I Needed More Space | Huge Vegetable Garden Upgrade

[@RobynCollis]

I came for the wash house restoration but I will stay for the gardening. What a lovely day in the garden!

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you Robyn. I am so pleased you will enjoy some of the gardening too. Even when it’s finished, the wash house will heavily feature in the garden. I cannot wait to get on with the ground works outside of the building too.

[@Lisa.Gypsy.C]

You and Duncan make a great team Clare. Fruit cage looks fab. hard work pays off.🌱

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you Lisa. We do bicker from time to time but we do work together ok. ❤️

[@lobodo988]

A dream fruit cage! I admire your eye for design - that single board made your center bed look 100% better. Well done.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you. I’m so pleased with it. ❤️❤️

[@michelleskitchengardendiar6934]

Working your butt off Clare, everything looks so fab. It's so nice to have a partner help out. Take care for now

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thanks Michelle. Duncan is a reluctant volunteer at times but he was very helpful for this project. ❤️

[@pambrewer9082]

So good to see more room for strawberries, blueberr.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

We do love blueberries and strawberries. I’m only going to have autumn fruiting raspberries, so I can chop them down each autumn neatly 😬

[@jennyfromtheplot]

Fruit cage is looking fantastic! Can’t wait to see it spring into life!

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Me too. Thanks Jenny ❤️

[@UrbanGrrl69]

You both work so hard, and a farm! Can I have a Duncan please , everyone needs a great handyman like him.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I can loan him out temporarily but I’d be lost without him. 🤣😬🥰

[@StevenMorgan-s5b]

What a lovely day for you, so rewarding working in the garden x

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you Steven. Been a busy week this week but I’m thrilled to tick a major job off the list ❤️

[@VivSimmons]

I don't know how you find time to do so much in the vegetable garden -a labour of love. So satisfying though.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I have weeks where I practically do nothing, especially this time of year. This has been a big project but I’ve enjoyed it ❤️

[@doras.allotment]

Wow what a job! Well done to you both 🥰 Your brassicas too!! Moving those were like moving established trees!

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Huge weren’t they? We moved some last year before the greenhouses were moved on to the lawn. Worked treat. They cropped well

[@kathleenwilliamson174]

Just beautiful! It's functional and pretty. I love the use of old and new, it makes my heart happy. I totally agree with that extra board to balance the strawberry bed. I would've done the same thing, it would've driven me crazy😊. The raspberries, blueberries and strawberries will be so happy!

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you Kathleen. I try to re-use where I can but it’s not always possible. I am so pleased you agree with the extra piece for symmetry. We all love a bit of that ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I’m excited to get the rest of the plants in there. Blueberries were such a joy last year

[@DancingwithRoses-5]

The fruit cage looks great. Job well done.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you so much. I’m thrilled with it ☺️

[@barryroberts6470]

Nice one Clare it looks fantastic and so much more growing space, Duncan is a star and his friend giving him a kiss for a job well done. TC. Barry (the Wirral)

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Ricky is super friendly.. maybe a bit too friendly at times. Bunts in to him regularly. We made a lot of extra work for ourselves not buying a bigger fruit cage to start with. It’s bigger than the polytunnel now 😱❤️

[@TheGrowUpChannel]

That will make such a difference clare! Fruitcages soon full up don't they! Spring is almost here! Danny 🌱

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

They really do! I think I cooks easily fill one twice the size again but we do have to have a limit 🤣😬😬😬

[@myrustygarden]

Fab Clare I hope the brassicas settle in nicely in their new bed. A bigger fruit cage 😂 you will be called posh by Danny again. No one could ever say you relax in winter 👍👍 great job both you and sir Duncan of the dare I say it jeans 😮😮. Have a great week ahead I hope the sun sticks around, Ali 🥶🥶🇨🇦

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

lol.. I don’t think I’ve ever been called posh by Danny. He knows I’m a commoner. 😂 I feel like I’ve done nothing I had planned for winter, so it’s great to at least get this job ticked off the list. So many more plans. I feel like winter has been mild for you this year, snow wise. I hope it means we are all due an early spring ❤️

[@sarah3136]

You're so lucky to have Duncan, my husband does absolutely nothing to help me 🙄 Good job I'm independent and willing to give things a go myself 😊

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Awww I don’t doubt that I could do this myself but it would have, naturally, taken twice as long. I’m very grateful for the days he is willing to give me a hand. ❤️

[@bonnieriner4336]

❤❤❤everything you are accomplishing, keep on, wish I was physically able do more 😢😢to

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thanks Bonnie. I’m so sorry you’re not able to do as much as you’d like. I think part of my rush to get the garden how I really want, is down to getting older. No idea how much longer we can keep up with the level of work we can right now xx

[@Littlesheddiaries]

That’s a whopper! Well done for all the hard work that went into it. I hope you had a well deserved cup of tea after all that effort. It looks amazing 🎉

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Duncan doesn’t do hot drinks and I only like decaf coffee. We are useless 🤣🤣🤣

[@Littlesheddiaries]

@ whatever you drank you earned it that day

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@ sure did! It was a busy week. How’s things at the new plot?

