Help MBE grow his dinner 2011

djohn2002uk

mrbadexample wrote: »

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:

I would always keep the two seperate, if you use that too early on the runner beans they could draw on the manure content and start sprouting more runners and that will impact on the size and quantity of beans. Then even conning your mates wont help you.

Sambucus might have some knowledge that I haven't gleaned in my 71yrs but I have never heard of putting seedlings like yours in an unheated greenhouse with temperatures as they are now. Mine are about 4to5" high and I wouldn't leave mine below 50 degrees yet. Yours are a little late and no way are they going to catch up in the sort of temperature we have today. They need help to grow at the moment not to harden off.

mrbadexample

djohn2002uk wrote: »

I would always keep the two seperate, if you use that too early on the runner beans they could draw on the manure content and start sprouting more runners and that will impact on the size and quantity of beans. Then even conning your mates wont help you.

About a fortnight ago I dug a trench where the beans will ultimately go, and put a couple of buckets of the mixture in the bottom. I'd guess there was a fairly high proportion of manure in there, but it will have been in the heap for at least 6 months, maybe more. Bearing in mind that I haven't sown the beans yet, so it will be a few more weeks before they go out, do you think that will be ok?

djohn2002uk wrote: »

Sambucus might have some knowledge that I haven't gleaned in my 71yrs but I have never heard of putting seedlings like yours in an unheated greenhouse with temperatures as they are now. Mine are about 4to5" high and I wouldn't leave mine below 50 degrees yet. Yours are a little late and no way are they going to catch up in the sort of temperature we have today. They need help to grow at the moment not to harden off.

Ahh...this is where I struggle! Conflicting advice & information! I know that different methods work for different people in different locations, and I guess I've just got to figure out what will work for me. I don't mind the trial - it's the error that worries me!

mrbadexample

djohn2002uk wrote: »

...some knowledge that I haven't gleaned in my 71yrs

Perhaps I should ask my (great) uncle Sid. He's still riding his bike to his allotment, and growing his runner beans (those I grew last year were from his seed). He's got 20 years on you.

lisa26_2

I'm by no means an expert so can only comment on my own experience this year! My tomato and chilli seedlings have been out in my unheated greenhouse for about 3 weeks now and have all survived. They germinated in an unheated propagator on my kitchen windowsill then once they were too tall I transplanted them into slightly larger pots and put them in the greenhouse. I haven't lost any (yet!) and I'm more North than you I think MBE (as North as you can get in Lincolnshire).

djohn2002uk

I wasn't sugesting that he'd lose them, what I was saying is that they need help to grow and everyone knows that plants/seedlings grow best when they are kept warm. That's why most things, especially toms grow in the summer.

mrbadexample

djohn2002uk wrote: »

I wasn't sugesting that he'd lose them, what I was saying is that they need help to grow and everyone knows that plants/seedlings grow best when they are kept warm. That's why most things, especially toms grow in the summer.

That makes sense. So maybe a little longer indoors whilst the weather remains cool. Might get them out this weekend if it brightens up as they suggest.

djohn2002uk

Didn't work.

djohn2002uk

Hope this works.



Some carrots in a bucket.



My Sweetie seedless toms.



Pots ready for runner beans next week.

Sambucus_Nigra

djohn2002uk wrote: »

I would always keep the two seperate, if you use that too early on the runner beans they could draw on the manure content and start sprouting more runners and that will impact on the size and quantity of beans. Then even conning your mates wont help you.

Sambucus might have some knowledge that I haven't gleaned in my 71yrs but I have never heard of putting seedlings like yours in an unheated greenhouse with temperatures as they are now. Mine are about 4to5" high and I wouldn't leave mine below 50 degrees yet. Yours are a little late and no way are they going to catch up in the sort of temperature we have today. They need help to grow at the moment not to harden off.

I was still harvesting my tomatoes last November which I am more than happy with - I'll stick to my way if that's ok. How can you say mine are a little late - you've not seen them?

mrbadexample

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

How can you say mine are a little late - you've not seen them?

He means mine.

Which are late.