Garden so far (incl pics) What to do next?

s4lvatore

Hi there guys

This is my first year at really trying to grow a few veg and seem to be getting some good initial results.

Now although everything seems to be growing, the problem is I dont really know how it is supposed to look while growing or what bits need trimming, lol.

So I was hoping if I supplied you with some pics you could help me.



Right thats some beans and cabbages. Are the cabbages suppose to spread that much or do I need to trim them or something. Also I have noticed a couple of ant like creatures on my beans, could these be blackfly? If so what is the safest way of getting rid of them?



Here are some peppers and onions. The onions look a bit sad cos they needed to be moved recently to another pot but hopefully they will be ok. Anything need doing here guys?



Aubergine and lettuce (I have lots of other lettuce in another pot). Again everything look ok?



Tumbling toms. Got a few of these baskets which started looking dry last week so have now started watering twice a day.



Here are some brussel sprouts, sorry about the blurryness. Now these are getting massive. Someone said I could trim the bottom leaves, is that right?



Thats just to show the space I put them in, lol.

Right so some feedback would truly be appreciated as sometime I feel like I am just guessing it all out, lol. Don't be worried to call me an idiot if something is totally messed up, lol.

Thanks guys

frazzbo

Thanks for sharing your pics - looks like everything is coming along nicely! And you have loads of flowers on your tomatoes which is great!

I'm afraid I can't offer any advice on what to do (I don't want to be responsible for killing your crops!) but I'll be interested to hear feedback from others because I really don't have a clue what I'm doing either!

It's fun though, this growing lark, isn't it! I find it very addictive!

mrbadexample

Don't pay too much attention to me because I don't know what I'm doing either.

However, were you planning on growing the cabbages to maturity in the tubs? Because I don't think that'll work. They need planting out into the ground, and they need a fair bit of space, I think.

Try to water the toms in the morning and / or evening, i.e. when it's a bit cooler rather than when they're in the sun.

Over to other people that know more than me.....

bethesda

i'd give your aubergine and peppers support as once they start growing fruit on them they'll keel over without it

i think your cabbages look too close together to ball up (but that could be the angle of the piccie) but i'd definately check them over for caterpillars

EmptyPockets

When we were getting ready to sow our cabbages, I'm sure I read that cabbages need hard, solid ground so must be planted into the garden rather than in pots... not sure how successful they are going to be in those pots if you intend to leave there. I can tell you they are going to get even bigger and even wider than they are now, so they probably don't have enough room either (not that ours do! lol.) - Could you put them in the ground anywhere..?

As far as I know, cabbages don't need any trimming, just lots of space. Also, you need to cover them with some mesh, net or fleece, to stop the dreaded cabbage white butterfly from laying eggs and destroying them all .

As for your tomatoes, you're not the only one who's having to water twice a day. I am now doing ours early morning and then last thing in the evening. They are always wilting by evening so can't not do them twice.

By the way, no one here would call you an idiot - you're doing great for saying it's your first time. Many of us here are newbies at this so just enjoy the learning curve

s4lvatore

Thanks so far guys.

Yea really messed up on the spacing of the cabbages, but looks like I have no where to move them to at the moment. Don't think I will bother with them next year, just do more lettuce as that seems quite an easy growing veg, and we use it almost every night in our sald.

Anyone got any advice on those beans? I was told I need to trim the top bit but dont really know what they mean.

Are my brussels looking ok?

Cheers guys

bethesda

s4lvatore wrote: »

Thanks so far guys.

Yea really messed up on the spacing of the cabbages,
Anyone got any advice on those beans? I was told I need to trim the top bit but dont really know what they mean.

Are my brussels looking ok?

cabbages - you haven't messed up! many people start cabbages off in pots then move the strongest ones onto the plot

beans - the top bit they're talking about is the growing tip right at the top of the plant. Removing this helps deter blackfly.

sprouts - can't help you with i'm afraid as i haven't grown them myself

don't be put off because you may have made a few mistakes or are unsure what to do - emptypockets is right you're doing great!

BOGOF_Queen

You are doing great - especially your cabbages and sprout plants - they look so healthy, no slug or caterpillar damage on them. However, as others have said, you will need to plant them somewhere else as they are going to get a lot bigger than they are now. Ideally about a foot between plants - if you do not have the space, what you could do is get some big plastic buckets (the ones they sell cut flowers in) from one of the big supermarkets - I got some last year from Morrisons - 99p for 8 or 10. Then plant one cabbage or one sprout plant in each pot -I just use ordinary multipurpose compost. Water well at least once a day - ideally twice especially at the moment whilst it is so hot. With this heat, they may sulk for a few days after replanting, but as long as they are getting plenty of water, they will soon perk up. Because they are in containers, give them some plant food every week or so after they have been in the pots a few weeks as they will have used up all the nutrients and they will therefore need feeding. Also, to prevent the cabbage white butterflies laying their eggs on the underside of the leaves, try and get some mesh to cover them with. I got something called enviromesh - google it and you will find it. I bought some last year after my kale, sprouts and cabbage plants got decimated by the caterpillars that hatched out back the previous year. May be worth checking that you have not got an eggs there now - tiny yellow dots on the underside of the leaves. If you see any, just squash then with you finger - otherwise the caterpillars will eat them before you have chance to! One last thing, if you have problems with slugs in your garden, may be well to sprinkle a few slugs pellets round the plants if they are in the ground or round the pots if they are in them - if you have animals or small children that might eat the slug pellets, they now sell some that are not harmful to animals or children - might be better to get them - bit more expensive but better to be safe than sorry.

s4lvatore

Thanks guys for the positive help so far. All tips are useful so if you have anymore....

As far as the sprouts go, if they continue to grow upwards I think I may get away with it, lol, but just need some clarification if I can trim the lower leaves off.

BOGOF_Queen

You can trim the lower leaves off if you want - sometimes the leaves at the bottom go yellow anyway so should be taken off. Essential thing is to give them more room to grow - either in the ground or in big pots.

s4lvatore

Ok. So following advice from here I have spread out the cabbages. Well actually I have removed 5 of them which will be planted in my mum's garden tomorrow, left the roots in water for tonight.

I have also removed the bottom leaves from the sprouts, this seems to give the impression that they aren't as squashed up together. I really don't have anymore room for these, and I do think the Morrisons bucket idea is great I think the OH would probably kill me if I introduce more pots, lol. We will see how we get on with them, but most importantly we will learn for next time.

I have now put support canes on the pepper and aubergine plants as suggested and will be putting some on the beans on thursday.

I have also given the beans a squirting of washing up liquid solution to try get rid of the black fly as wll as twisting off the top sprouty things as suggested.

So thank you so far guys and if anyone has still got any suggestions I would love to hear from you.