veg growing Newbies- Feb 2010! lets learn together!

wssla00

I'm going to have to do more Kale sowing. ALL of mine got munched by some slugs- they must have thought their christmas had come early!

Has anyone got any good ideas for making supports for climbing beans and sweet peas? I want to grow more in a smaller amount of space. I was wondering whether I could make a thin raised bed just for the purpose and for screening the garden. What do you think?

Synonymous

Hi Guys

I've just moved into my first house and now got time to plant things - but no soil! I'm on a three-year-waiting list for an allotment so I want to get cracking with some pots in the yard.

The trouble is I'm at a total loss as to what I can plant now, and whether I will have room, its pretty overwhelming trying to research every plant's growing schedule and whether it is compatable with growing in pots, how much space it will need etc.

So...if anyone can give me some advice that would be awesome - I have a bit of room, but its a shared yard so can't take the mick, and most areas will get at least a bit of sun each day. There are also dogs and cats in the neighbouring houses so I would need to cover or protect everything or have it raised up. I do have space for hanging baskets though.

Any help would be much appreciated - I have made a quick list of autumn carrots, turnips, beetroot, lettuce, curly kale, late spinach and spring onions. I was reading raspberries are started off in autumn is this right and when would they be ready?

Thanks so much for any help, I really want to make a start on this before the winter so I don't loose motivation!

Mrs_Veg_Plot

The wind has really got up here so the kids and I have just picked all of the ripe outdoor tomatoes and got 3lb of cherry toms from 1 basket :T. Have just made two batches of pasta sauce for the freezer. All outdoor toms in pots have been secured but if this wind keeps up I might be making green tom chutney tomorrow.

soullessfire

The winds gone a bit mad here too. I had to stake my sweetcorn and move it somewhere more sheltered earlier. Had to tie the beans to the fence a bit tighter and the same with my tomato plants.

Expecting a few casualties in the morning though

katholicos

wssla00 wrote: »

I'm going to have to do more Kale sowing. ALL of mine got munched by some slugs- they must have thought their christmas had come early!

Has anyone got any good ideas for making supports for climbing beans and sweet peas? I want to grow more in a smaller amount of space. I was wondering whether I could make a thin raised bed just for the purpose and for screening the garden. What do you think?

That veg screen sounds good. Perhaps you could have a kind of invisible fence....one pole or cane either sie of the raised bed and fishing line or string zig zaging from pole to pole for the peas to climb up? I might try something similar next year.

loucroft

wssla00 wrote: »

Lou, my cucumbers are the same I have a new one coming at the moment and another five growing steadily. Toms are ripening and the weather is brilliant today

May go out in the garden for a few hours enjoy the weekend!

Thanks! Can't believe how they just don't stop, I'm going to try seeds from these plants - my Son eats cucumber like apples!

Great weekend, dry and lots done so that was nice. apart from the flipping spiders, something I have to try get over as a 30+ year old!!!

hope you enjoyed it

loucroft

Synonymous wrote: »

Hi Guys

I've just moved into my first house and now got time to plant things - but no soil! I'm on a three-year-waiting list for an allotment so I want to get cracking with some pots in the yard.

The trouble is I'm at a total loss as to what I can plant now, and whether I will have room,

Try garlic, plant right now. over-wintering leeks (plants not from seed) and onion sets and some sprout varieties ( but check before you buy seeds and plants that you can plant in the ground / pots now.

See the 'greenfingered moneysaving' link where we had a discussion on cheap online seeds - try to buy from sources recommended by those in the know here because you'll save money and time!

Orange_King

At the weekend I made Sunday lunch with our own potatos, beans, brocolli, parsnip and carrots.

The tomatos are plentiful, courgettes are doing nicely, beetroot have been lifted and the raspberries have just finished.

The sprouts appear to be coming along nicely with about half a dozen leeks.

Not so successful were the cucumbers and peppers - nothing really worth speaking of from these all planted in tubs. Would they be better off outside in the patch?

Already looking forward to next year and hopefully better weather.

izzwizz_2

wssla00 - your idea of a thin raised bed sounds great. I've had some success growing peas & french beans in containers with wigwams of bamboo canes this year and am going to try growing sweet peas in window boxes up the side of a barn next year with some cane wigwams in the pots. I agree with katholicos that placing canes either side of the raised bed would be good.

The weather was gorgeous here last week, but has turned distinctly autumnal this last couple of days with the trees even starting to change colour. We worked hard in the garden to get a few things in the ground for the Winter, and I'm going to have to make a start clearing the greenhouse soon. I've decided to sacrifice any tomato plants that have very few fruits left to make a bit more space for the rest in the hope that the extra light & air will keep them going for a little while longer. I'll plant some Winter salad crops where I remove any plants. Have recently acquired some whitefly & greenfly in the greenhouse (the huge number of spiders that I carefully leave alone kept all the pests at bay until now!!). I don't intend to touch the pests with chemicals, but will move any plants that seem badly affected and give everything a really good clean in the Winter.

The freezer is nearly full and the glut of harvest is nearly over, so I'm on to foraging & jam making now . Still cropping tomatoes, courgettes, spinach, salad leaves, chinese cabbage, pak choi, green peppers, a few red peppers, chillies, mangetout from a late sowing and baby aubergines just coming on stream. It's lovely hearing about everyone's successes - keep up the good work!

wssla00

katholicos wrote: »

That veg screen sounds good. Perhaps you could have a kind of invisible fence....one pole or cane either sie of the raised bed and fishing line or string zig zaging from pole to pole for the peas to climb up? I might try something similar next year.

That sounds a really good idea. I think I have come of that nylon sewing thread that's invisible so that might work?

I am going to order some of the things I need for the garden. It is absolutely pouring down here so i'm under the covers but will need to get out soon and sort out things in the garden