August Update: What are you growing in 2006? Tips for fruit/veggies/flowers

davodedthomas

I have just got into this OS board, and its great! Just been lurking for a few days.

I live in a flat which has 5 bedrooms and lots of light window sills and also a roof garden type thing. Does anyone know a good website (or thread on here) to go that would give tips to people who want to grown their own herbs etc who don't have a garden or allotment?

gb57

Is sage a perennial - answer - YES. Should last for years, though mine did die off once and had to replace.

Basil - i buy a supermarket one at the beginning of summer, nip off the top and put it in water until it roots, then plant up. You can keep on doing this and have basil forever. Grows on the winidowsill or outside.

Rocket is easy-peasy to grow from seed. Plant a few seeds in a pot in spring, they germinate very quickly, then plant a few more. Cut leaves when you need them (don't pick plant), and use until plant goes "woody". Keep planting a few more seeds every couple of weeks - I have had 2 summers worth of rocket leaves from one packet of seeds, and will probably do a third summer as well. Rocket is a ferocious price in the shops. I grow it on the patio, but should be OK on a sunny window sill - ditto lambs lettuce (also expensive in the shops) which I hve grown from seed for the first time this year. Small tomatoes should grow on windowsill in summer and would certainly grow on roof terrace

I would think most herbs would grow on windowsill - I grow them in pots outside. Which herbs do you like best/use most of? They would obviously be best to try, but also worth growing the odd thing from seed to "give it a try" and see whether you like it. I love coriander, but no joy growing from seed. I buy one at the beginning of each summer, but it dies off in the autumn. Some herbs are annuals and may not overwinter. You don't need a lot of space for most (although rosemary gets a bit big - you could grow in a large pot outside). Good luck

Nosmig

Annie-c,
If you can't get your green toms to ripen, don't worry, use them for green tom chutney and enjoy over the winter months. You need some apples (find some free windfalls) onions, sugar, sultanas and vinegar, plus some spices (partic ginger). Good luck,

pamela_meredith

I asked my next door neighbour if I could have some Damsons from her tree she agreed. After wading though nettles and brambles I managed to pick 7lbs from which I made two batches of jam, removing the stones was a back aching chore. The first batch tastes and looks great. My Jam making prowess went straight to my head as the second lot was over boiled and completely solid almost broke a spoon trying to get some out of the pot. There is a moral here I am sure.

point3

point3 wrote:

Growing watermelon for the first time this year. I've got about 6 fruits which seem to be stuck at the size of a tennis ball - has anyone got any tips to make them grow?

Well, to update on the watermelons - we got tired of waiting and harvested a couple. They were about 8 inches in diameter with still pale green flesh - but they had the normal texture of watermelon and were yummy . Hopefully the remaining fruits will grow even bigger and sweeter.

borderterribles

pamela_meredith wrote:

I asked my next door neighbour if I could have some Damsons from her tree she agreed. After wading though nettles and brambles I managed to pick 7lbs from which I made two batches of jam, removing the stones was a back aching chore. The first batch tastes and looks great. My Jam making prowess went straight to my head as the second lot was over boiled and completely solid almost broke a spoon trying to get some out of the pot. There is a moral here I am sure.

The moral is, you need to make some damson gin which is much easier and far more rewarding!

1lb damsons - just slit don't bother removing stones
1lb sugar
large bottle of cheap gin

Pour all into large jar (I use a old spaghetti container) and leave until Christmas, stiring occassionally.

Pour off the gin into another bottle (I'm sure you will have kept the original bottle because you are thinking of the environment!)

Remove the stones from the damsons (the flesh is firmer now), melt some good quality chocolate in a bowl, using two forks dip each damson (completely emerse) into the chocolate,remove and place on some greaseproof or baking parchment and put in fridge to set.

Eat, drink and be very merry! :j :rotfl:

schoolfundraiser

Bizzimum wrote:

Further to above post, I've just been out and looked at my carrots, which are now minus their fluffy tops. There are some tiny - almost microscopic black spots on the stems that are left. Is this the dreaded carrot fly? :eek: :eek:

No its more likelythe dreaded slugs and snails!!!! Try slug pellets or a beer trap.

Carrot fly lays its eggs inside the growing carrot so you end up with bore holes in the carrots as the larvae munch their way out. You could of course still have that but you won't know until you lift them

Deb_Williams

We've lived since 2004 in a small-ish 1960s house, with a reasonable-sized garden. Part of said garden we've fenced off for veg, another section is for fruit, and we have a greenhouse.

This year we have grown potatoes, carrots, onions, French beans, runner beans, broad beans, calabrese, cauliflower, beetroot, leeks, sweetcorn, raspberries, blackcurrants, strawberries and gooseberries. In the greenhouse we have peppers, lettuce and spring onions, we have a herb patch and a lemon tree producing tiny fruit in our conservatory. Sadly our newly-planted rhubarb failed (we'll try again next year!) and we didn't bother with tomatoes as we've never had great success in the past (we really MUST stop going on holiday!).

Not bad for townies, eh?

Kantankrus_Mare

Ive had a sweet pepper plant in a pot during the summer but decided it isnt in the right spot so have moved it down to the allotment.

Im new to all this and am wondering what I do with the plant when it has finished fruiting?

Do I leave it for next year or do I start from scratch again with new plants or of course seeds which Im going to save from my peppers this year.

Also will it be better if I plant it into the ground or should I leave it in the pot?

Murtle

to freeze herbs, chop, place in ice cube tray, add water, stick in freezer - when required take out chuck into dish!!