My Home-grown Journey

bebee_2 · 25 March 2009 at 8:07PM

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Did you water the pots from the tops after you sowed the seeds?

Hi Lotus-eater
Yes i did was this wrong? as they came with a growing bag kit from wilkinsons and i just followed the instructions. I have another one to do so advice would be good as only a novice.
ps mine where in the back hall which is heated if that helps

Lotus-eater · 26 March 2009 at 8:16AM

bebee wrote: »

Hi Lotus-eater
Yes i did was this wrong? as they came with a growing bag kit from wilkinsons and i just followed the instructions. I have another one to do so advice would be good as only a novice.
ps mine where in the back hall which is heated if that helps

What I do is this. I make sure I warm up the compost first, or bring the pots into the house to warm up for a day before sowing.
I then water from the bottom, ie stand in a tray of water until you see the top of the compost go damp, then remove and allow to drain, put the seeds on top of the compost, or slightly below the surface depending on the seeds and cover up with a small sprinkling of fresh compost.
Always water like this from underneath and allow to drain, if you water from above, as you found out you can wash the seeds down the pot and compact the surface of the compost stopping the seeds germinating.
I water like this all of my plants in pots, till they are much bigger and even then I find it better, just takes a bit longer.

Use slightly warm water when originally sowing, or at least room temperature. And always try to use room temperature after that for indoor plants, it's not essential as I sometimes don't have time, but I always try to do it.

HariboJunkie · 29 March 2009 at 12:19PM

Managed to spend the wholeday in the garden yesterday and got lots more tidying done. I had done it all before but OH chopped down lots of trees from the cliff at the back of the garden and the debris of leaves and twigs was littering the borders and the gravel. :rolleyes:

Tidied up the greenhouse a bit too and divided some drumstick primulas.

Peas and broad beans are doing well in the troughs at the back of the raised veg beds. I put bubble wrap over them last night to ward against the predicted -3 temp but there is no frost this morning so it seems it wasn't needed.

I cleared the remaining 8 cabbages from another bed and they are now parboiled, chopped and in the freezer and I have dug some chicken manure and worm castings into the bed in readyness for the rocket, spinach and lettuce seedlings to go in next week.

My raised herbaceous borders were built when this house was in the late 1920s and are at right angles to eachother. The harshness of the right angle has always annoyed me so yesterday I built a raised dry stone bed in a curve at the angle which has softened it and sowed some poppies, alyssium and nasturtium seeds. Just need to keep the dog off it now.

Other than that I am just watching the tomato, cucmber, chilli, leek and herb seedlngs getting bigger. Can't wait to move them to the greenhouse and reclaim my windowsills.

Hoping to get the spuds in today and that should be it for another week.

I also introduced some niger seed to the bird feeders and got a siskin for the first time yesterday. :j

Leopardlady · 30 March 2009 at 9:07AM

Good morning, Well i spent very little time in the garden yesterday, which seems a little sad, but hey ho.

My sweetcorn that is under cloches in the raised beds is goind well, so am happy with that, despite the hail storms!

I am going to put the 4th out today, and put some squashes seeds in its place on the windowsill in the spare room.

My shallotts are poking out a little bit, which is very exciting:) I love going out into the garden to see if there is anything new, it is helping me calm down about TTC! (well a little bit!)

I have just got some free salad leave seeds from Lakeland garden catalogue, so they will get sown quite soon, in a raised bed, with netting, and maybe slug pellets ( i know not great, but i lost everything last year).

Right, i hope the weather is condusive to lots of gardening this week

robnye · 30 March 2009 at 3:38PM

i planted out some seedlings yesterday in my newly made (for this season) raised bed..... only for there to be a blooming frost last night.... why didnt i check the weather forcast..... doh.

does anyone intermingle there plants.... ie grow somethingin between others?
like can i grow garlic in between onions.. etc

Leopardlady · 30 March 2009 at 4:05PM

I am going to grow carrots between my garlic and my onions, as apparently it deters carrot fly! There are a number of plants you can intermingle. But i don't know all of them, i do plant onions and garlic together normally, this is my first year growing carrots.

Good luck

SkintGypsy · 30 March 2009 at 5:20PM

Leopardlady wrote: »

I cleared out my plastic tower, and now have sweet peas, carrots, beans, peas and sunflowers all planted in pots in there, i also have a mushroom box in there too.

First ever post on MSE, despite being a major lurker since this time last year. Your thread inspired me!

Anywho, we have just started growing some stuff from seed (toms, runners, some herbs; nothing too scary) but have seen a mushroom growing kit in my local garden centre and was wondering how difficult this is to do, what kind of conditions I need to grow them in, and generally if there are any reasons why not to. Was going to grow in a large pot. Any advice much appreciated.

fiftyeighter_2 · 30 March 2009 at 8:18PM

I think I'd better get my finger out. You all seem to be way ahead of me. I have spent the last few days having a blitz on my veggie patch. i.e
digging over beds
turning compost heap
burning rubish
I do have my fruit bushes and rhubarb all growing well and my strawberries are on the move. I have also seeded some carrots but that is about all.
I do have all my seeds but was hoping to get on with that tomorrow. You all make me feel very behind with things. But well done to all of you.

harib0uk · 30 March 2009 at 9:07PM

SkintGypsy wrote: »

have seen a mushroom growing kit in my local garden centre and was wondering how difficult this is to do, what kind of conditions I need to grow them in, and generally if there are any reasons why not to. Was going to grow in a large pot. Any advice much appreciated.

Apparently they are very hit and miss... give it a go if you don't mind wasting the money they cost... never done one myself, but just what I have read

jintyb · 31 March 2009 at 8:32AM

Originally Posted by SkintGypsy

have seen a mushroom growing kit in my local garden centre and was wondering how difficult this is to do, what kind of conditions I need to grow them in, and generally if there are any reasons why not to. Was going to grow in a large pot. Any advice much appreciated.

Hi there: My advice is DONT BOTHER! I gave one of those kits a go a couple of months ago and NOTHING happened! They seem to be a little temperamental and a waste of money!

Have started my seeds : Toms Alicante, Basil, Chillis on my windowsill and have got the first of my tatties in a tub!
This is the very first time Ive tried this, so Im grateful for all the tips and advice!

Re combination planting, Carol Klein writes a bit about this, as its a traditional way of keeping pests away.For example, my Dad whose 78, always plants French marigolds under his roses as they keep greenfly away. All I know is that it must work as his roses are always fabulous! ( I know this is not veg related but you get my drift):easter_ba

My Home-grown Journey

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