veg growing Newbies- Feb 2010! lets learn together!

ALIBOBSY

Have been reading this thread watching for tips, but wasn't sure if I should join in as not really a total newby (year 3 here).
But spotted Megans mums recent posts. She has posted some great advice on these boards in the past couple of years and I hope the gardening will be a comfort to her and give her something to occupy her time with at such a difficult time.

Been through a divorce myself and know it is a hard time, but looking back my life is so much better now. My second hubby is lovely (although like any couple we have our ups and downs) we have had a difficult couple of years due to his health issues and a miscarrage last easter, but the last 6 months things seem so much better. Baby 4 due end of May and its been a lovely easter with the other kids. The gardening has given me something to think about outside the house and has comforted me at some difficult times (broad beans don't notice the tears ).

Life has ups and downs and I am sure things will look brighter soon, in the meanwhile try to enjoy the things around you you can, you garden and lovely megan.

ali x

skaps

My lawn is full of weeds, have spent an hour digging the weeds out but this will take me forever. Is there a quicker way of getting rid of them? Plus everytime I get rid of the weeds all that is left is a hole - will my grass grow back?

morg_monster

Hi, i have a question about potatoes. I planted single potatoes in morrisons' flower buckets 2 weeks ago. Now the shoots are starting to show above the soil, yay, but in one bucket there are two shoots; I presume I should have scraped off all but one sprout from the chitted potatoes before planting?

so my questions - should i just leave both shoots to continue growing or cut one off now while it is still small? Is it best to let the plant just concentrate on growing one shoot?
And in the future should i scrape/cut off all but one sprout from the potatoes i plant?

MORPH3US

skaps wrote: »

Plus everytime I get rid of the weeds all that is left is a hole - will my grass grow back?

Mix some grass seed with some compost and put it in the hole. That will level off the hole and also the new grass will soon grow in place so you'll never know its there.

Bare patches are bad because they allow weeds to get established so always seed bare patches and always keep your grass a bit longer to shade out the weeds.

elantan

it's been raining here and i have been totally lazy after the weekend hubby and i put in ... but i was staring outa the living room window at the carrot seeds i planted last night and realised it was the first time i had used my own compost ... cant thank you all enough for contributing and allowing others to contribute ... i think i wouldve given up by now if this wasnt here ...between the house out the back and the swimming pool in the shed i was just about done lol ....

and i have no doubt i will have a slug invasion .... but i know now to buy nemotodes (interesting little creatures those things are)

alliwantistosave

Hugs to you Megansmum hope you manage to get some gardening done x

I had a look outside today and we have shoots on our radishes and lettuce. With haste we planted them a few weeks back but with last weeks cold and wet we went and brought some fleece and covered them. So peeked under today and got a suprise :T Also all our onions seem to be shooting well but we brought our potatoes in to the garage until it warms up a little again.

I cannot believe how cold this wind still is, was only outside 30 mins and had to come in as my hands were frozen When are we due to get some nice weather as I am fed up of the cold now :mad:

Did anyone decide it was a good idea to grow raspberry bushes in pots or not I know some people were asking ? Or did I think it was ok as long as you weighted the pot ?? Sorry brain fading

turbo5019

morg_monster wrote: »

Hi, i have a question about potatoes. I planted single potatoes in morrisons' flower buckets 2 weeks ago. Now the shoots are starting to show above the soil, yay, but in one bucket there are two shoots; I presume I should have scraped off all but one sprout from the chitted potatoes before planting?

so my questions - should i just leave both shoots to continue growing or cut one off now while it is still small? Is it best to let the plant just concentrate on growing one shoot?
And in the future should i scrape/cut off all but one sprout from the potatoes i plant?

I wouldn't do anything with the shoots just cover them in compost and let them grow.

Refund_Queen

Hi, I need a little more advice!

I sewed my pepper and tomato seeds yesterday but dont know where the best place to put them is. I currently have them in cellular seed trays in my plastic greenhouse (the 4 tier type from wilko) and im wondering if its best to keep it in the conservatory (no sunshine available there just light but warmish) or best to put the greenhouse outside in sunny spot in garden (dont know if it is too cold for this though?) and then bring it in overnight.

Am going to sew my cucumber seeds in 3" pots tomorrow so want to get it right!! Can anyone help please?!

paybacktime2008

Pepper and tomato seeds need to be inside on a window sill. It's too cold outside unless you have a heated greenhouse.

[Deleted User]

Hi guys

My tomato plants are now about 7 inches high and in 4" pots. Am considering putting them into the 9" tomato pots now but then I don't know what to do with them. They are on the windowsill in the kictchen but it's only just wide enough for the 4" pots so won't be able to house them in a proper pot.

What shall I do? Shall I start hardening them off for a few hours every day now? I can bring them into the kitchen and put them on the floor overnight but they can't stay there because my youngest is 7 mths and will be over there in his baby walker eating them and pulling up the soil!

Jalapenos are all through now Will repot soon as they are 3 to a pot at the moment. Peas have been outside for 10 days under the coldframe and look great. They are in some peat pots so I will plant them out this week properly. Same with salad leaves.