[@lindajones3015]

Another fab video Clare. I'm so pleased you added that extra piece of wood to the new strawberry bed. I'm all about symmetry 😂 what a really good idea to do it that way. Shout out to Duncan for all his hard work 👏 my husband has to be very hands on too or I'd never get the heavy jobs done 😅 The extension on the fruit cage looks good. You'll be able to grow so much more 😊 spring is on it's way 😊😊

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I really needed that extra piece of wood. I’m debating some trim on the outside to cover the join and create a false join too. I’m so pleased other people get it! 🤣🤣🤣 Duncan is so helpful. I could have done it without him but it would have taken thrice as long. I also don’t believe in suffering in silence, so helping me is the easiest option, especially on his ears 🙈🤣🥰🥰🥰 I can’t wait to finish planting it up. I am so pleased with it

[@lindajones3015]

@TheFarmyardGarden 🤣🤣 I know what you mean about not suffering in silence. What's the point? Happy wife, etc. You're right about everyone getting it. There's nothing more pleasing on the eye than tidiness and symmetry. It's going to look fabulous 👌 👏

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

They do say a problem shared is a problem halved. Duncan doesn’t see the theory working out well mathematically for him though 🤣 I do love straight lines and structure. I think it helps me and my chaotic mind keep some semblance of order 🤣🤣

[@lindajones3015]

​@TheFarmyardGarden I love the comment from the lovely person who was watching for an update on the wash house and stayed for the garden content. I thought that was so nice 😊

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@ Me too. There’s been a couple, Linda. It’s so heartwarming. It’s been a massive concern that so many subbed on such a different subject for my channel ❤️

[@Petetrenouth]

Always enjoy your videos Claire, love the way you just get on with it, your work ethic is fantastic, farmers must be the most practical people on the planet. Duncan may have helped to 😂 The DeWalt king.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

He does love his DeWalt tools, almost as much as his Ford/New Holland farm machinery 🤣❤️❤️ I really wanted to get it done in a few days. We have so many other projects to do before spring, garden and farm business wise, that I needed to grab Duncan’s assistance for this one before he was busy elsewhere. I can’t call him a willing volunteer … but he shows up ❤️🤣

[@jenidalby2383]

Ive got fruit cage and Duncan envy 😂 Looks great, happy growing 😊

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I could hire Duncan out, Jeni. He just likes snacks to keep him happy 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Loving the new space in the fruit cage. Wish we’d made it this size from the off. ❤️

[@jenidalby2383]

@ Ive a list as long as my arms of things i want doing. Does he pay for it all too? 🤣 Its an ever evolving hobby isn’t it 🥰

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@@jenidalby2383 I just read your message out and he rolled his eyes and nodded. I think that’s an affirmative 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I believe growing spaces will never feel finished. Bit of a scary admission.

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

Food just tastes so much better then you grow it!

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I love growing our own food and I agree, it does taste better home grown ❤️

[@Sylvie_M]

Good job.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thanks Sylvie ❤️

[@valrackley4568]

Hi Clare and Duncan what a great way of using the jack to remove those posts I will be remembering that for when I have to remove posts. Another great video thank you for your time to video this job keep on growing.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thanks Val. I will admit, I didn’t have much faith in the jack working but Duncan’s genius hacked showed me how wrong I was to doubt him. There was no removing them without a spade… well and truly anchored. Glad you enjoyed the video. Happy growing ❤️

[@chrissiehart22]

Oh wow! Looks amazing! What a brilliant job and another winter job ticked off your list ✔ Hopefully not many to go now! 😍🐂🐄

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thanks Chrissie. It’s feels so good to have ticked one of the big jobs off the list ❤️🐮❤️

[@chrissiehart22]

@TheFarmyardGarden loot how far you've come in such a short time

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

It’s mind blowing! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Feelgoodgardens]

Wow you've both been so busy sorting out that fruit cage Clare. That's a fabulous growing space. Brassicas looked great replanted 👍😍 Wonderful team work today 👍 Have a great week ❤ xx

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thanks Linda. I enjoy projects with Duncan as we don’t get to spend so much time together normally. I enjoy it.. even if he doesn’t so much 🤣 Loving the new space. It feels right now. So glad we did it. Have a fabulous week xx

[@potagermalo]

Coucou Encore une belle vidéo bravo 😊 À bientôt

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Merci. J'apprécie le commentaire. À la prochaine....

