Photos of my recylced veggie patch

[2steps]

Runner beans. Tomatoes are in the hanging basket and pumpkins, cucumber and lettuce in the drawer, or at least hopefully there will be



Whole patch



Potatoes



Herbs, only the parsley has come up so far and mini sweetcorn and cauliflowers that the slugs have enjoyed

[Magpie]

Very cool, 2 steps! You have inspired me to go and do something similar here. Unfortunately, it's the middle of winter here, but I am thinking I could go and put some garlic in the old fish crate outside... any other suggestions for mid-winter gardening in pots anyone?

[Millymollymandy]

That's ingenious, and hey look, when you go on holiday, or even move house, you can take your garden with you!!

[2steps]

thankyou.

I think brussel sprouts acan be grown through the winter, Magpie and there are winter cabbages

should be getting another washing machine drum in a week or so too

[wulf]

When I was in Spain last week I noticed several places making use of washing machine drums as 'recovered' plant pots. I think it's a great idea - I imagine they've got good drainage and plenty of air while probably being pretty sturdy and corrosion resistant. Mind you, a drum full up of earth probably weighs a fair amount so I guess you've got to be careful with where you put it!

Wulf

[2steps]

its the inner drum you use, so yes it must be corrosion resistant. shame my dad doesn't still owrk repairing washing machines

[ina]

Old washing machines are great things, aren't they! The hinges of the door on mine broke, and the guy who came to repair it asked, would you mind getting rid of the old door for me (of course, they can't put on just new hinges, they have to replace the door...) And I'd been thinking all the teim, how can I ask him can I keep the door, please ? The glass makes a phantastic salad bowl! Huge, solid, interestingly shaped (not so boringly symmetric )! And I've inspired a friend of mine - she's using the glass bowl as a planter for hyacinths.

Maybe we could pick up washing machine parts at the recycling centre - I'll have to prowl around a bit next time I'm there! I'm also always looking for 3 l plastic bottles, to be used as cloches. I get some 2 l ones from my friend (I rarely drink fizzy drinks myself), but they are too small for some plants.

Ina

[wulf]

That would be a great twist on the recycling idea - rather than just putting things aside so that they don't go into landfill actually getting the chance to sift through what other people have set aside! I'm sure a lot of the stuff recycled could be used for other purposes without any reprocessing costs if we could do that.

Wulf

[2steps]

ina, I have a washing machine door as a fruit bowl

the big white box in the corner is a washing machine shell, that I'm saving to plant in

[ina]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one with "washing machine dishes" in the kitchen!

I also heard of somebody who uses old fridges for storing apples etc, I think they have a particularly good constant temperature. Can't remember whether you have to modify them somehow, though. Oh, and I have some old wellies as planters, too... I'm waiting for the nasturtiums to flower that I've planted in them, then I'll get a photo on the site.

Ina