veg growing Newbies- Feb 2010! lets learn together!

tim_n

Glitterati wrote: »

Thanks for much for the advice tim_m and sarymclary! Very useful thanks!
Today I've been to Poundland and the 99p store and I admit did end up going slightly carried away but nevermind!

One of the things I bought were some potatoes, I obviously didn't read the label correctly as I thought they were maris piper but they are actally called maris peer. It said plant from march to april but i decided to just buy them anyway, but do you think it's ok to plant them now? Another thing i was worried about is the fact they have sprouted like crazy and have sprouts poking out that are about 5 inches in length and also the potatoes are very squidgy. Is this going to be a problem as when I saw a 'how to' video on growing potatoes they were minus sprouts and didn't really look like they were soft? So I'm thinking mine might have 'gone off'? lol I have no clue about gardening as you can tell and no worries if they won't be any good! Hope someone can help!

As the potato 'chits' it does go a bit squidgy - don't worry but get them into the ground ASAP. Heap the soil into a ridge over the top as the further the potato grows up, the more potatoes it produces. Does sound like they need immediate planting though.

If you've not got ground to plant them in, get them in pots, old tyres filled with compost etc.

Glitterati

Thanks so much tim_n! Just have to go out and find some suitable containers as all my mums are way too small, then get them planted this afternoon hopefully!

sarymclary

Great pictures heynonny and Shelvis. I love seeing how everyone else's stuff is coming along, and gives me hope for my own.

My tomato seeds never sprouted, although I still water the seed tray of compost regularly, in the hope that they will sprout, but it seems I either had a dud packet of seeds, or I planted them too early and it was just too cold still in the greenhouse. I do have an Aladdin paraffin heater that I acquired when I rehomed the greenhouse, but with a fresh wick, and new paraffin it smoked so badly that I had to clean all the greenhouse from top to bottom, and it had covered my small plants in soot! That was back in February, and I daren't use it since.

I've found large plastic trugs in a variety of colours in the Co-Op foodstore today for £3.99 each, and they're ideal for planting on my potatoes or pumpkins. I just need more compost now... sold out in there, so a trip to the DIY store is needed now.

Here's my efforts so far:
Raised beds made from scaffold boards we salvaged from a builders yard for free.

Radishes


Here's the link to more pictures : http://s1021.photobucket.com/albums/af334/sarymclary01/Garden%20Magic/?action=organize



Mixed lettuce

Celery

Glitterati

Great pics sarymclary! love to see peoples pics for inspiration!

Can I ask what size are the trugs you bought? I've seen some 40 litre ones on the adsa website which I'm sending my dad off to buy for me later, do you think these will be ok for growing potatoes? and if so how many would you suggest adding to each 40 litre trug?

kazire

all of these pics are great keept them commin! BTW that u shaped rasied bed looks amazing wish i had a bigger garden!

oldskoolretro

Heya all i have just read in another post that if you do a raised bed and dont kinda compact the compost that it wont be as good, also should i have used top soil too?

I still havent a clue, radishes seem to be doing well but havent grown any actual radishes yet, my chillis and peppers dont seem t be doing too great either i hope i havent made a mess of everything

MORPH3US

Glitterati wrote: »

I've seen some 40 litre ones on the adsa website which I'm sending my dad off to buy for me later

Hi Glitterati, how much were the trugs in Asda please?

Anyone know if they are in Tesco cheap also please and how they compare (price / size)?

kimmee

Great photos sarymclary - your garden looks so tidy!!! Wish my radishes looked like that

A bit of advice please peeps - I've been hardening off my toms since last weekend and they're looking decidedly sorry for themselves. I'm growing Gardeners Delight and Mini Bels. The Mini Bels seem to be ok but the Gardeners Delights are looking a bit pale! The top leaves are a nice green but the lower leaves are very pale and a bit droopy, infact some leaves seem to be dying :eek: HELP!!

Any advice very gratefully recieved as I've never grown toms from seed, always just had plants from my mum that are ready for planting out.

GarnetLady

My broad beans have started sprouting! :j

No sign of carrots or chives yet, but I'll keep watching.

I think my tomatoes have red spider mite. They've now been attacked with bug off so I'll see what happens.

lynzpower

kimmee wrote: »

Great photos sarymclary - your garden looks so tidy!!! Wish my radishes looked like that

A bit of advice please peeps - I've been hardening off my toms since last weekend and they're looking decidedly sorry for themselves. I'm growing Gardeners Delight and Mini Bels. The Mini Bels seem to be ok but the Gardeners Delights are looking a bit pale! The top leaves are a nice green but the lower leaves are very pale and a bit droopy, infact some leaves seem to be dying :eek: HELP!!

Any advice very gratefully recieved as I've never grown toms from seed, always just had plants from my mum that are ready for planting out.

What size pots are they in and are you feeding them?