Veg growing newbies 2nd year common room 2010-2011

wssla00

Morning everyone! Hope your gardens are going well. Ive been away from mine for a week but my OH is good at keeping on top of things though so it's all good. I have some more beds to build and will lasagne them at some point!

I'm now 4th on the allotment list so hopefully next year I will have SO much more space to grow definitely having a look about planning it. I will go up and take a peak in the coming months at the plots and see what's happening up there.

Have a good growing day all

sarymclary

Hi everyone. Gorgeous gardening day here in sunny Lincs. I spent a day sorting out the greenhouse (I bought 2nd hand in early spring) in readiness for the winter. I've cleared out the last of the cucumber plants from the growbags. Will recycle the compost from them. The plants were still flowering, but the cucumbers have been getting very bitter tasting, so decided that we've had more than our fair share. Still lots of tomatoes growing. They've been giving fruit for months now, with no sign of stopping. I'm still finding tomato seedlings sprouting up all over the garden, clearly from tomatoes that dropped into the soil of the old veg. plot last year. Quite a few of my cherry tomatoes seem to be bursting, before they're fully ripened red, so that's a bit infuriating, because they attract flies, and can make the other fruits nearby go mushy.

So, after a good clearout, I've now begun bubblewrapping the inside of the glass, with some fixing clips I got super cheap in Wilkinsons. OH had a large roll of bubblewrap, that has done about 2/3rds of it. I've moved my 'staging' around (half an old mini greenhouse, and a fold up aluminium slatted picnic table), so that it feels I have lots more space. Mind you, the cucumber 'triffids' were rather overpowering the space before anyway.

I've got a whole load of super cheap plug plants I ordered from gardeningdirect.co.uk for a bargain to prepare my winter bedding/hanging baskets. My old violas and pansies hadn't blossomed well this summer, so new stock was needed. My next door neighbour recommended them, and they're better value than buying seeds/compost for the choice of varieties. I've taken lots of cuttings of my geraniums, and taken the 'stock' plants inside the greenhouse for the winter.

In the veg beds I have celery still growing strong, new garlic has sprouted really well, much better than in the spring. Hoping for better success with that now. My strawberries are still flowering and producing lush fruit after about 5 months! Will they ever stop I wonder? The rhubarb I salvaged from a soon-to-be building site, has flourished. I haven't picked any, just because I wanted it to establish, but have since discovered that you shouldn't pick it in the 1st year of planting anyway, otherwise you undermine the plant's strength, and future production. Waiting for the leaves to die back a bit more, then I'll put a nice mulch of manure compost on top for the winter. The raspberry canes planted have settled in well.

Today will be a day of weeding and tidying up. The apple tree has had a good hard pruning, levelled the top, to stop those mad tall sprouting branches. It looks so much better. I'll be planting up the winter hanging baskets in the next couple of weeks, as the plug plants are already double their size, in a matter of 12 days or so. This nice warm sunshine is helping no end. Talks of turning a bit cooler next week, but with the bubblewrap I won't have to heat the glass house this winter.

Happy gardening!

superpete

hey all

I havent got a garden but i do have a balcony and space inside, I think im doing well so far, (blackcurrents are outside, Chillies, herbs and a small attempt at grapes are inside) I plan an plantin garlic over the next couple of days, is the wilkos one any good?

also I like stardrops42 s point, tesco veg is far too bland, i wanna taste some real veg.

wssla00

Morning all on my way back home this evening so will get to check out my garden tomorrow, as I'll be in too late tonight to see it. I have to clean the greenhouse out, pull up some old plants in the raised beds and just generally tidy up the place. I have to say I do like the raised beds. Going to get some more in before the cold weather hits. LOADS more growing space in a SQF garden!!!

I Have to say the best carrots I have had are the Atlas ones. Really simple to grow and SO much fun. Going to try and lift the fennel I planted late when I get back so it doesn't go mushy in the cold.

Anyway- have a good day all will update you with the details soon

RebekahR

wssla00 wrote: »

Hee hee! You can always come and "repeat" a year with us younger folk!

I have now gone down from 50th on the waiting list for an allotment to 4th so hopefully I will get one next year.

Miss Kool- That sounds good. Perhaps I will take a look at them for next year- I absolutely LOVE them!

I wonder whether to ask for some new garden stuff for the said Allotment for christmas or is it too early?

Oh yes i'll repeat LOL!

TizerCat

Quick question....can you buy onion sets this time of year? I don't want to drive miles to the garden centre to find they are only available in spring. The ones I saved from last spring went mouldy .

Have put some supermarket garlic in today...lets see how that works....

superpete

TizerCat wrote: »

Have put some supermarket garlic in today...lets see how that works....

I thought you couldnt use normal garlic as supermarket garlic is normaly from spain or there abouts, Im plannin on gettin some from wilkos , has anyone ever had any success with supermarket garlic?? thats got to be cheaper.

Pete

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Hi everyone.
I really enjoyed my first year of veg growing and will definatly be joining you for the next year. I have cleared out my greenhouse and cleaned it. Still got peppers and chillies ripening in there and have moved my pots of herbs in there to. I have a trough full of lambs lettuce in there, will I need to fleece it as the weather gets colder?
Still harvesting pak choi, spring onions carrots and lettuce leaves. Leeks are looking good and the broccauli amd sprout plants look very healthy but no signs of of produce on either yet. Is this normal for this time of the year or have I done something wrong with them?

wssla00

TizerCat wrote: »

Quick question....can you buy onion sets this time of year? I don't want to drive miles to the garden centre to find they are only available in spring. The ones I saved from last spring went mouldy .

Have put some supermarket garlic in today...lets see how that works....

Hiya Yeah you can. Check out the usual suspects websites and you can see the varieties

sparrer

Not a second year, not even a first year..more a next year gardener! I've just had an 8ft x 9ft patio area laid in the far corner of my tiny garden with the intention of using it as a 'veg patio', as kneeling in a bit difficult now. It has a 10"/12" border of soil on the two boundary wall sides, if that makes sense, in which I'm thinking of growing runner beans. I'd hoped to grow raspberry canes in the ground as well but undertand there's not enough room, so will try those in tubs too.

I'd like potatoes, I have a huge tub for them, tomatoes in baskets which could hang on the rear boundary brick wall, beans which could grow up the side 'chicken wire' boundary fence, herbs in a strawberry tub (not keen on strawberries but do use herbs), garlic, and of course salad leaves etc.

Basically, I haven't a clue what or when to buy anything, what sort of soil/compost to use...I'd be grateful for any ideas about one or more of the above, pleae
Tia
Sparrer