Veg growing newbies 2nd year common room 2010-2011

redfraggle_2

Hi, just completed my 2nd year of small raised bed in the garden. I live in the country and ironically I think I would be better off living in a city where I could have an allotment and have other veg gardeners to talk to and ask advice... where I hope you can all come in! Hello, to everyone and hope I can help too

First of all, I was wondering if theres anything I can put in now that would be ready March/ April? I dont really ahve the luxury of space for things to be in all year and I already have some winter onions in?

loucroft

Hello redfraggle. I don't know when they'll be ready but try garlic cloves, and also try leeks but you might have to ask around to see if anyone has any that are already growing as plants

wssla00 that is fantastic, I'm going to try the square foot method in my raised beds next year as I think I can fit much more in - we halfed our allotment and gave to someone else because it was too big, I work from home and as a p/t gardener so rarely get time anymore but love it so much!

Funny, actually there are some poppies about to flower ( they already flowered this year and died back ), I think its a bit freak but they are really strong. Got myself some seeds from them earlier in the year, so am wondering when to plant those ?

loucroft

Ooh, can I ask anyone do giant cyclamen seem happy if they're planted in full winter sun?

wssla00

Not sure about the cylamen but I also do sqft gardening. It works really well actually! Someone on here gave me this link and it explains spacing etc

wssla00

Forgot to say that I don't double dig.... I lasagna garden! Much better for the lazy gardener and NO digging! WOOO

sparrer

The garden centre delivered the tree and shrubs but sent a 4 metre plum instead of the pixie variety I ordered! It wouldn't fit into my tiny garden when full grown so is going back on Friday.

I was lucky enough to 'win' 10 strawberry plants which I collected from a lovely freecycler this afternoon.

wssla I've just read up about lasanga gardening, it sounds beautifully simple. I only pot grow but seems very suitable for someone younger and fitter than me

Rain forecast here tomorrow so there won't be anything done outside, but I'll spend time poring over web pages looking for a patio pear and whatever else I can find

katholicos

sparrer wrote: »

Sad news about the cape gooseberry katholicos, will you try again?
.

I think i have a few seeds left so will probably sow them next year, but i won't have high expectations for them next time around

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

This probably won't work for you....

The carrots will have grown their tap root by then and won't grow properly [the tap root needs to grow down and that becomes the carrot - they don't like being transplanted for this reason]. Carrots are better being sown direct so that they can grow in heir final positions from the start.

What you could do with these is to put them into deep pots now and grow them in the lean to greenhouse and you should have carrots in the spring.

The other thing you have to watch is the years; carrots are biennial which means after the shortest day - they flip into year 2 [in their head] and will throw up seed heads. This is why most gardeners stop sowing various crops in the summer, biennials go by day length and as soon as it turns you are into their year 2.

Brill advice, thank you! Although they are sown in those coir disc thingies, I aim to put them in a deep raised bed once they start to grow...transplanting the whole coir thingy into the bed to avoid minimal disturbance. They grew okay last season, but have lots of seeds left so can always sew some more next year, direct in the raised beds. Thanks again for your advice :beer:

loucroft

Ooh, a half day outside in the sun today, fantastic apart from the bruised / crushed finger end from trapping in a truck door. ouch!

loucroft

What are everyones plans for tomorrow? Party time here so no gardening but have made up for it today!

sparrer

Lots going on outside today, the new (correct) plum tree has been planted, the strawberries are in their cupped container, the seed is beginning to produce grass on the bare patches of lawn and four of the ginormous garlic cloves I was going to add to the stew pot are now in a plant pot so I now have wild and 'domestic' garlic out there.

I'm just waiting for the raspberry canes to arrive and the fruit patio is complete - except I'm still keen for a pear but no idea where I'd put it!

I was annoyed but am now amused at the letter I received from the newly appointed estates officer this week, telling me my garden is untidy. She's just trying to flex her muscles of course but she's met her match, I did a very similar job for 15 years . I've replied inviting her along to discuss the pros and cons of having to remove a garden full of 5' high thistles and have a patio laid, an old shed removed an new one built and the lawn reseeded, and offered to show her the specimen plants I've spent £££'s on since I've been here. No reply so far, perhaps the young lady is taking advice about gardening before accepting .