[@potagermalo]

@TheFarmyardGarden de rien c'est avec plaisir

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

❤️

[@spring_spirit]

The branches were brilliant idea, i read somewhere that raspberry loves to grow on rotting wood!

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I was so determined to reduce the amount of compost I was using. Here’s hoping it pays off long term. 😊

[@drhoy15]

Another nice video. Enjoyed watching what you did. Just a suggestion - when you were getting rid of some of your brassicas you could have cut them off at ground level and left the roots in to rot. I your climate if you leave them in for a period of 4-6 weeks they will be mostly gone and really benefit the soil organisms and also help with soil aeration and water penetration. Not to worry you can try it next time if you want :) Actually I think that the additional board to make the bed symmetrical is a stroke of genius because, a possibly unintended consequence is that, it will strengthen the longer boards and stop them sagging outwards over time due to the heavy soil pressure :)

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Hi… I would have left the roots in if I wasn’t moving the beds around to make the extension. I’ve done that elsewhere in the garden ☺️☺️☺️

[@JanesGrowingGarden]

What a difference. I love that central bed - perfect for the strawberries. Doug is an absolute star - I'm going to have to show Mike! Great idea to leave the net off for a few weeks - plus it'll give you a bit of a breather after all that hard work. Well done!

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I know the central bed is a bit OTT but I miss strawberries so easily at ground level. I loved having it raised last year Duncan is very helpful when he wants to be. I’m very grateful to him for all of his help. Thrilled with how it’s turned out. It’s like it’s always been there ❤️

[@dogontheplot]

Fruit cage MANSION! I relocated some brassicas before xmas so good to hear they might be ok! Robins just love any disturbed soil don't they. Right time to hunt out new blueberry varieties - I hear the garden centre calling!!! ❤

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I cannot wait to go blueberry shopping! I have two each now of pink lemonade and the one labelled “garden inspirations” from Blue Diamond. Would like two more I think. Fruit cage mansion made me howl 🤣🤣🤣

[@Iamhome365]

​@TheFarmyardGarden I bought pink lemonade and others last year but unfortunately they all died (my fault), is the pink lemonade really nice tasting? I'd like to get a good few plants this year and put them in a dedicated bed

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@ I like the pink lemonade. However they flowered much earlier than the blue ones and a frost got the flowers. I need to remember to fleece them if we have frost forecast after they’ve flowered. Really sweet and tasty.

[@dogontheplot]

@TheFarmyardGarden that's weird because I find my pink lemonade don't ripen until after all the blue ...

[@dogontheplot]

@TheFarmyardGarden I have five different varieties- they're all labelled but I couldn't tell you which was the best performing 🤔

[@Tillysgardeningdiaries-i3y]

Wow Claire and Duncan! What a lot of work, and how amazing does it all look now! I must admit I want a cow kiss as well! 😂 I'm planting some trees and bushes next month, but I haven't got a fruit cage yet... Too eager beaver 😂 Tilly xx

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I do love the fruit cage. I’m determined to not share all of my soft fruit with the birds. We have a huge problem with magpies and crows here, more so than pigeons and blackbirds. They eat everything 😬😬😬

[@meadows.simplicities]

Looks amazing Clare!!!! 😃 Happy New Year 🎉

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you so much. Happy New Year to you as well 😊

[@RobinGardens]

Wowzers. That new fruit cage looks fabulous. I'm always on the look out for a better arrangement for our blackberries etc. You're doing your space so well, by building all the infrastructure with logic. Mine has just evolved. I'm thinking of trying some strawberries in a tower this year.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

We were so lucky to have a blank canvas to create what we wanted. Didn’t stop us making mistakes though, hence I needed to upgrade the space here already. I wonder if we are ever happy with the space though? Feels like we’ll always been adding more and moving things around. I did wonder about a greenstalk for strawberries too ❤️❤️

[@RobinGardens]

@TheFarmyardGarden Well I broke down and bought one when they went on huge discount. You can watch my success/fail before plonking down the cash🤣 My cheap DIY towers have spurred me on to go for the greenstalk. The Chicago Botanic Garden has a lovely wood one in the edibles section. That could work for you and fit right in with those lovely wooden raised beds. I'll see if I can find a picture and message you.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@RobinGardens that sounds lovely ❤️

