Veg growing newbies 2nd year common room 2010-2011

ausmummy

Finally got so much done today. Sowed seeds indoors this morning to add to the ones in the greehouse. I was putting off digging the trenches in the greenhouse and them DD asked to go outside. So I've managed to get one trench dug over and pots in place to work out spacing. It wasn't as bad as I imagined actually. It was just a case of digging out a layer of sand, rotavate and add compost to improve the soil a bit. I've also managed to clear a corner of the garden that is a half finished project from last year, so some grass seed can go down there. All with a 2 year old sabataging everything I try to do lol . Hopefully DP can get back early to put the last couple of panes of glass in.

loucroft

ausmummy - sounds fantastic, I've got loads done this weekend by having an hour here, two there and even managed to get the kids, dogs and husband out of the house for some lovely afternoons too so have managed more in a weekend than in 2 months!

I've sown this weekend some leeks, salad (so easy!), sweet pea, lobelia, radish and tomatoes plus lavender. My friend has put in some beans and sorted the strawbs out, but I'm not sure planting out is right just yet.. my butternuts aren't going anywhere until the end of may, they were eaten alive last year!!!

Does anyone know what the huge sweet pea variety is that I keep seeing in allotments - I love sweet peas, but these ones end up with thick stems, are higher than me and have stunning flowers!

loucroft

anyone having luck / disaster in the garden? Our allotment is looking fantastic, yet the only thing that grows in my garden are massive stubborn trees - have had no luck growing anything except sweet pea, hollyhock, dahlia ( which I may have fed too much ) and a poppy that decided to seed itself in the patio cement!

allotment, wonderful, and if you're interested in wildlife then my post about the recent discovery of baby blackberry birds nesting may be of interest!

Sazbo

Hi loucroft - I've had a rather mixed experience with my container veggies this year - was hoping for a good crop of broadies this year but they didn't seem very happy and haven't cropped all that well. Think the runner and french beans will be a similar story. I decided not to grow tomatoes this year because the inevitable blight is so disheartening. My overwintered chillies experiment didn't work and altho I then sowed some chilli seeds to replace them, I think I've left it a bit too late to get anything decent from them, but we'll see...

On the plus side, the garlic is huge and we've had spuds, herbs and lettuce coming out of our ears lol. The aubergines are going great guns, ditto beetroot. So it's not all bad and it's all a learning curve isn't?

Hope everyone else is having a good summer :wave:

Sazzy x

loucroft

It's gorgeous isn't it, just went to Pagham (gorgeous garden there at the Inglenook Hotel) and what a stunning place, managed to get burnt though!

Been to the allotment today - looking fantastic! Although, we have had absolutely no luck with two seperate carrot sowings which is wierd. We have white turnips, sweded, cabbage, cauli, beetroot, butternut (ten on one plant!!), courgette, strawbs, tayberries, tomatoes, 1 aubergine, lettuce, cucumber (again, loads coming already) and some potatoes and radish so it's going really really well!

Whats everyone else up to, is there anything I can sow from seed now? Will my sweet potatoes be okay planted in heavy duty sacks?

Let me know whats happening

loucroft

Hi all

Anyone had any successes, or not - or need to share some tips?

Sazbo

Hi lou - made me smile when you mentioned Pagham - my grandparents lived there when I was a child and I have very fond memories of visiting them in the summer holidays It's a nice place.

This thread's been quiet hasn't it - I guess peeps are busy gardening If I'm honest, I've not done as much this year as last. Have had quite a lot on the past 12 months and so the growing's taken more of a back seat.

But I think it's made me realise that as I have very little spare time to devote to growing, that I'd like to do less, but do it better, if that makes sense? I work full-time and have a horrendous commute, so just don't have time for an allotment, hence doing most of my veggies in containers. But it's been a good learning experience in terms of seeing what is suitable for containers and what isn't. And that sometimes - less is more.

The early spuds in patio planter bags have been this year's great success story. Will defo do those again. I think the slugs had pretty much everything else lol - as I said on another thread - may have to engage the nematodes next year.

And starting off beans inside hasn't really worked too well - I just don't have the time to harden stuff off properly/gradually. The beans I direct sowed established much better than the ones started inside, so next year just going to direct sow all of them I think.

As for what you can sow now - perhaps some quick salady stuff - cut and come again lettuce, radish, rocket perhaps? Maybe some of the Japanese greens? But I'm not too knowledgeable

Going to go out and have a look at the garden later, once the rain has stopped!

Saz x

loucroft

Hi Saz

Yes its been really quiet, I wonder if they're all out harvesting their stuff!

I love the idea of growing in pots, the only thing is nothing grows in my garden so apart from salad leaves it's all died a death! Even my dahlia looks like its been strangled!

Peas can go in pots quite densely so you could maybe get those in, but I was hoping to find something to half fill the lotty up with - will defo do some more salad, rocket and radish - love the stuff and it does grow quickly

Have some sweet potatoes and hoping they come up, love them but quite pricey in stores so not convinced enough to pay unless its a special occasion!

Have fun, sounds like you're busy with work and a commute can be awful but it's nice sometimes to try things - have you tried peppers or chilli plants - they can be nice indoors and don't take over!

Lx

loucroft

Hello.......?

Where have you all gone?!

There's so much happening in the garden at the mo, it would be fab to hear how you are all doing

xx