March Update: What are you growing in 2006?

silverbirch_3 · 11 March 2006 at 11:21AM

only just found this thread, i planted cauliflower, peppers, tomatoes and beetroot a few weeks ago in seed trays with clear lids from wilko. I put the whole packet in each seed tray, should i have just planted a few? The cauliflower seems to be going mad, and the beetroot isn't far behind but no sign of any tomatoes or peppers yet. I'm going to have to seperate the cauliflowers soon as they are looking very crowded, how long before i can plant them out?

I'm fortunate in that i have a large garden that has never really been used so its just a blank canvas so what else would you reccommend i plant for a beginner, I want to be able to fill my new slow cooker from the garden so saving even more money. I also hope that by getting the kids involved they will be keener to eat veggies that they have helped to grow rather than the usual frozen packs from the supermarket that they turn up there noses at.

serena · 11 March 2006 at 11:37AM

The very easiest things to grow I think are:

Potatoes, first early, planted at the end of March
Shallots, plant now
Broad beans, anytime from now on
Leaf beet, late March on
Beetroot, anytime from now on
Lettuce leaves mixed packet of seed sow every 3 weeks, from latye March on - but you'll need to keep slugs off

Runner and french beans, from mid-May
Tomatoes, from plants, end of May
Courgettes, from seed, sow one seed per pot somewhere warm in about late April, plant out end May. You'll only need 3/4 plants

One of the best books on vegetable growing is Joy Larkcom's 'Grow Your Own Vegetables' Costs about £9 in paperback.

On the other hand, things that are more difficult to grow are:cucumbers, cauliflowers, brussel sprouts, swede, melons. Carrots can also be tricky on heavy soil.

silverbirch_3 · 11 March 2006 at 12:40PM

ooooh, why are cauliflowers difficult? i have a whole packet worth as seedlings so if you can advise me of possible problems now i will be prepared. Also slugs, any tips for keeping them away, i used to have a hosta and the slugs destroyed it, i have loads of slugs and snails in my garden.

Soil in garden is quite heavy although on the one side it is a lovely rich brown and neighbours tell us that the lady that lived here previously (about 15 years ago) used to grow vegetables on this side of the garden so i presume thats why the soil is better as its had fertilizer added? would this still be evident so many years later?

bluemoon_3 · 11 March 2006 at 3:54PM

I have some lovely little seedlings appearing now - the moneymaker tomatoes sprung up practically overnight, and the petunias, rudbeckias and gaillardias have been opening over the last 2-3 days. Today is only a week from sowing them! No sign of the black-eyed susans yet, or the callistemons.

I still have more of these same seeds held back to do a later sowing too, as well as some other varieties.

I wanted to ask the experienced seed growers here: So far I've had the seed trays covered with clear plastic lids as makeshift propagators. Now the seed leaves are appearing, is it time to remove the lids?

Thanks in advance.

silverbirch_3 · 12 March 2006 at 2:13PM

went to local garden centre yesterday and came back with 4 tomato plants, different varieties, 8 strawberry plugs, and i also planted some spring onion and raddish seeds that i bought ages ago. Can wait to get something to eat from them.

annie-c · 12 March 2006 at 2:53PM

bluemoon wrote:

I wanted to ask the experienced seed growers here: So far I've had the seed trays covered with clear plastic lids as makeshift propagators. Now the seed leaves are appearing, is it time to remove the lids?

Thanks in advance.

Bluemoon, I'm not an expert, but I read that you should keep the propagator lid on til the seedlings nearly reach the top. I accidentally left mine off for a day last week and lost one seedling... it just drooped and never recovered....

wigginsmum · 12 March 2006 at 7:49PM

Anyone successfully spawned mushrooms? Suttons have some lion's mane spawn at the moment which really appeals to me as they're supposed to taste like lobster, and I wondered how difficult it is.

hilary1 · 12 March 2006 at 7:58PM

Can we have an OS gardening thread (like the info for garlic). Or is there one somewhere??

I tried garlic last year and lost them all for some reason. I tried strawberries but only got 2 fruit (in hanging baskets).

But I do grow cherry tomatoes in a hanging basket with great success by only watering them and feeding them tomato feed once a week. I did buy some seeds the first year but now I use seeds out of a cherry tomato.

The neighbours stare at the basket probably wondering what sort of flower it is?

K9cuddles · 12 March 2006 at 8:22PM

I fancy doing something like this.. but can only use hanging baskets too... Is there any other fruit/veg you've tried?

nuttyrockeress · 12 March 2006 at 8:26PM

I think it would be a great idea.

Me and OH grow chillies or various varieties and also have lots of luck with Cherry toms in baskets.

We also tried spring onions last year and fed all our reletives!

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March Update: What are you growing in 2006?

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