[@GardenofEmma]

The fruit cage is brilliant and so big now. I love your symmetry thinking. I was looking at thinking the same lol 😂

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Needs must Emma, needs must. I do like the symmetry. 🤣❤️

[@bethanskitchengarden]

Hi Clare, there's never enough space is there, especially when it comes to strawberries. You made that lifting and shifting work look easy. It looked sunny on a couple of shots so it must have been great to be out in the sun. Bet it's a weight off your mind to have that job done, I always find it the worst thing to have all the stuff sitting there and not have the time to sort it out. Take care 😍

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

It was sunny but freezing on a couple of the days. I do love crisp winter days though. Can’t believe spring is only just around the corner. I feel so behind on what I had planned to get done in the garden. As you say, it’s lovely to get a job ticked off ❤️ I still think I’ll run out of strawberry space. The next plan will be a greenstalk I think 🤣

[@bethanskitchengarden]

@ I’ve got my eye on a green stalk too 😂 Winter is a strange time for gardening, I used to plan to get loads done but the weather is so unpredictable that I go on the basis that achieving anything is a positive 😊

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

We really are reliant on the weather at the moment, I agree. It was really lucky that we could get the whole job done. A few days of dry weather is a rarity over winter

[@ericandrachallotmenteers]

Oh Romanesco looks lovely. Mine got eaten 😢 Well done Duncan, that's a cool trick! Fab job on the extension Clare 👏🏽

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thanks birthday girl. It is a very cool trick isn’t it

[@ericandrachallotmenteers]

@ yes and something I'll remember if needed! 🥳🍾

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@ericandrachallotmenteers ❤️

[@mycountrygardenchannel]

That was a job and a half but the end result is fantastic. Take care. Mags

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I really was. It’s like it’s always been there now. I really wish we’d made it that big to start with. Thanks Mags. Have a great week x

[@kitchengardengrows]

Great job! Having more strawberries will be fabulous! I've been considering extending mine too. It's only a tiny cage and I can only go about a metre, but I think it may be worth it. I built mine from wood a couple of years ago and then ended up moving it! If I extend it, then I will lose a flower bed that I plant for pollinators, but I can make up for that elsewhere. Not sure I will get to it this year though...maybe! 😃

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I put cosmos inside my fruit cage last year anyway, so you can always draw some pollinators in to the fruit when in blossom. I am so pleased with it. It’s been on my mind since summer. Don’t regret it at all and it looks like it’s always been there now ❤️❤️

[@felicitywoodruffe4087]

I hope they transplant well I didn't realise you could do this

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I did it last year when building something too. It worked really well. Fingers crossed it does again.

[@Iamhome365]

Hi Clare, looking forward to watching 😊 isnt the weather unreal, last few days here in Ireland have been like beautiful Spring days!! I planted another 66 cloves of garlic yesterday, plan on having this as green garlic. Very close to 9K Claire, you'll be at 10K subscribers very very soon 😁

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

The weather has been truly wonderful. It’s making me forget we are in the depths of winter. Never wise. I’ll get carried away and put my woolly hats away 🤣🤣🤣 That’s a lot of garlic.. great effort! I think most of mine will end up as green garlic IF it ever comes up. Been in since November 😬😬

[@Iamhome365]

​@TheFarmyardGardenI put in around 60 cloves before Christmas and they've all come up thankfully, bit unusual that yours hasn't come up yet? I really hope it get a bumper crop! I make fermented garlic for my husband (absolutely brilliant!!) so hope i can use my own garlic and i get local honey to make it too 😊 he was always sick with colds and runny nose and the sneezing would take out but it's all stopped since he took it and it's been just over a year 😊

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I think it’s been incredibly cold here. A lot of temperatures hovering around zero for weeks on end. I’m guessing that will have truly slowed them down. I might give it another week and then scrape the soil back to see if there’s any roots forming It’s great that your recipe is helping your husband. Duncan’s just started taking a teaspoon of local honey a day to try to help with his hay fever

[@trold1969]

That was a lot of hard work! Love the moos, and that lovely kiss Duncan got! I'm trying not to take your tip on 'go big', as I don't think I'll get the space for that. Fruit cages aren't common here, probably because of all the snow we get. People usually throw some netting over their bushes when the berries are ripening. I've bought romanesco seeds. Now I know how big the plants can get. Hmm, might just do kohlrabis instead. It won't let me put on smileys today, but I can assure you I am happy now after watching this. :D Trude

