veg growing Newbies- Feb 2010! lets learn together!

sarymclary

antonia, if you've got some old net curtains, they're a good thing to prop over your crops. I use bamboo canes to support my covers, and am fortunate that I had some netting left in my shed, that I'd used for the rabbit run last year. As a short-term option, propping anything like a light sheet over where they are, as a protective tent.

I'm using an upturned trug to protect my tomato plant outside, and I am using upturned drawers out of one of those kiddies plastic drawer storage sets, over my carrots and salad leaves. I also place upturned carrier bags over individual pots. I now eye all plastic containers, boxes and bags as either a planting or protecting opportunity. I've planted seedlings up in yoghurt, cottage cheese, margarine, & custard pots, and even in the plastic tray some croissants came in.

Today I've decided to take the plunge and planted up my potatoes, which were nicely chitted. I saved the bags I got with a reduced pack of seed potatoes last year, so have used those. I've found a nice sunny spot for them, in front of a shed, where they'll be protected from frosts I hope.

izzwizz_2

Forecast isn't too cold for the next few days and we had a bit of sunshine inbetween the showers today, so I decided to risk it and planted out the fennel. Fingers crossed!

The 30 pots of spinach in the greenhouse have nowhere to go - I'm waiting for hubby to build 3rd raised bed. Don't want to hassle him when he's been so good building everything else. Not sure what to do with the spinach though, I've run out of window boxes (all 21 are full of salads & shallots)...

izzwizz_2

janibrown wrote: »

Has anyone heard of
www.incredible-edible-ramsbottom.co.uk
www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk
They are poping up everywhere really good idea I have been helping with the Ramsbottom project

That's a coincidence - just picked a load of ransoms for the freezer. Tastes lovely, but doesn't half make the kitchen & freezer stink :rotfl:

janibrown

My potatoes have been outside since early March with no problems at all looking really healthy fingers crossed touch wood and the rest. Peas are coming up well as is spinach, carrots, purple sprouting broc, onions, garlic, toms, peppers, pumpkin, chives, sage, turnip, little gems, raddish and loads more salad, cant wait to get eating YUM YUM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

janibrown

izzwizz wrote: »

That's a coincidence - just picked a load of ransoms for the freezer. Tastes lovely, but doesn't half make the kitchen & freezer stink :rotfl:

Yes we got some last weekend and took home in car it still stinks lol thank god it was hubbys car lol:j :j :j :rotfl: :rotfl:

izzwizz_2

janibrown wrote: »

Yes we got some last weekend and took home in car it still stinks lol thank god it was hubbys car lol:j :j :j :rotfl: :rotfl:

LOL! Same here :rotfl:

LJM

everything in my garden is also coming on and up nicely,though now ive said that somethings bound to get eaten or die on me

kimmee

Sorry to hear those of you who've lost stuff to frost or birds/slugs.

eletan - how are your tomatoes? Since bringing them back inside mine have grown like mad, the lower leaves are still not very nice looking but the upper leaves are terrific. I'm sure it was either too much sun or too much change of temperature. Hope yours have all survived and are flourishing.

I've looked at the long range weather forecast for here and it seems we have no more frosts forecast for the next two weeks, infact things really seem to be warming up by day and night so I'm going to start hardening them off again and will keep my fingers crossed.

Everything thats outside survived the cold nights and I'm going to get my onions out this weekend though won't start hardening off my courgettes for another couple of weeks.

My cucumbers are doing really well, anyone know when it will be ok to get them outside please?

Happy growing all

kimmee

kazire wrote: »

just a quick one my potato leaves are showing thru i have ben covering up with soil however they show thru again quickly should i put a lot of soil on top and should i pat/compact it down or lightly put the soil on? any ideas greatly appreciated.

Hi kazire - when I earthed up my potatoes I just put a load more compost all around them but didn't compact it. That was last week and this weekend I will need to earth them up again as they've grown a lot so I must be doing something right :rotfl:

Anyway, don't compact the compost and you should be ok

elantan

kimme thats strange i was just thinking about this today .. they arnt growing like mad unfortunatley but they are slowly recovering ...

ive just been burgled ... im sitting here in shock thinking !!!!!!