veg growing Newbies- Feb 2010! lets learn together!

flis21

Ok, two questions.

1. How do you know whewn your potatos are chitted? I've left mine on a sunny windowsill and they are going a bit wrinkly!

2. Is it too late to do tomatos and strawberries? I started off really cautiously, but am doing well so far so would love to have a bash at these. Could I do it from seed or will I need to buy plants now?

Thanks all, weather is supposed to be nice next few days, so I'm hoping to get out in the garden and get some bits done. Going to plant out my parsnips as they are getting big now.

lynzpower

top_drawer wrote: »

hello,

Please can I join too?

I have planted up some lettuce (Grow your own from [EMAIL="Homeb@se)and"]Homeb@se)and[/EMAIL] have put them in sectioned pot things but am worried about replanting, there seems to be a lot........... not sure how many I should put in a trug thing (brightly coloured things from Home [EMAIL="B@rgains"]B@rgains[/EMAIL], 20 ltrs) and how much compost Im going to need as I would like to grow other things too - I have loads of seeds but have been Ummm-ing and ahhh-ing about buying compost. Do you think £18 for three large bags is good? thats what theyre selling them for on Preston market and they will deliver too (I dont drive).

At the moment each morning I am putting them outside and bringing them in about 7pm. I am also growing grass and wheatgrass for my guinea pigs. Is this ok? I am hoping to buying a greenhouse thing from Instore next week sometime, will this be warm enough for them?

Thanks everyone!!

Jen

For your lettuce they only need shallow, so the trug probably isnt the best idea for them, depends how many you are doing- obv they dont have big roots. this guide tells us we need to be thinning out ( ie taking out the extras)

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Grow-Your-Own/Veg-A-to-Z/Lettuce this is a great guide

Keep us posted x

lynzpower

freakyogre wrote: »

I did post earlier in the week, but see some posts have been deleted I'm the one who managed to kill cress if anyone remembers my post

I asked about my courgettes which are growing really well. I managed to see a one reply before it all disappeared which said I needed to re pot them NOW!! I haven't as of yet, but will be going to get some bits tomorrow and will do them over the weekend.

Would they be better off in a growbag (and if so, I assume I just open it, pop one or two of the 'plants' in there and treat as normal) or would pots be better?

The same with tomatoes and peppers (although they're not ready yet)

Thanks for your help

I remember :wave: So annoying about the other thread. Watch this one get pulled as well.

We should def get a new one for may. :wall:

Definately repot them into much larger pots, you might want to scrap one of them - choose the weakest. This mini pot you have will certainly run out of nutrients and Im guessing all the roots will be matting together so time is of the essence in saying that I think courgettes will survive no matter what ( eg the seedling you lob into your compost heap will probably grow, (courgettes are v hardy shall we say!)


I have my one seed in a large pot and it needs changing probably this weekend to be honest, I was hoping i wouldn't have to pot mine out until a couple of weeks later as I have a huge pot in the centre of the terrace which the bush will fill Im sure.

currently mine is in a pot aBOUT 25CM across if you have a look on my home page I think there is a pic there from last week?

x

lynzpower

I have 3 tomato plants (all bought from B&Q) in a large terracota pot in my conservatory. My plan is (at the suggestion of my auntie) to put these in a hanging basket outside. As advised to another poster by Katholicos I'll wait for a few more weeks before doing this in case there are any more frosts. My question is I am just watering them at the moment but did buy some feed from B&Q. When do you start feeding the plants? Should I already be doing this?
Thanks.

If you are planting in containers then definately YES, you should be feeding them now. This was the question I asked in the old thread and it looked like yes, I should be from advice on the RHS and alsothe titchmarsh book.

Feeding
From April to the end of August use a general-purpose proprietary liquid feed or, preferably, a high-nitrogen feed.
Alternatively, add a controlled-release fertiliser at planting time.
With soil-less composts, make sure fertiliser includes essential trace elements.
After late summer feeding is usually suspended until mid-sping; however bedding plants and other short-lived annuals will still benefit from feeding until early autumn.
Feed when the compost is moist.

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?PID=350

scotsaver

flis21 wrote: »

Ok, two questions.

1. How do you know whewn your potatos are chitted? I've left mine on a sunny windowsill and they are going a bit wrinkly!

2. Is it too late to do tomatos and strawberries? I started off really cautiously, but am doing well so far so would love to have a bash at these. Could I do it from seed or will I need to buy plants now?

Thanks all, weather is supposed to be nice next few days, so I'm hoping to get out in the garden and get some bits done. Going to plant out my parsnips as they are getting big now.

I've already put my potatoes in the ground, been chitting since Feb. I kept them in a dark part of the kitchen, I don't think they should be on a windowsill, that's probably what's made them wrinkly, they are ready for planting when they have roughly a 2" shoot.

I'm also confused about the April thread, I posted stuff on there and it too seems to have been removed when merged with this Thread.:(

elantan

flis21 wrote: »

Ok, two questions.

1. How do you know whewn your potatos are chitted? I've left mine on a sunny windowsill and they are going a bit wrinkly!

2. Is it too late to do tomatos and strawberries? I started off really cautiously, but am doing well so far so would love to have a bash at these. Could I do it from seed or will I need to buy plants now?

Thanks all, weather is supposed to be nice next few days, so I'm hoping to get out in the garden and get some bits done. Going to plant out my parsnips as they are getting big now.

as far as i know (but i am a newbie too) when they are chitted they have an inch stem of the root ... your earlies should really be in by now and your main crop in or ready to go in ... i have two crops of mine in ...one is doing well the other not so .. but thats ok ..

go for the strawbs and tomatoes most deff .. wouldnt buy any seeds you wont get anywhere at this time of year (i dont think).... i would go for plug plants they are relativley cheap and will start you off just nicely

were expecting snow over the weekend so i am getting ready to inform hubby everything has to come in the house ... he wont like it ha ha


good luck

rosie383

Snow??????? Please tell me you are up in Scotland and not down south?

elantan

yep ... and thanks for thinking of me lol

[Deleted User]

lynzpower wrote: »

If you are planting in containers then definately YES, you should be feeding them now. This was the question I asked in the old thread and it looked like yes, I should be from advice on the RHS and alsothe titchmarsh book.



http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?PID=350

I have bought some of those tablets for hanging baskets do you think if i pop one of those into each tomato and chilli pot it will be enough or do I need to invest in some tomato feed??

These from wilco - http://www.selections.com/GF7990/miracle-gro-controlled-release-plant-food-tablets-33x5g-tablets/?utm_source=googlebase&of_tid=vceDpGc9Nh1yMhfYyntxU69CKbmYPcbZG2nXZWJMGa8pWmrHbva5bJIz_CpGMOVA

lynzpower

i saw thosetoo shelvis

What does it say on the packet?