Went to look at another private allotment but it's just a bit too far away (6.5 Miles) so think I'll give it a miss.

Planted Broadbean, peas, Mange Tout and Courgettes.

Bought MoneyMaker Tomato, Apache Chilli and a Pepper plant (no variety given)

In the city it's not too bad, I think we are 2 weeks behind the South of England for last frosts (which have finished hopefully). With the degree or 2 warmer in the city I can plant a bit earlier. We never seem to get the extremes thankfully. 

Forgot to mention I ordered a dwarf Cherry Tree: http://www.jparkers.co.uk/plant-0003368-cc-1/cherry-kordia-patio/

I'm going to order dwarf Apple and Pear trees but not until November. If you order online always check if there are % off codes or Quidco/ TopCashBack. I got a further 10% off thanks to a quick Google.

I'm based in Birmingham which is also a couple of weeks behind the South. We remain vulnerable to night frosts right up until the end of May as we are further from the sea than you.
Kordia looks an interesting variety, hadn't heard of it before. Might get a couple as they will be easy to net when the fruit ripen and they are not expensive.

I am near brighton.  Think screaming is somerset or devon way.

A couple of miles west of Taunton.

The only reason I mentioned the Levels is because property should theoretically be dirt-cheap there, and I would be happy to live with and adapt to flooding if it meant being able to afford a house with land. But the combination of Government-subsidized insurance schemes and residents' expectations that flooding can somehow be made to disappear if enough money is spent means that property on the Levels is still priced as ludicrously as anywhere else.

Picked my first radishes yesterday. Don't think I've ever harvested any in April before. Only planted one row, as I wasn't particularly hopeful sowing so early. Just took a chance on the anomalously warm soil temps after the mild winter. Enjoyed a fresh and pleasant salad of radishes, dandelion leaves and turnip thinnings, mixed with some Caesar salad dressing to counteract the bitter taste of the dandelions.

The other early plantings haven't gone too well. A few carrots have just about broken soil, but no spring onions at all. The row of swedes I sowed in error aren't doing too badly, though, and the turnips I sowed a little later are flourishing nicely. I'm coming round to the view that hours of daylight is more critical than temperatures and, apart from radishes, which seem indestructible, it's simply not worth trying to sow crops early.

Will wait until after next weekend to sow some more, as there's been a consistent signal for a short plunge of cold air then in the weather models.

Have transplanted my pepper seedlings into 8"-pots in the greenhouse, and they're doing fine along with the tomatoes (first blooms appeared on Wednesday).

Last month I laid a stretch of weedy old hazel that was growing behind the greenhouse and blocking sunlight. Now the trunks have been cut to lie horizontally there's a riot of new vertical shoots and greenery erupting into life. Looking forward to some cobnuts in the autumn, if I can pre-empt the squirrels.

Thanks Delta. Going to check today to make sure none of my potatoes are poking through yet.
As my tomato seedlings are in the cold frame I shall give them a hot water bottle at night when the cold snap comes. (Plastic jerrycan filled with warm water will keep the chill off).
Incidentally, always water seedlings in containers with lukewarm water (no more than skin temperature) not cold straight from the tap.

My Cherry Tree arrived this morning, no blossom but in great condition. I wasn't expecting any fruit this year but hopefully it will get established and have some next year.

I'm able to fit 2 grow bags into my tomato house and maybe some small pots so that's double the growth I was expecting. Gonna have my Tomato and Pepper in one and will now grow Cucumber and maybe try a squash. I could also squeeze a chilli plant in between the 2. Upside down planters are starting to fall apart but I'll buy new ones and fill them with something. Rhubarb is starting to show growth again (what a great hardy plant!) and my peas and beans are starting to poke through. I said to my wife I wasn't going to go crazy but I lied

I have plans for a few other things over the coming month.

Their giving away bags of free compost and manure in my local refuse centre on Monday, I'll try and nab a few bags.

Had a bit of trouble finding this thread but how is everyone getting on?

My Tomato plant is bearing it's first fruit and chilli is flowering well. Rhubarb is close to gathering again - thanks for the tip Foinavan, I fed it a liquid feed and it's doing really well in such a small container. Maybe a good idea for anyone thinking of growing it. Peas/ beans are sprouting well and I just planted some beetroot and radishes using the square foot method.

My Cherry Tree seems to be struggling? any idea's?

Hanging upside down planters are coming down. Lidl has Strawberry and Tomato hanging baskets on Thursday so I'm going to replace the upside down planters with these.

All in all, except for the tree, everything is growing well in such a small space. I've still some space to fill in my grow bags and I think I'll try some squash/ cucumbers in these.

I was about to take a photo and upload it but I thought the water logging might have been a problem so I went to poke more holes in the base of the pot. While it probably was getting too much water and not enough drainage (I didn't put stones at the base of the pot) I did notice strong roots popping through the holes I had already drilled. I poked more holes in the base to give it some more drainage but what I think is happening is the tree is pushing all of it's resources into it's roots at the expense of everything above. I think once it gets established the top half will get growing.

I wasn't expecting anything from it this year anyway, just got a bit worried with what little leaves were wilting and turning brown. I'm much happier seeing strong roots poke through and now with the extra drainage I think it will be fine. I'll report back in a month or so.

Can't say the same for the blueberry bush I have in a pot. There is very little greenery on the plant and I think it will go in the bin. I gave it no care last year and let it dry out several times.

Everything else is looking well in pots and things are starting to produce. I planted some Beetroot and radishes although I won't eat much of the latter.

dont blueberry need to be in ericaceous compost only?

strange looking word Delta, you obviously know your stuff.