May Update: What are you growing in 2006? (Tips here for Fruit, Veggies and Flowers!)

LizD_2

They suggested on Gardener's World last week to only use grey water that contained 'green' washing up liquid, e.g Ecover range. Could just be a cynical marketing ploy!

reverie

Lulubells wrote:

Thanks for the pototes bin post - what a fab idea- how big a crop do you reckon you would get then from those seven seed potatoes ? - I'm a novice and have no idea !

Lulubells and Linda, I did this last year. I used seed potatoes which were reduced from Homebase late in the year and going really manky, and the potatoes were still lovely!

I filled the bin about a third with compost, put 4/5 potatoes on top evenly spaced out and then covered with about a third more compost. As the plants grew I added more compost every few weeks so that the stalks got covered. Then I waited for the plants to flower and die off. Then emptied the bin on a plastic sheet and picked out all of the potatoes. Hope it goes well for you!

Strepsy

I've just done this with a big black old dustbin from my gran's and put in 8 potatoes. Hope that's not too many. I bought too big a bag and still have 31 maincrop spuds left... oh dear. Might have to freecycle some. Just pestered a neighbour and she's had 4. hehe

seraphina

Bit late to this thread but I've just put my tomato plants outside in grow-bags - I have some little 'uns left inside in case anything disastrous happens to the ones outside!

I also sowed a dozen or so lettuce seeds and every single one has come up in a little sproutling - three test cases are outside in an old compost filled sink under Coke bottle tops. If these thrive I'll move the rest out soon.

Also have some peppers and chillies waiting for their turn outside!

Linda32

reverie wrote:

Lulubells and Linda, I did this last year. I used seed potatoes which were reduced from Homebase late in the year and going really manky, and the potatoes were still lovely!

I filled the bin about a third with compost, put 4/5 potatoes on top evenly spaced out and then covered with about a third more compost. As the plants grew I added more compost every few weeks so that the stalks got covered. Then I waited for the plants to flower and die off. Then emptied the bin on a plastic sheet and picked out all of the potatoes. Hope it goes well for you!

Thanks, The one's I've planted in pots are just poking through now. Exciting times

reverie

Does everyone think we have seen the last frost? I am in Birmingham. Can't decide if my runner beans will be safe or not

Linda32

reverie wrote:

Does everyone think we have seen the last frost? I am in Birmingham. Can't decide if my runner beans will be safe or not

No deffently not, I'm in Leicester and my plants are not going outside until at least the end of May.

We had a frost last year after the 25th of May, yes I'm sad enough to remember :rotfl:

reverie

Oh bah! I was getting excited about giving them a change of scenery

annie-c

Strepsy wrote:

I've just done this with a big black old dustbin from my gran's and put in 8 potatoes. Hope that's not too many. I bought too big a bag and still have 31 maincrop spuds left... oh dear. Might have to freecycle some. Just pestered a neighbour and she's had 4. hehe

Strepsy - as well as/instead of freecycling some of your extra spuds, you could try asking on freecycle if anyone has any large pots/flower buckets/bins they could pass on to you? I did this and got 3 bin liners full of pots of various sizes. I'm going to 'return' the favour by freecycling my excess tomato seedlings.

I have around 15 spuds planted so far in tubs of various sizes. What I'm unsure about is when to put a second lot of compost on top. At the moment a few are about 8" high and bushy with leaves. Do I wait until there is a longer stem before building up the compost, or am I supposed to cover the leaves??

Strepsy

annie-c wrote:

Strepsy - as well as/instead of freecycling some of your extra spuds, you could try asking on freecycle if anyone has any large pots/flower buckets/bins they could pass on to you? I did this and got 3 bin liners full of pots of various sizes. I'm going to 'return' the favour by freecycling my excess tomato seedlings.

I have around 15 spuds planted so far in tubs of various sizes. What I'm unsure about is when to put a second lot of compost on top. At the moment a few are about 8" high and bushy with leaves. Do I wait until there is a longer stem before building up the compost, or am I supposed to cover the leaves??

That's a very good idea annie-c, I might just do that. Thanks.

I would get your spuds earthed up now. Tbh I did them every few inches, just covered them right over again - maybe slightly over-vigilant but it's also extra protection against a surprise frost.