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Aww thanks Trude. What a shame it’s refusing smileys. The world needs more smileys 🤗😊 Ricky makes a beeline for Duncan whenever he sees him for a fuss and sloppy kiss. He can get a bit too bolshy at times. He’s such a character. My daughter likes to know food has been covered. She’s a bit sensitive to knowing rodents may have had access to wander over the crops. I know the cage won’t keep them out but it helps give Isobel a placebo effect. The companies do advise removing the roof netting over snowy periods, but that is a bit of a challenge for sure. I tried to throw netting over fruit for two years.. never timed it right. The blackbirds enjoyed my cherries 🤣🤣🙈

[@JaneBolton-w9n]

What a man silent and handy 😊

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

He is very handy but often a reluctant participant in these projects. I love that you said silent.. he likes to voice his opinion of missing nap time to help me.. I just don’t film those moments 🤣🤣🤣🤣❤️❤️❤️

[@suemcdonagh7650]

Another great vlog you’ve come so far, won’t be long before you’ve reach 10k subscribers! Also lovely to see the cows giving Duncan a kiss ( a bit jealous as love cows) and to see the ducks waddling across the froze pond, I waddle too but for a different reason (too many chocolates 🤭) keep up the good work 👍🏻

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Oh Sue, I know all about the chocolate waddle! I have developed such a sweet tooth this last 12 months. I need to sort myself out 😬😬😬😬 I love the cows too. Their tongues are so rough, like a cat’s tongue. They give the best kisses though. We didn’t think it would have frozen enough to freeze the pond. Was quite surprised to see the ducks waddling. I also cannot believe the sub count recently. It’s been overwhelming to watch it go up. Not sure how many new subs are interested in gardening. I inadvertently attracted a lot of renovation viewers with the wash house videos 😱 Thanks for your support. ❤️

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

What a sweet little garden you have!!❤️🐝🤗

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you Deborah ❤️❤️❤️

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

@ You’re welcome❤️🐝🤗

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@deborahdanhauer8525 I wish I’d come to vegetable growing years ago. It’s such a simple joy, growing your own food. ❤️

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

@ It sure is. I grew up on a farm in Kentucky USA. I was helping in the garden since I could walk, and I’ve grown more of them than I can count over the years. I’m disabled now and can no longer garden. My son plants 2 or three tomatoes and two or three green peppers right by my front door lol! I can go out and take care of them even with my oxygen. So, now I watch folks like you garden and it makes me happy❤️🤗🐝

[@StellasVegetablegardens]

Who was the lovely lady walking down the path 😊 nice work with the cage

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

That’s Mary, Duncan’s mum

[@Garden-of-weeden]

Having that extra piece of wood in the strawberry raised bed will help stop the sides bowing 😊 well done Clare another good job done! But please spend some pennies on a new wheel barrow 🤣😂🤣

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Ha! Did you notice I do have a new wheelbarrow? I had the ericaceous compost bags in it. I don’t like it though, not for tipping. It’s too heavy. I need to visit the saddlery and get another one of the little pink stable barrows. We put another piece inside to hold the middle row together too. Forgot to show that on camera.. you were busy looking at cows whilst we did that 🤣🤣🙈

[@Garden-of-weeden]

@ haha I was too busy thinking I’m sure I can get larger bags locally of ericaceous compost as you were saying you can’t find any locally 😂🤣😂 Pink barrow!! Would love that! Haha kissing cows were far more cute than a piece of wood lol

[@susiespearing6165]

Clare please please put some toppers on those canes supporting the Brassicas .One trip and that's your eyes 😔 I use ping pong balls .Duke is a fantastic Bluberrie ,highly recommend.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I have some cane toppers. I will get around to it. I usually do use them. Not sure why it didn’t occur this week, probably because my focus was on the build rather than the planting of the brassicas. Thank you for the reminder. ☺️

[@susiespearing6165]

@TheFarmyardGarden Fruit cage looks amazing 😍

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

It’s like it’s always been there. I’m so happy. 4m x 4m seemed massive when we ordered the original size. It quickly became apparent it wasn’t big enough. I’m most excited for how much extra space the grapevine will have now.. if it ever puts on a growth spurt 🤣🙈

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

Cleaver idea Duncan

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Nifty isn’t it?

