April Update: What are you growing in 2006?

Linda32

Strepsy wrote:

Boohoohoo, the frost got one of my tomatoes and a few other plants are looking a bit limp/frizzled at the edges. Cursed greenhouse Is there anything I can do to help the ones that aren't too bad recover?

I don't think there is anything you can do, its upto the plant. Fingers crossed.

Curry_Queen

Strepsy wrote:

Boohoohoo, the frost got one of my tomatoes and a few other plants are looking a bit limp/frizzled at the edges. Cursed greenhouse Is there anything I can do to help the ones that aren't too bad recover?

I got caught out last night too, despite being so careful the previous night, and although my tomatoes still look ok, my nasturtiums and rocket are looking a little worse for wear

I'm hoping the strong sun we've got this morning is sufficient to help them recover a bit. Just for the record, a forecast I heard this morning reckons we'll be getting cold/frosty nights right into next week now, so I might bring everything back indoors again later today.

kjl26

xueta wrote:

It's not too late to sow sweetpeas.

The cardboard tube of a toilet roll can be used instead of a peat pot or a plastic plant pot. Just fill it with compost and plant as normal. When it comes to planting out in the ground, put the whole module (cardboard as well) into the ground. The cardboard will bio-degrade. This method avoids having to disrupt the roots when planting out.

HTH

Yep, that's what I did. It's also in a pot (not sure why I did this now, but it must have been something my dad mentioned) and raised up out of the pot, so the compost doesn't fall out of the bottom and the roots get a bit more room to grow. Actually am now a bit confused as to why I did that... !

kjl26

Linda32 wrote:

Of course its okay :T

Are the Toms on a windowsill? Thats correct by the way and if so the plants are leaning towards the light, which is natural. However the way to counteract that is to turn the pot around each day, so the side that was facing the outside is facing inwards.

That way the plant will reach over the otherside for the light, thus eventually straightening the stem

Hope that makes sence.

Whatever you do, don't put them out until the frost has passed. Which can be the end of May in some area's. Thats the case for me in Leicester, which is about in the middle, sorry don't know where you are.

When you do put them out, take then in and out for about two weeks during the day, this gets them accustumed to the outside.

Depending on the weather, (wind / rain) you might have to devise a system or area for protection. Stop them drowning or blowing away :eek:

Thanks very much Linda . I'm in north London, apparently there is more frost coming next week so they are staying indoors for the forseeable.

Yup they are on the windowsill and I think they are stretching towards the sun - the stems seem to be strengthening and leaves are growing so they're not just toppling over. I will start turning them, thanks for that.

annie-c

So, do you fill the whole toilet roll with compost, or is the point that the top, unfilled bit supports the growing plant?

Thanks

Annie

kjl26

serena wrote:

Spinach - look carefully at the base of the stem just at soil level. Does it look thin and brown? If so, it has a fungal disease, damping off, which can be a problem with seedlings.Try to keep on the drier side and the plants may grow out of it. Or you could sow direct in the garden.

I think that this is what it is (I got a the vegetable expert book last night and have been looking it up) - so I will try and keep it a bit drier. On the plus side they seem to have stopped dying and some of the remaining stems are growing up well - I wonder whether they were crowding each other too (it's a speedy seeds variety from suttons and the packet said 'sow liberally' and 'no thinning required', whereas everything else I have read about spinach says you need to thin . so perhaps that is another reason).

Thanks for your sweetpea advice too - if I want to put them out in a pot and grow them up a cane construction of some sort can I stick them all in the same one (in their toilet rools lol)? It's the sort of potting on steps that I am confused about

kjl26

annie-c wrote:

So, do you fill the whole toilet roll with compost, or is the point that the top, unfilled bit supports the growing plant?

Thanks

Annie

That's what I was confused about in the beginning but it's for the root, not the plant (I hope this is right!) - I have a stick supporting the plant out the top as it was a bit wobbly, making it quite a colossal structure....

Linda32

annie-c wrote:

So, do you fill the whole toilet roll with compost, or is the point that the top, unfilled bit supports the growing plant?

Thanks

Annie

Other way around, sweetpeas / peas like a long root run, you can buy root trainers but loo rolls are free :rotfl: :T

I'd leave about a CM or so just so when you water it dosn't overflow.

annie-c

Ooh, I see, thanks! I wouldn't have guessed that!

Am off out to buy sweet pea seeds now!!!

Linda32

kjl26 wrote:

Thanks for your sweetpea advice too - if I want to put them out in a pot and grow them up a cane construction of some sort can I stick them all in the same one (in their toilet rools lol)? It's the sort of potting on steps that I am confused about

Thats it, plant loo roll and all. The loo roll but just rots away.