veg growing Newbies- Feb 2010! lets learn together!

lynzpower

Im thinking of doing perpetual spinach in the shallow flexi ( the 2 quid one)

is that about the right size?

gazza975526570

schumie wrote: »

ok i have done a spreadsheet - couldn't get the idea out of my head!! It has the following column headings

Todays date
Plant
Quantity Sown
Sown Indoors (enter date here or N/A)
Ready to plant outdoors (enter approximate date here or N/A)
Sown Outdoors (enter date here)
Ready on (approximate Date)
Resow date (approximate)
Notes (what do i need to change next time)

Yes this is very geeky and nerdy but this is how i work at work so it will do me the power of good and then next year if it all works I will have a record of what i did and when. i can also change the dates of when things will be ready and learnt from it.

I've also downloaded the form for allotments and posted that today. It's like a million year wait for an allotment but you never ever know!!!!

Suer no one will want it but would be happy to email the spreadsheet to anyone that wants it.

Hope it helps you keep track - however ive found the best thing is just a pad and a piece of paper - then you can update/add to it whilst you are outside and you have all the information to hand

PinkFishnets

Shelvis, have you tried Tesco now that you've got that nice shiny new huge one up your way? We lived in Sheffield for a while until a year ago but always found it easier (and more pleasant) to go to Tesco in Chesterfield than that mahoosive ASDA.

Got my (3) flexi tubs in Lidl yesterday (plus compost and plant food). Am hoping to get some old flower tubs in Tesco tomorrow (or this week at the mega one near work). I cleared out the greenhouse today and love the old tenants even more as once I had cleared all the weeds and abandoned seed trays away I found LOADS of flower pots in various sizes, enough to keep me going until I have all the tubs I need to plant out in.

Toms, peppers and strawbs all thriving. I have some garlic which I've not used that seems desperate to sprout so I'll be planting that up tomorrow.

niclon26

Hi everyone,This week I bought my propagator and seedhouse and lots of seeds,got some compost,lots more needed though.So far I've planted cabbages in the propagator and all the windowsills are covered in pots with tomato seeds in them.
We are going to be sorting the garden out of the next few weeks and make a/possibly a couple of raised beds.Most of my vegetables will be grown in pots though.Does anyone know if I can use reusable bags-fabric type from priceless shoes eg for potatoes?

oldskoolretro

Thanks everyone for your help, im only a newbie but im starting to get addicted to the site what with this and the competitions etc lol... i must say those raised beds of Katholicos were lovely but im off to a carboot in a bit and might see if i can pick up something cheap like a bookcase or chest of drawers if they will fit in my little car. If not ill have a look at the container tubs everyone seems to mention. I hope i can grow them it would be really good! Have a good day all and thanks for being so helpful!

kimmee

Hi everyone

Love this thread and reading through what everyone has been doing

I sowed my sweetpeas yesterday in loo roll innards but think I'm going to hold off sowing my toms for another week. Chillis and sweet peppers seem to be doing well, got lots of seed leaves and will pot them on when they get the first set of true leaves (is that right??)

I also harvested my first lot of microgreens during the week - I grew red mustard, rocket (victoria) and good old mustard and cress. They are gorgeous sprinkled over salad or in a sandwich. The seed packets said to grow them on fine grade vermiculite which I did as I got a small bag of this but after sowing another lots yesterday my vermiculite is now all used up. I searched the net to find more but the cheapest I could find it was about £19 (plus p&p) for 100 litres so can anyone tell me if there is an alternative to vermiculite? Apparantly even seed compost isn't fine enough. I remember as a kid growing mustard and cress on cotton wool! Does anyone know if I could grow the all my microgreens on it? I suppose the one way of finding out is to try it :rotfl:

Sorry for rambling, hope everyone is doing well

lynzpower

Hey Kimmee where did you get your micro green seeds from ? I was going to buy some myself ( T&M possibly?) but was balking at the postage.

I am def going to do my cress on cotton wool in egg faces as I used to do at school - very retro :cool:

kimmee

lynzpower wrote: »

Hey Kimmee where did you get your micro green seeds from ? I was going to buy some myself ( T&M possibly?) but was balking at the postage.

I am def going to do my cress on cotton wool in egg faces as I used to do at school - very retro :cool:

Hi Lynz, yeah I got them from T&M too but when there was a free P&P weekend a couple of months ago as the postage charges make them very expensive. Now I may be wrong but I'm sure that I saw somewhere on the forum that T&M have P&P free this but I looked at their website and couldn't see anything on there. Here we go, I just found it on the discount code board:

bullybear wrote: »

I have received an email from thompson and morgon offering free p&P this weekend end sunday 7th march

Apply code WSE245

enjoy

Hope this helps - go for it, they really are yummy

ukmaggie45

The very best book I've found on veg growing is Grow Your Own Vegetables by Joy Larkcom.

Not really one to read through solidly, more of a look up when you want information book.

Can't remember if anyone mentioned about Companion Planting yet (note to self - pay better attention! )? Some plants thrive when planted close together. One example is supposed to be Roses with garlic! And some stuff just doesn't like being close, beans and onions is an example of that. If you google for it you'll find lots of interesting websites.

African marigolds are supposed to be good with more or less everything, they help repel aphids among other things.

And there's the Three Sisters method of cultivation too. Sweetcorn, beans and squash.

misskool

kimmee I buy vermiculite and perlite from wilkinson's. They were £1.49 for a 5 litre bag.

Did you try looking in ebay?