Help MBE grow his dinner 2011

nopot2pin

mrbadexample wrote: »

I've got some gherkin seed (West Indian Gherkin here). It failed last year.

Can someone advise me of the best time to sow, and appropriate conditions? I tried to start it indoors last year, but anything that grew died. I did get one started in the greenhouse eventually, but too late in the season to fruit. It's something I'd really like to get to work this year.

mrbadexample wrote: »

Propagator? Heated? Or just in a pot on the windowsill?

And no I don't but thank you.

Have you thought about some bonemeal in the compost ?


















Sorry MrBE.. I have not clue
I just couldn't resist it

Sambucus_Nigra

nodwah wrote: »

I've never done that - how do you store and cook the beans.

Do they need to be soaked and boiled?

I admit I'm a bit nervous of it :eek: sorry!

Yes, just leave them on the plant until the pods dry. De pod and leave them until, when you shake them on a tray, the sound they make is light rather than heavy. Then put in nice jar.

Take out of jar the night before you want them [I do enough for 4 meals at once]. Soak overnight, drain and boil [NO SALT] for 20-40 mins [depending on size and age] until you can squish them with a fork against the side of the pan without feeling any resistance.

Drain, and rinse in cold water.

then use in chillis, soups, curries, rice dishes etc. I use 1/4 and freeze the other 3 portions so that they can be chucked into dishes straight from the freezer.

Sambucus_Nigra

mrbadexample wrote: »

Only way to learn. Your help is very much appreciated, thanks. :T



When you say outside, I assume you mean in the greenhouse?

So, would you say that these chilli seedlings can be safely put in the greenhouse during the day?



I worry about everything! What if it's too cold? What if we have another bright day and it gets too hot? I'm already too far behind with these, so really can't afford to lose them. Same with the tomatoes. I might try half of them and see what happens.

Well.....for a start those pots are too big. I use the tiny ones at that stage, then into another pot and the pots above would be my third size pot.

Mine would have gone straight into the unheated greenhouse as soon as I saw some greenery - the heated prop is only there to crack the seeds open.

What I would do with those, now that you have them - is to put them into the greenhouse during the day and bring them in at night for 2 weeks. The problem is they are now soft and thus you can't harden them off properly outside [wind is as important in hardening off as it builds their stem width]. I'd start on a warmer day than this though...it is quite chilly out there.

Until the days get a little warmer again [you missed the boat there a couple of weeks ago]; blow on them gently a few times a day [looks bonkers, but does help to thicken the stems up] - and don't water so much - the compost for peppers needs to be on the dry side of damp. Toms needs a little more but you should be looking at the compost nearly drying out inbetween waterings.

When you repot - you need to pot up to the seed leaves - which is why smaller pots at the start are better so that you can choose pots that get the plant to the right depth. I don't pr1ck mine out until they have the next set of leaves; the seed leaves then are redundant and can be used to manoevre the seedlings about a bit.

Have you thought about joining a proper gardening forum? I know it's not MSE but if you want to learn fast, it would really help....you could still post on here but learn tricks and techniques that really will assist. The Grapevine is a good one if you are interested...and we have various challenges and competitions on there that you might be interested in

mrbadexample

nopot2pin wrote: »

Have you thought about some bonemeal in the compost ?

I'm going to get this all year, aren't I? :rotfl:

mrbadexample

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

I'd start on a warmer day than this though...it is quite chilly out there.

I've put them in the greenhouse today - it's 13°C in there. Shall I pop and get them out again?

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

When you repot - you need to pot up to the seed leaves - which is why smaller pots at the start are better so that you can choose pots that get the plant to the right depth. I don't pr1ck mine out until they have the next set of leaves; the seed leaves then are redundant and can be used to manoevre the seedlings about a bit.

I knew you did this with tomatoes, but didn't think you re-potted chillies that deep?

My tomatoes are in smaller pots (I thought they were probably too small ), and have been emerging for the last week or so. They're now in the greenhouse too. I've put a pallet in there for the moment to lift them off the cold concrete.

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Have you thought about joining a proper gardening forum? I know it's not MSE but if you want to learn fast, it would really help....you could still post on here but learn tricks and techniques that really will assist. The Grapevine is a good one if you are interested...and we have various challenges and competitions on there that you might be interested in

I've thought about it, but am a wee bit embarrassed about my lack of knowledge.

mrbadexample

djohn2002uk wrote: »

There is a difference between compost and manure.

Ok. I realise that I do interchange and mix up the terms, but that's because the contents of my compost bin are mixed up too.

I've got everything in there from grass cuttings, kitchen waste, turf, old tomato growbags, walking stick kale remains, to horse muck that my mate from work was bringing me last year. When I turned it last year there was almost nothing recognisable, so something must be working.

So, what have I got? Is it manure or compost? :rotfl:

moneymabel

mrbadexample wrote: »

I'm going to get this all year, aren't I? :rotfl:

Yep but just remember...sticks and stones can break your...oh...sorry ;-)

mrbadexample

moneymabel wrote: »

Yep but just remember...sticks and stones can break your...oh...sorry ;-)

Oh jeez. :doh: :wall:

:rotfl:

mrbadexample

Some anecdotal evidence to suggest runner beans and sunflowers will grow together quite happily. Bizarre. Do I risk it or not?

Or do I try to persuade my mate that he should grow sunflowers with his beans? :whistle:

Sambucus_Nigra

mrbadexample wrote: »

I've put them in the greenhouse today - it's 13°C in there. Shall I pop and get them out again?



I knew you did this with tomatoes, but didn't think you re-potted chillies that deep?

My tomatoes are in smaller pots (I thought they were probably too small ), and have been emerging for the last week or so. They're now in the greenhouse too. I've put a pallet in there for the moment to lift them off the cold concrete.





I've thought about it, but am a wee bit embarrassed about my lack of knowledge.

I've just been out to mine and it's fine out there today.

Leave the toms in there until the roots poke out of the bottom. With modules; I find it's easier to remove the plant root ball if the plant is on the dry side; if the soil is too wet the roots slide out and disturbs them.

Most things should be planted up to their seed leaves; of course if you are going to water them properly nothing will rot so that will be fine.

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/forum.php

Loads of people growing on here - some new some old some amateur some expert - all sorts.