veg growing Newbies- Feb 2010! lets learn together!

Orange_King

princess_skint_a_lot wrote: »

Hi there everyone, im new to this board, normally post on the old style board, but have just moved into a house with a fair sized garden and want to make it work for us. I bought some potatoe tubers in january, hopin to get them in early into my veg patch, but with the minus 14 weather we have had and the continuous snow (i live in rural scotland) ive not been able to put anything in. The potatoes i had chitting on my window ledge are there still, months on and im wondering if they will still be ok to plant as they are lookin really shrivelled now, but they still have sprouty bits. Im so new to vegetable gardening and want to apologise for sounding so thick. Also does anyone else have any suggesions as to what to plant in there?

Kind Regards

Debbie

You could at least try the spuds. I have only recently planted some brocolli, parsnips and sprouts but I'm sure you could still try beetroot, carrots, peas, beans and shallots. Also lettuce and herbs would be worh a try.

alliwantistosave

lovelife wrote: »

Just a thought is it possible to grow leeks in 2 litre plastic pop bottles with the top cut off, thought they might be deep enough,wondering if anyone has tried this?

Haven't tried this but sounds a lovely idea. Only problem I can see is that it maybe a little too light for them? (if you use clear plastic IYSWIM) So you might have to cover them in something to get the darkness.
I hope that makes sense.
We tried to grow leeks last year but didn't get very big and something kept eating them so not trying this year

misskool

lynzpower wrote: »

hi guys

feeling really disappointed as loads of my stuff is dying

I can barely talk about it!

What feed has everyone used for thier containers, this is why everything is dying, please dont not feed your stuff otherwise, obviously only one way its going to go _pale_

are they dying because you've fed them massively or they've been in the cold? I remember you potting out tender veg like pattypans and courgettes a few weeks ago and we've had a cold snap in the last week.

misskool

janibrown wrote: »

I have a pot 15 inches and 13 inches deep is it poss to plant 2 pumpkin plants in this or is it too small would like to plant them in one of my raised beds but am fearfull that they will take over anyone got any ideas please xxxxx

I would put 1 pumpkin plant and water regularly. They are quite hungry plants and trail a lot. What variety of pumpkin is it? If it's a small one then it might be ok. If you're attempting to grow a big carving pumpkin, it might not get very big

izzwizz_2

Like kimmie, we haven't started feeding anything yet. There should be plenty in the compost to start with and things aren't growing very quickly in this weather. Also, feeding will encourage the plants to put on fleshy growth which is more susceptible to the cold. This time of year I want the plants to be small and stocky so as to be more hardy (mind you, we are in Northern Ireland - I'm surprised it's still that cold in London).

izzwizz_2

We have some fennel growing in pots that I want to grow for the bulbs and I've been hardening it off for 10 days. Does anyone know if it can stand a little frost? It desperately needs planting out, but we are still getting the occasional slight frost at night. The locals have told me not to risk non-hardy stuff until June.

sarymclary

This weather is doing my head in! It was so cold again last night, and I went outside and covered over everything in my raised bed.. I used old 70l compost bags, and a fleece blanket draped over canes. I even put bubblewrap over my carrots, and over some of my baby seedlings inside the greenhouse. I wish my greenhouse heater worked properly.

At least it's a bit sunnier today, so hoping the earth will be able to get some warmth into it. Another frost forecast for tonight, but I've seen a longer-term forecast too, and it's about 16c daytime at the weekend, and milder at night too. I'm sure the lack of heat is to explain for the stunted growth of a lot of my plants.

Lynz - my immediate thought was that the cold was very likely to have affected your plants. Can any be salvaged, even repotted and taken inside until it warms up? I often buy neglected, poorly looking plants and bring them back to life. My theory is that if there's still a bit of green, and healthy looking roots, there's a chance. I rarely feed mine. I don't tend to feed until well into the summer months, as if I've used good potting compost, or it's gone into my soil (which I'm fortunate is very good) I tend to think the nutrients should be there for it. I know I grow more by luck than knowledge, but it tends to work.

lynzpower

Hi gang:

Yes sorry Ive been MIA

Yes some have been salvaged. They will need to be fed as they are in containers - so the amount of nutrients in the compost will have long expired by now especially as some of them are quite small containers IYSWIM

The prob is I need compost, pots, feed etc but have a b****erd hand ythat there is no chance I can get the compost back from B&Q. However, Ive fouind someone that will deliver it so will put in a delivery order later today to try to see if I can get it for saturday. Was hoping to go today, but hand thew way it is- NO chance!

Oh well it was always going to be risky to try to get everything going and things were bound to fail particularly things that are not great in small containers - you live and learn!

lynzpower

misskool wrote: »

are they dying because you've fed them massively or they've been in the cold? I remember you potting out tender veg like pattypans and courgettes a few weeks ago and we've had a cold snap in the last week.

Actually the courgettelooks burned and the patty pan look like theyve ran out of nutrients.

Ilive in hope of a revival!

heynonnynonny

sarymclary wrote: »

This weather is doing my head in! It was so cold again last night, and I went outside and covered over everything in my raised bed.. I used old 70l compost bags, and a fleece blanket draped over canes. I even put bubblewrap over my carrots, and over some of my baby seedlings inside the greenhouse. I wish my greenhouse heater worked properly.

At least it's a bit sunnier today, so hoping the earth will be able to get some warmth into it. Another frost forecast for tonight, but I've seen a longer-term forecast too, and it's about 16c daytime at the weekend, and milder at night too. I'm sure the lack of heat is to explain for the stunted growth of a lot of my plants.

I agree, it is driving me insane bringing loads of pots in every night, out again in morning, moving around the garden, fleecing and covering everything, getting a bit disheartened with it now.


Lynzpower fingers crossed for revival!!