[@debz_vegplot]

Can't say i'm not a tad jealous of your fruit cage 😂. Farming husbands are the best aren't they. Like you say, they aren't always willing volunteers but they get the job done 😊.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

They do get the job done, whilst teaching us new vocabulary at times 🤣🤣 He’ll be so busy on the farm, as spring approaches, that I needed to collar him when the weather was amenable and he was still under the influence of Christmas snacks/treats I wish we’d made it this big to start with. We have such an issue with magpies and grows that I need to cover all soft fruit

[@debz_vegplot]

@TheFarmyardGarden Oh yes, the vocabulary 🙄😆

[@AnyKeyLady]

Looks amazing Clare and well done Duncan with the trick! If there's a will there's a way as they say. He can build you some stilts for the hedges hehe. /j That's going to be so such space for the fruit as bushes can get quite big over time. Didn't know you could move the brassicas but i guess as they are dormant atm it's a good time, if any to do it. That poor wheelbarrow is certainly getting it's mileage! lol Thank you for showing us the cows. Ricky saying thanks to Duncan by cleaning his ears. hehe Do you have Ricky for breeding on the farm? Do you name all of them or just the ones that stay on the farm? Good idea about the nets and the little birds. They can get any nasty grubs that might be hibernating in the soil. Our robin loves it when we are digging and giving them some wormies. Hope you are holding up in the cold weather. Take care and have a great week!

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Duncan mostly names the more characterful cattle. He’s so funny as he seeks out Duncan for a fuss. In an ideal world I’d have left the fruit cage extension until the brassicas were finished but Duncan was keen to get on with it, so they had to take the hit. I loved some PSB last year, when we were moving the greenhouses, and they were fine. Hopefully these will be ok too Been spoilt here with a few dry days. It’s been lovely. Take care xx

[@AnyKeyLady]

@TheFarmyardGarden Aww That's nice. The cows i have been in contact with do seem like big heavy dogs, although wouldn't want them in my bed! lol Oh congrats on 9k btw! Yes with a busy farm, it is the best time really. Finger crossed for you but it will be great in the new section, when you get the fruit bushes in. Now our thornless raspberries in a bigger pot, i want to take cuttings this year. With me not sleeping properly, i sowed 72 peas- sugar snap and winter peas. Also 4 cucumbers. Just need to sow the leeks, turnips, beetroot and radish. Our same onions from the boxing day/potty mouth are coming up so much stronger this year already! So glad that i went back to baking the soil. Interestingly chilli's in the "cow"/ bio pots no germination yet. I only used them last year as it was a great way to do 9x9, so going to try a plastic tray as i don't think they work in our humid enviroment. Also going to bring down the peppers as hubby says the he hasn't watered them much as they are over wintering in the bathroom. They really need to dry out! Yes you guys have been blessed with warmer weather for a change. Still cold down south for us. Kinda concerned with the weather in Texas and the heavy jet stream heading our way come Thursday! Met Office said when it leaves Florida, they are predicting 200mph in the jet stream over the Atlantic before it reaches the NW by Thursday! Hope it isn't so bad and something disrupts it! xx

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@AnyKeyLady I have to say I’m struggling wing onion germination on the Mammoths I sowed at the beginning of this month. 12 up from 77 seeds. Very disappointing. I need to pot on my Boxing Day ones, they look a bit sad. We don’t have a weather warning for Thursday yet, so I’m hoping it stays that way 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@AnyKeyLady]

@TheFarmyardGarden Are they new or old seeds? If new that's not good. I found last year, apart from the awful weather and humidity, was fungus gnats. My main problem was following a trick to save money, was to just use boiling water on the soil to sterlize it. Big mistake as i forgot they live in a dry warm climate and not a wet humid climate, so i have gone back to baking soil. Another thing we did last year to combat fungus gnats, already around, was to use nematodes and that was a game changer! It's like antibiotics for plants, so sometimes need to be re applied. Last year, i had great germination of onions and chilli's and then most of them just died. I am finding this early germination a good indicator of things. Last year, i also found the premier seeds sugar snap peas weren't germinating. I am doing 24 premier peas and 24 B&Q verve 10p expired peas as a test. Nik told me to contact them but i get really awkward nowadays about whether i am sound like a "Karen". I had no problems with the Sutton's ones. I am hoping the Met Office 10 day trend on Weds, will give us a better idea on the direction. For the ppl in NW, i hope it is the more Northern map prediction. x

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

New seeds. 😭😭😭😭😭

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

Weather is so bad today! Rain is lashing! 😅

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Tomorrow is looking a bit dodgy with the storm heading in

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

@ Yh I hope the winds are not too bad I got to film

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

🙏🏻

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

I love cauliflower and broccoli much more now I grow them

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

❤️

[@christinebrooks6364]

Hi Christine, is your fruit cage from first tunnels? I have one exactly the same as that is where mine is from. I'm not planning to extend it though, happy with the size of mine. What a clever way of removing deep pieces of wood , brilliant! Great job sorting out your fruit cage build. Great video update. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Hi Christine. Yes, it’s from First Tunnels. I love their fruit cages. They’re so sturdy aren’t they? My daughter won’t eat the fruit if it’s not covered as she’s so paranoid about rodents having been on her food. It’s the main reason to extend the cage. It’s probably also why she only likes vegetables that are naturally covered.. like peas, carrots underground, potatoes and sweetcorn. I know it won’t stop them but it gives her a good placebo effect 🙈 🥰 I’m really happy with the extension now. It feels like it’s always been there.

