veg growing Newbies- Feb 2010! lets learn together!

Gopppers

Is anyone growing pumpkin?
I have one plant which is about 2 foot long and starting to grow flowers but I cannot see any female flowers... any clues anyone?

Gops x

wssla00

frazzbo wrote: »

At the weekend I found a packet of leek seeds that I'd forgotten about so I planted them into a tray and put a propagator lid on it. I'm keeping it in the house for now, I think, as the temperature will probably be more constant (packet says 15 degrees).

It said on the packet to plant by May - perhaps I am way too late but as the seeds had a date on them of October, then they'll not last until next year anyway. Fingers crossed they grow, I love leeks!

Has anybody else planted late?

The problem with leeks is that they need a long time to thicken but you might be lucky if you just want baby leeks. I planted mine in February and they are now the size of a pencil so they are getting earthed up. I would get them outside though!

I have just received all of my lovely winter seeds! Cavelero nero, atlas carrots, parcel and some overwinter spinach! Can't wait to sew them!

It's lovely and sunny here! Things seem to be popping up and my beautiful passion fruit has opened up and maybe I will get some fruit.....It came from a cutting from my brother in law and it has just gone wild! I love it! The flowers are so beautiful!

Have just earthed up my last planting of potatoes. So hopefully they will be ready in September time. They are growing like the clappers though!

Is anyone experiencing the problem that your shopping trolley looks like you hate veg? Because a lot of things are being harvested now I don't buy them but it makes you look really unhealthy :rotfl: Oh well.... Less money for the big businesses! Once you are set up it really saves you money! 500 carrot seeds for 89p and I can use them this year and next so pretty good

Have a good growing day all!

soullessfire

The cardboard box idea sounds fine to me. I planted all my carrots and parsnips in seed trays so I could keep them warm while they germinated.

At the end of the day I have no intention of putting a frame around my veg and hanging it on the wall as an artwork :P Provided there's nothing nasty burrowing in them, they'll all be peeled, chopped and eaten so a little bendiness if it happens if perfectly fine.

So heartening to hear other people aren't harvesting much yet... Keep thinking mine are just doing nothing and I'll never see any results lol

Lotus-eater

soullessfire wrote: »

At the end of the day I have no intention of putting a frame around my veg and hanging it on the wall as an artwork :P Provided there's nothing nasty burrowing in them, they'll all be peeled, chopped and eaten so a little bendiness if it happens if perfectly fine.

Ahh, but you see that's the problem.

You try peeling, chopping and cooking a parsnip that looks like this.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0W_QqQJyAQw/SwV3Ocq9mXI/AAAAAAAADls/fTrY2HEZxn8/s1600/strange+parsnip.jpg

frazzbo

Lotus-eater wrote: »

You try peeling, chopping and cooking a parsnip that looks like this.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0W_QqQJyAQw/SwV3Ocq9mXI/AAAAAAAADls/fTrY2HEZxn8/s1600/strange+parsnip.jpg

Haha brilliant, I want one like that - finding odd shapes is half the fun in growing your own!

:T

soullessfire

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Ahh, but you see that's the problem.

You try peeling, chopping and cooking a parsnip that looks like this.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0W_QqQJyAQw/SwV3Ocq9mXI/AAAAAAAADls/fTrY2HEZxn8/s1600/strange+parsnip.jpg

Heh heh, it's basically split into 4 or 5 normalish parsnips with a knot at the top. Cut off the seperate parts and peel them like normal, job done :P

Lotus-eater

soullessfire wrote: »

Heh heh, it's basically split into 4 or 5 normalish parsnips with a knot at the top. Cut off the seperate parts and peel them like normal, job done :P

As you say, easy

Having done exactly that for years and years, I know which type of parsnip I'd choose.

heynonnynonny

Repotted french beans into final pots today and trimmed some herbs to freeze. My raspberry in a pot has really put some growth on, I'm going to get it in the ground next year it deserves a much bigger space. Oh and trimmed some lollo rosso (sic?) lettuce leaves and they were absolutely delicious and a gorgeous green colour, very very nice. Must get another lot in I can see them being eaten quite quickly!

izzwizz_2

It’s been a lovely hot, sunny day here today.

Re: carrots & parsnips, the only time I ever tried carrots I sowed into jiffy 7s (peat pots), thinking the roots would come through and I’d get lovely carrots. When they were big enough, I planted them outside. Then at the end of the season I dug them up, and I had lovely thick carrots but they were only the length of the peat pots (about2 inches!!). They really don’t like their roots disturbed.

Been really busy the last couple of days and haven’t had much time in the garden. Just about managed to keep up with the watering, pollinating tomatoes & removing sideshoots (actually found a few near the base of tomato plants that I’d missed and were over a foot long).

We have 1 french bean (don’t think I’ll get fat on that), 1 chilli pepper flower (it won’t fertilise by itself), and 2 female courgette flowers (no male ones, so they’re not going to get fertilised either!). On the plus side, loads of baby toms coming now, and a few strawberries every day to supplement the green leaves & onions.

Quite a few tiny holes in leaves of particular aubergine, pepper & spinach plants, but I can’t spot the culprit – any ideas??

pookiewn

frazzbo wrote: »

At the weekend I found a packet of leek seeds that I'd forgotten about so I planted them into a tray and put a propagator lid on it. I'm keeping it in the house for now, I think, as the temperature will probably be more constant (packet says 15 degrees).

It said on the packet to plant by May - perhaps I am way too late but as the seeds had a date on them of October, then they'll not last until next year anyway. Fingers crossed they grow, I love leeks!

Has anybody else planted late?

Pretty much the same here. I planted mine a few weeks ago outside, they are growing slowly but surely!

We'll have fashionable baby leeks to serve! :rotfl: