veg growing Newbies- Feb 2010! lets learn together!

Megansmum

janiebaby29 wrote: »

Could someone post the link to the B & Q compost bag , theres so many i dont want to get the wrong one , and is that right rubble sacks can be used for potato planting ??

Yes, rubble sacks can be used very easily. Roll them down so the sides are low, put drainage holes and polystyrene in the bottom, fill with 5-7 inches of compost, add 4/5 chitted potatoes (rose upwards), then cover the potatoes with more compos, water and leave. As the folliage grows you add more compost rolling up the sides as you go. When you get to the top of the bag you leave it for the folliage to keep growing and harvest the potatoes when the foliage dies off or the flowers die off.

I used rubble sacks last year and had a great result from them.

Megansmum

My seed potatoes are really chitted but are starting to go a bit soft and wrinkly! Are they past using now? Do I need to just bin them and go buy new ones?

Thanks

misskool

meanmum wrote: »

I am new to all this too - had my first attempts last year - and have some questions that I hope someone can help with. I have the Poundland seeds for peppers (traffic light), aubergines (black beauty), courgettes (green bush), cucumber (marketmore), and I'm planning to start them off in a heated propagator, before eventually putting them outside. Now what I'm stuck with is how all these plants grow best. I did cucumbers (from plants) last year in a growbag & just trailed them along the ground - but this year I'm thinking of making a cold frame on top of paving, and just grow them in a big pot. Do you think this will work? & the same for the courgettes? Now what about peppers & aubergines, do they need to grow upwards like tomatoes, or could I grow them on the ground in a cold frame. Sorry, they are stupid questions, I know. Hope someone can help.

Depending on where you are in the country, it's really too early for courgettes (unless you can shelter them and keep them off frost). they grow really big really fast.

cucumbers- yes, that sounds fine.
courgettes just need a space, they are really hungry plants, they need watering constantly. biggest pot you can find, they will be upright, they look

Peppers and subergines grow up tall like tomatoes yes. Peppers don't grow so big and fruit when they get pot bound so don't pot on. Aubergines need HOT and humid, doing best in greenhouse or conservatory, I grew 8 last year and got enough fruits but they were in the hottest part of a greenhouse.

gillian62

My cucumbers have all come through, so pleased with that. I used the toilet roll trick, so not to disturb roots. Have now put into unheated propagator. Planning to plant some melon seeds tomorrow in the heated propagator.

Sounds like a good price on the Asda compost, but always had good success with B&Q.

PinkFishnets

I've gone a bit mad with my seeds now, so much for only planting a few bits this year - looks like we're going to have more than I intended (nice!).

Currently on the go, I've got:

• Strawberries (still in good sized pot for now, will go in hanging basket when this cold snap passes)
• Raspberries (Autumn Bliss canes planted 1 to a 15" planter, still looking for a Summer fruiting variety from Poundland, Lidl or Wilkos)
• Tomatoes (Moneymaker - in small pots for now, getting growbags for the greenhouse asap)
• Tomatoes (Gardner's Delight)
• Sweet Peppers
• Onions (Tuscan Red variety, currently inside because it's freezing and windy and they haven't sprouted yet - is this ok?)
• Garlic (Whatever variety I bought in Tesco last time - have just planted unpeeled cloves as that's what my book recommends!)

But I also have seeds that are all sowable any time between now and May:

• Broccoli (Calabrese, Samson F1)
• Gherkin (Hokus)
• Leek (Musselburgh)
• Cucumber (Tasty King, F1)
• Pumpkin (Mammoth)
• Melon (Sweetheart, F1)

Any ideas on what to get sorted out now? What to hold off on? I'm in West Hertfordshire. I'm thinking of doing some courgette too, then we're sorted for all our fave veg bar potatoes and peas/beans.

Also, I need to get some growbags for my toms, peppers, cucumbers and melon. Any idea which brand is best for value and quality? Wilkos had Miracle-Gro ones but they were nearly a fiver and my Dad has said I can get cheaper elsewhere. Homebase? B&Q? Should I hold off on planting out in the (unheated) greenhouse for a little while longer than the books say (some say to do it now)? We had a glorious weekend, but the past few days have been bitterly cold again.

Thanks in advance!

charliee_3

janiebaby29 wrote: »

Could someone post the B & Q compost offer , the 3 for 10 quid one ??
I dont want to pick up the wrong one , Thanks xxx

i just went to B&Q and the 3 for £10 were outside the store on a pallet with a big sign on in a purple bag..

turbo5019

misskool I haven't had much luck with courgettes they kept going moldy at the ends. Do you keep the flowers on or take them off? I want to give then another go as I love them.

lynzpower

You can take them off turbo and eat them.

I cant wait to give these a go this year ;D

Im doing courgette ( bush type?) and also climbing patty pans yellow and green over the "pagoda" I want to have loads of clibers over it so am going for Japanese long bean, patty pan ( although they might go u pthe trellis) and Ive had the idea of doing passion fruit, obviously the flowers are amazing and they climb over everything. Apparently in a sunny spot they will go like mad.

You can get plug plants for 4 quid so will get one of them in MAy ( if we havent moved)!

lynzpower

whoops thats massive sorry!!

gillian62

I have wondered about getting some patty squashes this year. What do they taste like? and how easy are they to grow?