Had a sh*t year and now its about to get worse

balloo_2

Lost all toms, lettuce, cucs first time round bought more now cucs are strong toms are 6" high but still way behind what they should be, now the worse part I have to go in to Hospital in Birmingham Today for a week and as i am from Wales my wife insists on coming too plus its recomended by the consultant so my plants are in the greenhouse and the weatherman says Heatwave went out and bought capillary matting and have been testing it to see if its suitable and 2 seperate trays are drawing all the water from the containers and making the plants sit in a tray of water and the other one is dry as a bone. So its in the hands of the lord now wether he wants more toms and cucs or not. :sad:

knithryn

Balloo
Hope the hospital goes well.
I assume there isn't a kindly neighbour who'd pop in and water stuff, but don't worry too much. When you get out and see the state of everything, you can take stock and sort it out. Remember that B&Q usually have cheap veg plants that they need to get rid of, perhaps a little small, or needing TLC.
Your health is more important at the moment.
All else can be resolved later.

Zazen999

Ok - we've all had losses so don't worry.

Put a few plants that you want to save in the bath, on top of an old towel which is soaked with water. Then you are hedging your bets with the capilliary matting and the cooler bathroom approach.

Failing that, cukes and toms will be available at car boots in the coming weeks. Don't sweat it!

kimmee

Can you not get a friend or neighbour to water them balloo, and move them to a shady part of your house/garden?

Try not to worry though - it's not the end of the world if they don't make it. Worrying won't help you when you're in hospital.

I hope all goes well at the hospital x

westiea

Hi Balloo

I have used this before with success - old tights ripped up and stuck deep into each pot.

Dont get me started on plant losses - snails/slugs/birds and years ago my son who pulled up an entire row of carrots to see if they had got orange yet!!!!

Good luck in hospital - all best wishes

stilernin

westiea wrote: »

Hi Balloo

I have used this before with success - old tights ripped up and stuck deep into each pot.
/QUOTE]

I have read about this system before and wondered if it would be a good system to use as a matter of course for container grown veg. The wicks would go in under the plants as they are put in.

When I go away, I put everything on old towels in the bath and leave the tap dripping.

katholicos

Sorry to read that you are having to stay in hospital for a week, but it must be necessary, and i can understand why your wife would want to be with you rather than sitting at home watering your veggies and worrying sick about you. I don't have any suggestions re; watering in your temporary absence, but there are some good suggestions above and oh yes, i've heard of water slices recently but don't know if they are any good...also, i have bought garden stuff from this place and it's a company i would recommend, they have some a page of products which may give you some idea what you can do with what you've got. Hope all goes well at the hospital, and don't be fretting about your veggies while you are there, you are much more important, and i'm sure your wife agrees! I'll send up a prayer for you.

Lotus-eater

It really does pay to make proper friends with your neighbours.

Hope the stay in the big white house goes ok.

Funkyfarmgirl

dont suppose your from mid wales?

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Balloo, your health is more important... than your plants at hte moment..

but some great aive given about putting your plants on wet towels in the bath... it will be nice and cool for them there too.

If you do find you lose some, there will be loads of plants in the bootsales, so i am sure you cold pick some nice ones up..

dont fret about your plants.... and take good care of yourself....

jollymummy

We've used (sorry don't know technical term:) a kind of hanging bang with a pipe watering system in our greenhouse that worked pretty well or damp towels in the bath. Like everyone else said don't worry about it, your health is the most important thing. Good luck.