Help MBE grow his dinner 2011

Sambucus_Nigra

mrbadexample wrote: »

How are my curcubits getting on Sambucus?

Fine. Absolutely fine.

mrbadexample

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Fine. Absolutely fine.

Jolly good.

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

For your leeks; plant the whole tray out in a corner somewhere a little deeper than the actual tray, and sweep some nice soil over the top and water in. Then, just leave until the space for your final leeks is free [usually after the potatoes are out]. Then, dig up the leeks which will be alot bigger by then, and plant them into their final positions. Water in and then harvest during the winter when you are in need of lovely leek and potato soup.

will get onto it tomorrow. Thanks

I really need the dining table to tackle the huge amount of ironing that has been created over the last few days so I am risking putting all of the seedlings into the unheated greenhouse tonight. I have been hardening them off over the last 10 days so its fingers crossed they are ok.

Right off to start the ironing.

PS. I love leek and potato soup. Made lots last year (when the ground was not too frozen and we could get them out of it)

mrbadexample

If I plant the sprouty garlic cloves that are in my fridge, will they grow?

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Apparently it's too cold in this country for that type of garlic which is usually grown in Spain. If our weather continues like this who knows .

Sambucus_Nigra

MBE - Garlic needs to be sown in Sept - Dec; the best results I've ever had were from bought garlic from the local greengrocers. Also, after my month by month trials - sow on Dec 21st and harvest on June 21st. It gives you the best cold/warm mix of weather.

However I was at a green festival and bought a clove from the Isle of Wight garlic farm and to be honest, they are looking absolutely magnificent this year. But the cloves that you buy in garden centres I'd not bother with - definitely not as strong as the greengrocer garlic for me.

blackandwhitebunny

mrbadexample wrote: »

If I plant the sprouty garlic cloves that are in my fridge, will they grow?

Yes they will. What they won't do is form nice big bulbs with seperate cloves. What you will get is small one clove bulbs, perfectly usable. I'd say it's worth a go if you have a corner to put them in.

djohn2002uk

mrbadexample wrote: »

I've sown some runners today. Three I saved from last year and three LAYA (Long As Your Arm) for my competition. It doesn't sound like you're desperately early.

If you are contemplating saving seed from the LAYA then it's not a good idea to plant them close to the others you saved or you will likely get cross polination. Then next year there's no telling what you'll get.

djohn2002uk

For planting out leeks, watch the Monty Don video here.
http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/leeks-planting-out/

mrbadexample

djohn2002uk wrote: »

If you are contemplating saving seed from the LAYA then it's not a good idea to plant them close to the others you saved or you will likely get cross polination. Then next year there's no telling what you'll get.

Oh. Well, I would certainly have saved some. How close is close? I could do one lot near the greenhouse, and the other in the third bed down. Is that far enough?

It probably won't matter anyway, as my mate's only growing the LAYA, so I could just grab some from him.