Help MBE grow his dinner 2011

Lotus-eater

mrbadexample wrote: »

C'mon in, the more the merrier. Assuming you don't have time to read the whole of this thread today, I'll help you out a bit.

ie.... this gives me a decent excuse to show off my growing photos again :rotfl:

Scotsbride

psychopathbabble wrote: »

An incredibly novice grower coming along to join in if that's ok? I have just rehomed 3 tom plants given to me in a grow bag, and I also have a pot of basil and a strawberry plant that I'm trying to cultivate.

I'd also like to try carrots and potatoes but need to find the best containers for them as my soil is incredibly hard and the existing flower bed doesn't get much sunlight thanks to the HUGE tree in neighbours garden.

potatoes plastic dustbins with drainholes in them work well or use tyres keep adding one as they need earthing up

carrots you'll need something tall

psychopathbabble

Ah so you can plant potatoes in a pot? But obviously just one at a time. Not sure how much I'll get sowed now as it's obviously getting on in the year and finances only permit so much, but I really want to try it alL!!

psychopathbabble

and we do have a spare recycling bin i could use!

What sort of bags are best for potatoes? It's been suggested I buy potato bags (or something like that) but is there a cheaper alternative?

Also, I'm guessing it's not too late for pot and carrot planting?



This is my attempt so far... I need to get something to lift the strawberries up, would shredded paper be ok for now?

xnatalie81x

Fay: I scraped around the top and as I like them as "baby carrots" could gauge by the width that they were ready for my roasting tin.

Can't remember when potatoes went in lol but the flowers came and fell off so I had a go and I got some

Kohl Rabi was very small but I did sow tons so decided it was a good way of thinning

Garlic bulb was tiny so will leave the rest for a while longer

When I have had a chance to tidy up a bit I'll put garden pics up (if You want) - with 4 kids n a dog tho it is pretty much a MESS! We have been living here one year on 28th and getting veg in was priority - I'll chuck in a before pic for a giggle x

mrbadexample

Lotus-eater wrote: »

ie.... this gives me a decent excuse to show off my growing photos again :rotfl:

Look, you were dying for an update.

mrbadexample

psychopathbabble wrote: »

What sort of bags are best for potatoes? It's been suggested I buy potato bags (or something like that) but is there a cheaper alternative?

Also, I'm guessing it's not too late for pot and carrot planting?

I use recycling bags designed for newspapers, but I think pretty much any would do. Might be a bit late for spuds, but you should get a few carrots - find an early variety if you can.

psychopathbabble wrote: »

I need to get something to lift the strawberries up, would shredded paper be ok for now?

Never grown strawberries, but I would think so.

annie123

psychopathbabble wrote: »

What sort of bags are best for potatoes? It's been suggested I buy potato bags (or something like that) but is there a cheaper alternative?

Plastic buckets or tubs with holes drilled in the bottom for drainage reusable shopping bags from supermarkets (sainsburys are 40p), again with drainage holes,
old compost bags etc you get the idea. anything that can hold some soil and spuds.

You should be able to get some first earlies if you're quick at wilkinsons or homebase, both selling them off cheaply.
First earlies potatoes will be ready in 10-12 weeks. or as you're testing the grouns gardening wise, get some spuds you like from the supermarket and use those.

Still plenty of time for carrots, pound stores should have some or the above shops.

Or look at homebase or b and q they were selling veg plug plant strips for 20p the other day.

EDIT: you want to move those toms out from behind the table, get as much light to them as possible.

psychopathbabble

Thanks Annie, I'll move the table as that is where they will get most sun unfortunately, and I didn't want to move them up on the grass as they wouldn't be sheltered from the wind?

Will have a look for cheapy potatoes and find some bags!

djohn2002uk

Beans at the top. First one ready to be pinched out and second one already done.