veg growing Newbies- Feb 2010! lets learn together!

helen_roberts_2

They were just the free BBC dig in ones. I don't have any flowers yet on anything except for my toms

lolly5648

I think you should pinch out the tops to stop them growing and this will help them grow bushier. My BBC ones have been outside for a couple of weeks and are about 3 ' high. No flowers yet but they are looking good.

janibrown

beckiem wrote: »

i started doing my veg patch last year, but i didnt want to eat any of the root veg as i have a major problem with all the local cats!!!!! they seem to think my front garden is the toilet and they constantly foul on my veg, so ive put off planting much this year, ive only just planted runner beans and peas, really want some carrots in the ground though as there my favourite,
does anyone have any ideas to keep them away?
ive tried big bottles of water thats was supposed to scare them but they pooped on them aswell!!!

I had cats pooping every where not any more though, dont let them beat you a simple trick is to sprinkle chilli powder and chilli flakes around where you are planting it wont take too long for them to get the message they will not come back believe me

SallyForth_2

izzwizz wrote: »

Slug pellets attract slugs and are poisonous and are best avoided when growing veg. You could try half a citrus fruit or melon (with the pulp removed) turned upside down (they'll hide beneath it during the day so it makes them easy to find). Otherwise the best thing is to go out with a torch around 10 o'clock at night and look for them (then get your own back in whatever way you feel is appropriate). It works especially well if you've just had a light shower of rain.

The ones I use are not those blue pellets, but resemble cat litter - sort of clay like, and are not harmful to birds etc. I don't think they kill slugs, but stop them from getting to your veggies.

izzwizz_2

Peckedhen wrote: »

Oh no!! I have covered my raised beds in slug pellets - the seeds are just coming through - are they all going to be inedible now?:eek:

I have no idea sorry. What does it say on the container?

izzwizz_2

beckiem wrote: »

i started doing my veg patch last year, but i didnt want to eat any of the root veg as i have a major problem with all the local cats!!!!! they seem to think my front garden is the toilet and they constantly foul on my veg, so ive put off planting much this year, ive only just planted runner beans and peas, really want some carrots in the ground though as there my favourite,
does anyone have any ideas to keep them away?
ive tried big bottles of water thats was supposed to scare them but they pooped on them aswell!!!

you could try putting sticks in the soil, or laying some dead brambles or thorn branches (anything with prickles really). Hopefully they'll get fed up of pricks up their bum? (SLAP, mustn't carry on with that train of thought...):o
Otherwise, I have read about some electrical scarers. You set up a perimeter around the garden and it sets off a high pitched noise that is supposed to scare off cats if any of them cross the line. I don't know if they work though.

Peckedhen

izzwizz wrote: »

I have no idea sorry. What does it say on the container?

Ah, thank you, where is my common sense?! Don't answer that!:D
According to the container, I just have to take care to avoid the pellets being trapped or resting on the leaves.

beckiem

thanks for the advice on my cat problem, i am very much a dog person and it makes me wonder how the cat owners would feel if i let my 3 dogs roam free so they can take there morning poo on there veg!! i deliberately planted it out the front to avoid my dogs doing this and digging it!! anyway rant over, THANKS x i will be off to tesco in the morning to try the chilli, i tried brambles but i caught 1 of the bloomin cats asleep on it, after i went through alot of pricks (hehe izzwizz) to get it in the right place!

Chimera

Well.. my small garden is looking greener and greener, even though I have nothing planted in the ground or any grass.. loving seeing things grow
Planted out 3 sweetcorn today as got too big for pots, got a load more seedlings on the go, but am aware i'm gonna need more for pollination - but can I do it manually??
Noticed my climbing french beans are going mad - even though I managed to bread growing tip about 60cm up - they are really bushing out at bottom and have started fruiting.
Peas have flowers!! can't wait!
Strawberries have lots of green fruits on, gooseberries are going mad - I've read you can pick some now and use for cooking - any ideas for recipies for them? can't find any for hard fruit, and presuming they will need more sugar..
Blueberries are flowering, Japanese wineberry is going mad - Very bush and healthy looking
Courgettes and cucumbers looking good - earlier ones died
Spus are also going well.. well, just about everything is actually (too many to list) - I am a very happy bunny!!

misskool

sweetcorn, not really. the tassels at the top get blown from the wind and pollinate the cobs below/around it. hence why you plant them close together in a block.

why not just wait for the strawberries to ripen? I have about 2 dozen looking plump but still green