veg growing Newbies- Feb 2010! lets learn together!

beingfrugal

Is tomato feed regarded as a pesticide? Should I not fertilise at all?

silvertoes

If you are going organic I find this slug killer good http://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/v3/advanced-slug-killer-p-6342.html
Growing Success advanced slug killer.
It works but does go mouldy in all the rain

begley

Morning!! We've had a nice lie in and are now in our scruffs and going to have a couple of hours planting. We got our free seeds from the BBC, and spinach and beetroot free too, so we're hoping to have a full greenhouse by the end of the day. According to my mate from work, today is the day when spuds should be planted, so they're going in too. Father in law is here to fit our new patio doors (14 quid from the tip - bargain or what?!) so ours is a happy house today! Great stuff! Enjoy the day folks!

misskool

RAIN here I was happily outside until the rain froze me

begley

Yes, we've got rain too. We braved it out for a bit, but it's pretty heavy now so that's us done today I reckon. Still, we managed to plant the spuds and carrots in sacks and a pot, plant spinach, beetroot and parsnips in the veg patch, and put leeks, French beans, courgettes (green and yellow) and caulis in trays in the greenhouse. We've got radishes, cucumbers and 'cut and come again' salad in there too. Then we've got chillis, coriander, parsley and rocket on the window sill. So, now all we've got to do is hope it grows!! We haven't really got a clue what we're doing, but it's all good fun! Quick question, how much does it matter if seeds are past their sell by date? I found some in the shed, some say 2008 and some say 2009, is it worth giving them a shot?

kimmee

I had a lovely morning in the garden. I've sown some more peas (about 20 or so), have sown the first of my carrots and sowed the last 3 butternut squash seeds I had over from last years Dig-In. I also got 200 free bulbs from the Gardeners World offer so I've planted some of those and pruned my very large and overgrown hardy fuschia bush that I'd ignored last year

Rain has now stopped play but hope to get out there again on Monday.

Happy Easter everyone :wave:

littleme96

Well strawberries have now been planted outside and I have also just planted my first lot of potatoes - very exciting! Was lovely weather here earlier, but now looks like it's going to rain so done just in time I think!

beingfrugal

Oooh strawberries! I can't wait to get the car and take off to Wilko's for a hanging basket for mine (even though the plants have not arrived yet!lol)

Raining here too, shame because perfect opportunity (no children) to pull up some weeds in the front garden

kiely27

Hi all, love to join in the fun!

1st year growing, already have 6 chilli pots on window sill about 5 inches tall. Plan to keep 3 growing indoors and put 3 out in grow bag when warmer.

Today planted;

Carrots, potatoes, courgette, spring onions and tomatoes with the help of my children.

Thing is my daughter used the whole packet of carrot seeds in one big pot, just randomly threw them in, how can I save them?

Almost forgot also have stawberries in hanging basket, yum!

earthlysparky

I've been following this thread with great interest, and amusement, and eventually registered so that I could join in the fun!

This will be my second year growing veg, so am not a total newbie, but still feel like one

We don't have a big garden but have a couple of raised beds (250cm x 150cm & 200cm x 200cm), with clay based soil, and live on the edge of the Peak District.

Last year I planted peas, runner beans, butternut squash, spring onions, courgettes, nantes carrots spinach, rocket,purple sprouting broccoli, cut & come again lettuce and tumbling tom in a hanging basket.
The spring onions didn't come through at all, and the butternut squash suffered from some sort of blight, but everything else did really well. The toms fruited late, in fact so late that I had to bring them inside in autumn, had some on Christmas day! The broccoli took a real beating over winter, but has defied my expectations and has just started to sprout.

This year I shall be doing 4 types of potatoes, 2 types of carrot, leeks, peas, french beans, runner beans, tumbling toms, alpine strawberries, assorted salad leaves, 2 types of courgette, mushrooms, and various herbs.

As I can't make the garden any bigger, I shall be maximising the wall space, and growing the beans in troughs and the spuds in a combination of patio planters and a builders bag.

I currently have 3 sorts of spuds chitting nicely on the windowsill, tomato and basil seeds planted in newspaper pots (on 25th March...no signs of life yet though)

The weather at the moment is driving me barmy! I want to get the beds ready, but the soil is still far too wet and cold. As for planting out...not a chance of that for another few weeks.