[@Tea_and_thyme_2012]

OMG Clare “From Little Tomato Plants, Mighty Allotments Grow” 😂 it looks absolutely amazing and so pleasing to the eye. Your attention to the aesthetics is second to none (not that it matters, but I like it) and I love they way you always say ‘thank you’ to Duncan, what a lovely husband you’ve got there. I’m wanting to grow blueberries as my granddaughters love them, can you recommend any as I’m not a lover of them? Farm shots were fabulous too. Thanks Deb x

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Oh Debra… those two free tomato plants have snowballed haven’t they? Butterfly effect in full force 🤣 I so like the little details. We did also add a second support to the middle row of strawberries to help stop the bed from bowing out. I love it. It’s like the whole fruit cage has always been there. I was always fond of the little tunnel it looks so much neater entering the vegetable garden now. The ones I really liked are just from a Blue Diamond garden centre and were labelled simply as “Garden Inspirations. The pink lemonades are tasty too. Really vibrant coloured fruit. Not as prolific for me as the blue variety

[@janiceh3995]

I loved this video of yours! I understand wanting it for your strawberry bed… I invested in a 5m x2.5m fruit cage and I am totally filling it with strawberry plants!!! I am trying to do alot of vertical planting in it, and at the moment it seems to be working ok. I would love an extension to my fruit cage but ive only just paid for this ine so that will have to wait a while. But im soooo pleased for you and its looking great. It was nice to see the drilling of the self drilling screws as i have still got to do that on the door which i have been putting it off. Again, thankyou for sharing this video, x

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Wow… I’m envious of all the strawberry plants you’ll have! I still think I’ll wish I had more, but I may also try a greenstalk at some point for them, for vertical growing as well. We nearly forgot to do the self drilling screw bit. Was very much an afterthought. They take a while to get through two layers of metal but pretty straight forward. Our daughter likes to know things have been covered to eat them. It’s a bit of a help to ease her anxiety… not foolproof but it makes her feel better ❤️❤️

[@jaynekennedy8469]

Great work! Perhaps you should start making your own ericaceous compost - wood chip, oak leaves, coffee grounds and pine needles.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I can most definitely have a woodchip bay and I do have some pine needles. I get coffee grounds from a local bistro too. Thank you Jayne. EXCELLENT idea ❤️❤️

[@jaynekennedy8469]

@ it’ll definitely save you some money when you top up the beds. I’ve just been shovelling horse manure from a local lady who has a horse, so that I can compost it along with dry leaves, kitchen veg scraps, a bit of wood chip and coffee grounds. I made enough compost last year to cover all of my allotment beds with about 3cm. Hoping to do the same this year.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@jaynekennedy8469 I’m hoping to be more self sufficient as time moves on. I didn’t want to use all of my own compost for a new bed though (I wouldn’t have had enough anyway), as I think it’s perfect for me to use mine for top dressing. It’s going to be a big focus this year, increasing my yield. ❤️

[@spring_spirit]

That compost IS a little dear. I mixed it with pine sawdust, and some cones, work well!

[@jennyrigby3475]

I also came when you cleared the wash house and how hard you worked. Now I’ve enjoyed the garden work again worked very hard. Cannot wait to see what’s next. Thank you.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thank you so much for enjoying the broader, and original, content of the channel too. I’m so happy you are here ❤️❤️

[@rrichards1210]

Fabulous fruit cage. Just been in discussions with my husband about getting one. Definitely want one as big as the space will allow. How big is yours now? I need a lot of plants to feed us. My daughter will eat a 125gm punnet of raspberries in a blink, and at $7 it's a luxury.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Wow.. That’s expensive! It’s now 6m x 4m To be fair, I probably could grow raspberries outside of the fruit cage, as the thorns do put off a lot of birds.. problem we have is magpies and crows here on the farm, oh and seagulls. 😬😬😬

[@lynnegunns604]

Looks great. I had a brassic tunnel likes yours for Christmas I saw you had anchored it down all sides. Do you rate it? Also look forward to the wash house restoration x

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

It’s been great for me. I did when the wooden stakes in the ground to fasten it to, simply because that’s better than tripping over guide wires and tent pegs. I’d thoroughly recommend installing it how we did. I’m not sure where it will next feature, as I’d like to build a permanent brassica cage too. If I can make it fit with bed configurations (it’s 3m long and all my other beds are 2.4m) I’ll re-use

[@chrissiehart22]

Have you got a pink lemonade blueberry variety. Everyone says how good they are x

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I do, in fact I have two. They are delicious but they flowered earlier and got nipped by frost last year. I’ll fleece them if we have late frosts forecast this year, and they’re in flower.

