February Update: What are you growing in 2006

Curry_Queen

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what does "chit" mean?

Debt_Free_Chick

Curry_Queen wrote:

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what does "chit" mean?

It's funny word, innit?

It means getting your seed potatoes to sprout, before you plant them. Opinions differ on whether chitting is either necessary or beneficial. I tend to chit my earlies as they are in the ground for a shorter period of time, compared to the maincrops. So chitting them gives them a head start.

However, if you do chit, you should then only plant once the soil is warmed up - otherwise, there is a danger that a frost or a prolonged cold, wet spell will simply kill the sprouts off and you lose any head start you thought you had. If the weather is not suitable, continue to chit and don't plant.

To chit, I use old egg boxes. Place the seed potato with the rose end upwards - if you look carefully, you'll see little indentations in the potato where the sprouts will from - you need these at the top. Put the whole lot into a cool (not cold, but not warm) place, with some light (but not direct sunlight) and wait for them to sprout. Plant when the sprouts are about 2 inches long and be careful not to break them. Plant at the normal depth even if that means that the sprouts are fully covered. If they're not covered, then layer soil on top to cover them.

Having done all of that, I've since found this on the RHS website!

annie-c

Just to update and say that I had a delivery of seeds from Thompson and Morgan today. Some herbs, strawberries and some border flowers, to go along with the other packets I had already bought.

Will anyone be sowing seeds indoors/in propagators yet? Or am I getting overexcited a little early?

jesster_2

I really want to grow some herbs this year - because they're so expensive in the supermarket and WHY DO THEY ALWAYS HAVE EVERY SINGLE ONE APART FROM THE ONE YOU NEED???

I already have basil on my windowsill, but i'd like to grow some thyme, rosemary and parsley. Will they grow in pots? or do they need a proper herb garden, cus sadly my garden's all paved over!

gixxerchick_2

wow what a fantastic thread, i would love to grow my own veggies and herbs and i now know where to start. cheers

debbym

Have just taken on an allotment (125 ft by 25 ft) for just £14 a year. Having got over the initial glee over the low price I'm now mid-panic over what to fill it with so here's what we have so far:
Raspberry canes (15 with an early, summer and late variety) got OH to up 6ft fence posts (bit difficult when your only 5ft yourself) , got to do the planting and wire fixing myself though HO HUM!
Got a load of seeds from Lidl yesterday, onions, leeks, radishes, carrots and parsnips only 49p or 29p per packet depending on the size of packet (sorry no variety info but its in the other room and I'm too lazy LOL). They also had lots of herb seeds for sale as well.
I also plan to move the strawberry plants from my strawberry pot down there as well - its a big plot though so 9 strawberry plants are going to look kinda pathetic!

Debt_Free_Chick

jesster wrote:

I really want to grow some herbs this year - because they're so expensive in the supermarket and WHY DO THEY ALWAYS HAVE EVERY SINGLE ONE APART FROM THE ONE YOU NEED???

I already have basil on my windowsill, but i'd like to grow some thyme, rosemary and parsley. Will they grow in pots? or do they need a proper herb garden, cus sadly my garden's all paved over!

Rosemary & thyme will be fine in pots in the garden. Parsley OK in the summer, but bring it indoors in the winter.

Why not buy a nice large terracotta pot or trough and make a herb garden in it? It would make a lovely feature for a paved garden.

Suggest you add sage too. You can buy small plants of rosemary, thyme & sage very reasonably in a garden centre and grow parsley, coriander & basil from seed, to add to the container in the summer.

Here's an idea for a container and another here... but shop around for prices!

HTH

jesster_2

Thanks DFC, that's exactly what i needed!

annie-c

I couldn't resist planting some flower seeds the other week and the first shoots appeared today!

How silly of me to get so excited about it...

annie-c

I've now potted up 10 nasturtium plants and have about 16 chilli plants just beginning to grow from tiny shoots. I've planted soft fruit canes in the garden and have my early potatoes chitting indoors waiting for the cold weather to pass.

How is everyone else getting on, or are you waiting a bit longer before sowing your first seeds....?