Help MBE grow his dinner 2011

lolly5648

mrbadexample wrote: »

Right then, I've started. The bin is on the rhubarb,

Hi, MBE, just wondered what sort of bin you put over your rhubarb - I'd completely forgotten I had a plant out there as it is hidden behind the garage!

mrbadexample

lolly5648 wrote: »

Hi, MBE, just wondered what sort of bin you put over your rhubarb - I'd completely forgotten I had a plant out there as it is hidden behind the garage!

It's just a metal dustbin. Last year it was a perfect fit, but this year it's a bit of a tight fit because the plant's grown. I will have to make alternative arrangements next year, or split the crown.



Basically, you want anything that'll cover the plant & keep the light out.

Fay

Hi everyone, I've never posted on the greenfinger board before as I have only ever had a very small garden; but we moved in October to a lovely garden that has a veg patch! It is rather a mess at the mo, with nettles growing in it, a rosemary bush (quite woody), a bay tree (I think-any tips on how I tell?), and a blackcurrent bush. I really want to have a go at growing some veg so I was thinking some potatoes and carrots, french beans, leeks and onions. we also now have a green house so I was thinking tomatoes, peppers and chillis. Any other things people would recommend? Oh and some salad leaves and spring onions in pots! So I hope to be joining you all cooking (some of) my dinner! Mr badexample-I'm from Walsall originally and I don't recall seeing much locally grown meat either!

mrbadexample

Fay wrote: »

Any other things people would recommend?

Welcome Fay.

I'd always recommend runner beans, if you like them, as they are really easy!
I've not tried to grow peppers, but tomatoes and chillis should do well in the greenhouse. How big is it? You can start sowing chillis anytime now really.

What part of the country are you in? North or South makes a fair bit of difference to when you can plant things.

You'll find plenty of help for salad leaves on other threads, but I don't eat enough for it to be worthwhile. The general advice seems to be try to grow stuff that you like, but is expensive, if you can.

Fay

I live in Warwick, so still midlands(ish). The only problem is that the garden is North/West facing. The veg plot is in the section that gets the most sun and is more west than north, if that makes sense. There is a large hedge right next to it though which I know will take a lot of the water/nutrients but my husband is not keen on taking it out.The greenhouse is...I have no idea! Its an old metal framed and glass one with maybe three panels along each side. I will have to measure it. Should I start chillis in the house do you think, the kitchen is north facing but with a nice warm aga, or the dining room is south facing and I could possibly allow some plants on the window sill in there!

mrbadexample

Fay wrote: »

Should I start chillis in the house do you think, the kitchen is north facing but with a nice warm aga, or the dining room is south facing and I could possibly allow some plants on the window sill in there!

Yes, you'll need to start the chillis indoors, preferably in a heated propagator to get them to germinate. Once germinated, indoors for a while until you can put them in the greenhouse.

If you have a look here, you can see what I did last year. It's a bit long, sorry.

nopot2pin

If you force your rhubarb now, can you still pick it later in the year, when its not forced ? Thus doubling your crop ?

mrbadexample

nopot2pin wrote: »

If you force your rhubarb now, can you still pick it later in the year, when its not forced ? Thus doubling your crop ?

Yes, and that's exactly what I do. The forced rhubarb, grown in the absence of light, is a light pink colour, long and less fibrous. Once I've harvested that, the bin is removed and I let the plant get on with it as normal. I then take a few stalks, as and when required, through to about July.

I don't know if all rhubarb varieties are suitable for forcing.

Orange_King

Hi MBE. I have the rhubarb covered but only by some plastic planters - how long do you leave them covered for?

Only thing I have on the go at present are onions for early spring hopefully and garlic. The strawbs seem happy enough and have to get round to sorting raspberry bushes soon.

This year I fully intend to only plant what I'm going to be successful with, based on past experience. Brassicas will not be on the list, but replaced by more leeks, and squash. I promise not to go mad with tomato plants as the greenhouse was crammed with 40+ plants at one point last year and i could barely get in.

The usual favourites of potatos, carrots and a second go at parsnips will fill space while the peas and beans will hopefully be a success again.

New on the list for me this year is sweetcorn. Never tried it before so tips greatly appreciated.

I also hope to have a regular supply of lettuce leaves this time and also keep a better track of when I have planted things.

Here's to a successful year for us all.

misskool

Everyone should grow tomatillos too! I've grown them for 2 years now and they are a lovely productive crop.