[@chrissiehart22]

@TheFarmyardGarden it's definitely on my list for my new fruit cage. That's when I get around to building it. Been totally overwhelmed by it and put it off for few years 🙈. Got so much done that it's about the last big thing for me to do

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

Congratulations! You just hit 9,000 subscribers 😂❤️🥂

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

You jinxed it! Back to 8999 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

Oh no!! So it is. 😂😂😂😂🤦🤦

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

The yo-yo world of KZbin. I all excited then .. good while it lasted 🤣

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Ok.. you can say it again now. Any excuse for an extra glass of fizz 🤣❤️❤️❤️

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

@ congratulations 🥂 😂❤️xxx

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

Only 4 days late!

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Never too late x

[@aturner047]

My goal in life is to find myself a Duncan, but what I came to ask is what wood sizes do you use for the beds please?

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

He’s pretty handy to have isn’t he? I am very lucky. 🤗❤️ The wood is what we called Yorkshire Boarding. The same stuff we put on the outside of agricultural buildings. Its dimensions are 6 inches x 1 inch. We have it delivered from the local merchants and it comes in 4.8m lengths. It’s why all of my beds are intentionally sizes which can divide in to 4.8m

[@aturner047]

@TheFarmyardGarden I like the logic. Makes both your lives easier ❤️

[@Iamhome365]

I'm lucky to also have a Duncan but mine is called Peter 😊

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@ aww that’s good. We all need a willing volunteer of a partner to help action our latest ideas and projects 🤣 True story here but Duncan’s parents nearly called him Giles. Farmer Giles 🤣🙈

[@natz_knitz_uk]

I feel like I’d get way more done on my plot if I had “a Duncan”… do you loan him out? I can pay him in witty banter and high quality snacks? 😅

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I think Duncan thrives on snarky comments and broken promises of poor quality snacks… don’t spoil him too much, he might never come home 🤣🤣

[@spudsandroses]

Good job well done 👏 there's a great space in the cage now. Also the tall kales looked extra strong, hopefully they'll re-root with no bother... those kisses from Ricky 😂❤😂

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Ricky likes to give sloppy kisses. 🤣🤣🤣 I’m hoping the plants do well. Are you still covered in snow? Actually did I comment? I watched on the tv from bed… I need to check 🤣

[@Jacqui-Pen]

The ever evolving farmyard garden. So pleased you finally got your fruit cage extended. Everything looks fantastic Clare, as always! ❤

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Thanks Jacqui. It’s been so exciting to crack on with this project. It was relatively inexpensive to extend it but I feel it’s much more usable space now. I’m very, very pleased with it ❤️

[@Jacqui-Pen]

@TheFarmyardGarden can't wait Clare to see your bountiful harvests of fruit in the future. I wish at times my entire garden was inside a fruit cage 😀

[@georgemartin9618]

Tell Duncan to stop showing off with his fancy impact driver and go put a strap on the front of that wheelbarrow before it self destructs .. Thanks for yet another highly enjoyable visit to the farmyard garden.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 That made me laugh out loud! I can’t say goodbye to my favourite little wheelbarrow. He bought me a replacement (the green one you see with the ericaceous compost bags in it) but I hate it for tipping.. too heavy and too wide. This little pink barrow was one my daughter used to take to pony club camps about 15 years ago. As a side note. I bought him the impact driver a couple of Christmases ago. He pulled his face, said he didn’t need/want one. Fast forward .. loves it now 🤣🤣

[@DavidGibb-vo3df]

A lot of effort for a strawberry bed ,I grow all my strawberries vertical now so much less effort and you need so much less soil or compost.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I did contemplate a greenstalk but wasn’t sure what I’d do with the runners then. How do you find it?

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

Mabel ❤️🥂xxx

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

She’s so pretty. Actually quite friendly. Going to be spayed this week 😬😬

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

I hate having to do this.🤦😂❤️xxx

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@ me too but I don’t want her having kittens with her brother, especially. He’s going to the vets too. Charlie, the black and white kitten of the litter, he is in the house. Proper house cat now. So much so he runs away if you open the door. He likes his creature comforts