Help MBE grow his dinner 2011

emiff6

You had tagetes next to it. I wanted to grow white allysum and tagetes as a border edging, but although I have thick clumps of allysum, they won't grow up close to the tagetes. I'm sure I've read somewhere that tagetes minuta will kill couch grass and ground elder, so maybe tagetes patula (French marigold) has the same effect on your lavender and my allysum? I've also read that you shouldn't put them near beans.

Perhaps there's a gardening chemist somewhere out there who's into companion planting and can give us the truth of it...

Ooh, just had another thought... you picked off cutworm caterpillars earlier in the year, didn't you? perhaps you've got some more. Does the base of the stem on the dying bits look nibbled?

mrbadexample

emiff6 wrote: »

Ooh, just had another thought... you picked off cutworm caterpillars earlier in the year, didn't you? perhaps you've got some more. Does the base of the stem on the dying bits look nibbled?

The marigold was put there after it started dying, so it's not that.

I've been blaming the cutworm, if that's what they were, but I've not seen any physical damage on anything I've cut off yet. The stem today wasn't firm in the middle - I cut off the two worst bits and the remaining couple "wiggled" quite easily. I think there's been some damage right in the middle, which is why I think the plant will still die.

Oh, and well remembered!

annie123

lavender cuttings are easy to do and work well.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:J0AjsdMtBz4J:www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/lavender-cuttings/+lavender+cuttings&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&source=www.google.co.uk

I take cuttings from mine every year and most go to the community garden for use or to sell to raise funds.

mrbadexample

Lemon Drop chillies:



On the left, one that got potted up as soon as it was ready. On the right, a "spare" I eventually got round to doing today. Both sowed at the same time.

No sign of flowers on the big one yet, but it's looking well, with new shoots forming down the bottom.

mrbadexample

annie123 wrote: »

lavender cuttings are easy to do and work well.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:J0AjsdMtBz4J:www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/lavender-cuttings/+lavender+cuttings&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&source=www.google.co.uk

I take cuttings from mine every year and most go to the community garden for use or to sell to raise funds.

Can I take cuttings from my other plant? I've only had it a year so it's not that old yet.

annie123

yes. you only need a few, all of mine take, no different to giving it a light trim which I'm sure you will be doing each year to keep it tidy

And I'm looking forward to seeing your lemon drop chillies, I love growing chillies for some reason...........I don't eat them but the rest of the family do.

mrbadexample

annie123 wrote: »

yes. you only need a few, all of mine take, no different to giving it a light trim which I'm sure you will be doing each year to keep it tidy

Err...yes...absolutely I will, it's just not needed it yet as it's still small. :whistle:

annie123 wrote: »

And I'm looking forward to seeing your lemon drop chillies, I love growing chillies for some reason...........I don't eat them but the rest of the family do.

And me, but I still worry they've been started too late for the fruit to ripen. I should be a month further on than I am, at least. Plus it says on the website "not for novice growers". It's doomed then!

Lotus-eater

mrbadexample wrote: »

And me, but I still worry they've been started too late for the fruit to ripen. I should be a month further on than I am, at least. Plus it says on the website "not for novice growers". It's doomed then!

You've been giving out advice, I've seen you novice no longer! Rise, Sir Growsalot!

<Lotus whacks MrBE on each shoulder with a spade..... only slightly too hard>

witchwoopiggy

mrbadexample wrote: »

Plus it says on the website "not for novice growers". It's doomed then!

oh lord then all mine should not make it then, first year of growing chillies and haven't really got a clue

but good news here we have had rain yesterday, all night and most of the day and the plants look so greatful :T:T

Lotus-eater

annie123 wrote: »

And I'm looking forward to seeing your lemon drop chillies, I love growing chillies for some reason...........I don't eat them but the rest of the family do.

I love growing chillies too, tbh I think 2 plants would be enough for our use easy, but I've got 7 this year