Help MBE grow his dinner 2011

mrbadexample

Strapped wrote: »

Re. peas - I grow hurst greenshaft and they grow quite tall, about 5ft. (Recommend them btw - very sweet).

I think I'd like to grow peas, but haven't tried yet. I have a feeling they'd go the same way as radishes. I grew loads last year, but not one of them made it to the plate. They got rinsed with the hose and then eaten.

mrbadexample

Ow. Oooh. I'm broken.

Nearly done though - finished the hard bit.

LilacPixie

:rotfl:

mrbadexample wrote: »

You're welcome to join me in a bit of digging, if you like? I've just come in for a cuppa. :coffee:

Vegetable bed number three is in progress. :j

So, what are you growing up there?

Well its a bit haphazard at the moment. I sort of aquired an allotment last summer that hadn't been touched for 20 years :eek:. When i say aquire there were abandoned in late 80's and we complained to council that they were an eyesore and they 'suggested' that the funds to clear were not there however if we wanted to regenerate them then there was funds in the way of grants and lottery funding ;);) No lovely finds though just old gas cylinders and other dumped rubbish. Last year we cleared and turned over the whole lot which needed a mini digger. We managed to set out 6 raised beds, site a shed and level an area for a greenhouse plus get some leeks and cabbage in the ground before a mix of the scottish winter and me being heavy pregnant set in. Ground here was solid from October to mid march :eek:

Now we have ben up, sited a compost bin and waterbutt for shed, and lifted some leeks. I can confirm -19 seems to of made them tastier all be it a bit skinny. I guess we are about 4 weeks behind growing wise as its only been the last 10 days that i would even call spring here and the daff bulbs only just poking through where as I believe further south many are already in full bloom.

Today i have started of 2 types of tomato 'sweetie' and 'roma' I have some 'Alicante' seed that were on the front of a lakeland cataloge that I might have a go at too. I have also planted pepper seed 'calafornian wonder' in the little greenhouse here at home.

I fancy doing leeks, swede, carrots, onions, strawbs and rasps tatties, cucumber, salad leaves, cauli and brocoli I also fancy peas or beans.

I am trying to grow what I know we will eat but have no idea how much and don't want to do too much in what is really our first year.

mrbadexample

LilacPixie wrote: »

I am trying to grow what I know we will eat but have no idea how much and don't want to do too much in what is really our first year.

Sounds fabulous to be honest. I wouldn't be afraid of doing too much though; not everything will make it, and surplus is very easy to get rid of. It's surprising how popular you can be when you turn up at a friend's house with a bag of veg.

If you can grow swede, then you're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!

mrbadexample

This is what I've achieved thus far today:





I started by taking the turf off the top. Then I dug a trench down each of the long sides, to the depth of the Mantis (about 20" I guess). I put the soil from the first trench in the tubs to get it out of the way. I then layed half the turf at the bottom of the first trench, upside down. The soil from the second trench filled the first, and the rest of the turf went in the bottom of the second trench.

All I have to do now is run the Mantis across the middle to break the rest of it up. Hope to be done by 6pm - don't want to urine the neighbours off too much.

Then I'm going to plant spuds in it. Although I've had good success growing (most) things in tubs, I've come to the conclusion that it really isn't cost effective. Sharp sand for drainage at the bottom, cost of the compost to fill them etc. I'm convinced my veg are more expensive than in the shops! Tastier though, without a doubt. :drool: So the third bed will give me more room. I need to try and get stuff from the tubs into the ground, with a few exceptions like carrots.

Strapped

mrbadexample wrote: »

I've finally sown my chillies.

That puts me about 4-6 weeks behind where I should be. I can't quite believe I've sat and looked at them for that long without actually doing anything.

Still, even if they fail completely it won't be the end of the world, as I don't use that many and I've got a good few in the freezer from last year.

This weekend I need to have a major bash at the garden, and get lots of things planted. I have tidied up a bit, and managed to get the Mantis tiller running, so a quick blast over the beds should sort it. We had about a fortnight of really quite nice weather, and I kept thinking "things could be growing".

I just hope it doesn't rain at the weekend, as now I'm behind it'll have to be done come rain or shine.

You lot are embarassing me with how much you've done already. :T

I grow my chillis indoors - 4 plants on windowsills around the house. They stop growing/die back a tiny bit in winter but they crop so heavily that we are never likely to run out...or the neighbours

mrbadexample

Ok, job done:



I picked up some seed potatoes today, that are chitting on the windowsill. Better late than never. I've got those Duke of York they had on Gardener's World last night.

Can someone remind me how deep and how far apart they should be planted please?

Now I just need to "acquire" some timber to edge the bed. :whistle:

Now I'm off for a well-earned curry.

LilacPixie

no idea i grow mines in out side in grow bags, 3 per bag.

Is growing swede difficult?? I fancy trying some of the weird coloured things like purple carrots or stripy tomatos to interest the kids. Do you find the tiller good?? We have one in our 'gang hut' but i've never used it.. it looks a bit dangerous.

Tell me about your greenhouse.. it doesn't look like glass or plastic panels so what is it??

mrbadexample

Mrbadexample snr (and he's the gardener, not me!) reckons to grow swede properly you need a field. Apparently, it either works or it doesn't. I've had no real success thus far, anyway. Shame, coz I flippin' love swede, me.

Don't be afraid of the tiller - it's quite safe really. I'm convinced it's no less work than digging, but it does produce a lovely fine crumb - you'd never match that with a spade.

Greenhouse is here. Quite cheap and cheerful, and at 6'x6', too small! Still, I coudn't get much more in the space anyway. Having said it's cheap and cheerful, I think this is the 3rd or 4th year, and it's as good as new. It was a bu99er to put together, but it has withstood some rather nasty weather with no problems. I guess I'm happy with it.

djohn2002uk

That shed makes me green with envy.:sad: