veg growing Newbies- Feb 2010! lets learn together!

misskool

Youthworkers_Wife wrote: »

Silly question: If you eat the courgette flowers does that mean they don't turn into courgettes?

Youthworker's Wife

you eat the male flowers.

The male flowers are the ones that are thin at the end. The female ones start out with a little bump. When they get pollinated, they will grow. You can pick baby courgettes with the flowers if you are growing lots of plants.

misskool

katholicos wrote: »

I

Over the last few weeks we have been slowly working on the beds and now i have 5 beds which measure 1 x 2 metres. I have plans for them all. Carrots and parsnips are in one, onions are in another...with room for lots of other stuff to grow in it, like more carrots....in another i will be planting my cabbage and cauliflower, in yet another, courgettes and aubergines, if they take.... and in the fifth bed, swede and turnip and i might put my beetroot in it too. I never would have thought of myself as a gardener, but this evening, i really didn;t want to come inside...it got too cool for me and i was very tired, so i had to...but i keep looking over what i have done and feel so proud of myself!

The aubergines should be in a green house. They like hot and humid conditions and being outside in English weather means you might not get a good crop. IF you have enough space, then stick them in but otherwise, maybe it would be better if you grow something more suited to outside?

I got lots last year but mine were all coddled in the greenhouse from Feb onwards. It's not looking so great this year, they are still small and been in the greenhouse the whole time.

lynzpower

Hey miss K,

I too am "trying" to do Aubergines but they are looking really carp!

I have one in a Mr M bucket as you suggested but it is almost laying flat on the soil not standing up- do I need to tie them to a cane? Some of the leaves are yellow, but they havent been overwatered but I havent fed them do you think I should?

The one that needs repotting is also laying almost on the soil but the leaves look v healthy, big green and strong.

Orange_King

lynzpower wrote: »

Mark my words they will survive!

Funny enough, to those who mentioned courgettes before, I turned my back today and have a wonderful lovely flower- in the space of an afternoon :rotfl::rotfl:

better get that cream cheese at the ready :T:T

Anyone else at this stage - I know I was somewhat early with the courges :A

Mine have just the small green growths close to the main stem but I'm hopeful of great things soom from at least a couple of the plants. Others are still at a very early stage.

My Dig In beans are doing remarkably well though - in pots in the greenhouse with a 3 cane wigwam and fencing wire at various heights to keep the canes tightly in place. The beans are a good 18" high and wrapping themselves round the canes and wire without any encouragement (I have been known to try to wrap the feelers from peas round canes whether they want to be mishandled or not!).

Almost forgot - my parsnips are now actually germinating it seems after about 3/4 weeks and hope to have my first ever crop later this year. Keep the faith those who have had difficulty with theirs!

Chimera

mutley74 wrote: »

i read that radishes are best eaten within a few days of being picked, and stored in the fridge. The leaves are bittery but can be eaten and i know someone who uses them in chutneys or mixed with other greens for peppery taste kicks!

I have same problem, but looked up recipes.. have found potato and radish salad is loverly!!! Just make a normal potato salad and add in quartered radishes!! Went down very well with OH.. We're using a good few a day as we have salad most days!

ausmummy

lynzpower wrote: »

Mark my words they will survive!

Funny enough, to those who mentioned courgettes before, I turned my back today and have a wonderful lovely flower- in the space of an afternoon :rotfl::rotfl:

better get that cream cheese at the ready :T:T

Anyone else at this stage - I know I was somewhat early with the courges :A

My two biggest ones have about 10 buds each on so I'll try not to watch and hopefully they'll start to flower.

misskool

lynzpower wrote: »

Hey miss K,

I too am "trying" to do Aubergines but they are looking really carp!

I have one in a Mr M bucket as you suggested but it is almost laying flat on the soil not standing up- do I need to tie them to a cane? Some of the leaves are yellow, but they havent been overwatered but I havent fed them do you think I should?

The one that needs repotting is also laying almost on the soil but the leaves look v healthy, big green and strong.

Sounds like they got cold. The ones in my greenhouse are a bit limp. I didn't need to support mine at all. What variety are you growing?

I don't feed anything until they are fruiting as you are wasting your feed for the plant to produce more leaves. Until they are fruiting they are just bulking themselves up.

lynzpower

misskool wrote: »

Sounds like they got cold. The ones in my greenhouse are a bit limp. I didn't need to support mine at all. What variety are you growing?

I don't feed anything until they are fruiting as you are wasting your feed for the plant to produce more leaves. Until they are fruiting they are just bulking themselves up.

Yeah maybe, I will put them back under the fleece again but I think they are goners to be honest.

satnav10

i starter my french beans off a bit too early, but have just planted them outside as they have outgrown my small pots/posts and need something big to climb up now. Fingers crossed for no more frosts (the forecast is looking good over the next week or so).

As i'm a beginner and didnt really know what i was doing, i planted all the seeds, and only lost two, so should be in for a really big crop! Same with the courgettes. Only lost one. Have given some away to friends though.

im fairly pleased with all my progress so far considering this is my first year at growing veg. As long as everything keeps going as they have done, i should be in with a good yield this year. am growing carrots, chard, tomatoes basil, courgettes french beans blueberries and raspberries.

Also, great thread! Given me lots of hints and tips, some of which i have passed on to my father/neighbour who have been growing for years! Thanks everyone!

banana1975

My cucumber plant leaves have started to wilt and droop? What am I doing wrong?

They were ok until yesterday when I noticed them. I have gone out today and the leaves are just wilted and look dead!

Is this plant a goner????