Help MBE grow his dinner 2011

Fay

Lotus eater-which one is the side shoot in that shot? Sorry, I'm very very new to this!

Lotus-eater

It looks like your main growing point is going off to the right of the photo. It has the flower truss on it.
At the bottom of the photo, just to the left, you have a leaf stalk, just above that there is a large sideshoot.
It looks like one of the side shoots which grow very quickly and confuses beginners. As it's hard to see which is the true growing point and which is the sideshoot.
I presume they have a name and will find out what it is one day. Some varieties are more prone to it than others. You can grow on either, but better not to do both unless there is a reason.

lemonjelly

Hey everyone!:wave:

Had a break for a couple of days. A friend visited (he moved away 2.5 years ago for 6 months to "sort himself out". He is now in a sorted out position, but can't move back). So spent a fair amount of the weekend remeniscing and the like.

Decent weather for bowls at the weekend!

Been pottering in the garden (still nothing flowerin though)

Monday was terrible weather wise wasn't it? However, it was good froma gardener/bowler/much needed rain point of view. Rain for pretty much the full day here. Very needed. Not as thorough a soaking as we need though. Been dry since, & that is forecast into next week.

Garden is coming along though - lots of watering required. sping onions have sprouted, peppers coming along slowly, beetroot & onions steady. Beans climbing, and the peas are kicking in now. Tomato plants need repotting again, and I need to plant more lettuce.

The carrots appear to be the one thing really struggling. I think out of about 16 planted, it appears only 2 have sprouted. Am I kidding myself by telling myself that all the work is happening underground?:o

I have been sorting hanging baskets an planting out morning glory flowers & the like. I'm also using my own compost for the first time.
The only issue with that is there were potato skins in the composter, & there now appears to be potato plants growing under my beans & peas!:eek:

djohn2002uk wrote: »

Anything that you think the birds will eat or damage. Strawberries could be a prime candidate for the birds. I have to net my peas or the sparrows rip them to bits as soon as they are through the ground. They are now over 5ft tall and they are still at it.

Your sparrows are 5ft tall?:eek:

My peas are still low down, possibly a foot to a foot and a half. I noticed yesterday that they appear to be taking a bit now. I am hopeful with the peas, as they're my favourite vegetable, so I really don't want them attacked by your 5 foot sparrows.;)

mrbadexample

Fay wrote: »

Lotus eater-which one is the side shoot in that shot? Sorry, I'm very very new to this!

It's ok, I've done it for you.

mrbadexample

lemonjelly wrote: »

So spent a fair amount of the weekend reminiscing and the like.

Oh yeah, is that what you call it? :beer:

lemonjelly wrote: »

Am I kidding myself by telling myself that all the work is happening underground?:o

Yes. Sow more.

lemonjelly wrote: »

The only issue with that is there were potato skins in the composter, & there now appears to be potato plants growing under my beans & peas!:eek:

Free spuds! :j I've got a feeling that half the weeds I'm digging up are actually tomato plants, for the same reason.

lemonjelly wrote: »

Your sparrows are 5ft tall?:eek:

Now I understand the netting! :rotfl:

mrbadexample

Now this is looking good. Just a few flowers on the way.

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Have planted two hanging baskets with tomatos today. The tumbling tom plants are still quite small but I think they will do better now they are in a better quality compost. I am not convinced that the bush toms I put in the other will be OK. They seem quite tall. I have pinched out the growing tip in the hope that they bush out a bit more. Have also planted the marigolds in with the toms in the green house to encourage the bees in there.
Will be planting the purple sprouting brocouli later today when the sun stops blazing down. Runner beans about 2 foot high, no signs of 5 foot tall sparrows. Being MSE I wonder what the eating is like on a 5 ft sparrow

lolly5648

Ihave a tumbling tom with at least 30 flowers and it doesn't look like any of them have been fertilised. I have been out there with my cotton bud but nothing seems to be happening.

Lotus-eater

lolly5648 wrote: »

Ihave a tumbling tom with at least 30 flowers and it doesn't look like any of them have been fertilised. I have been out there with my cotton bud but nothing seems to be happening.

You don't need to do that, tomatoes pollinate themselves within the flower as I understand it. You just need to give the plant a bit of a shake. They will come good, just don't look at them for a couple of days.

mrbadexample

lolly5648 wrote: »

Ihave a tumbling tom with at least 30 flowers and it doesn't look like any of them have been fertilised. I have been out there with my cotton bud but nothing seems to be happening.

Is it inside or outside?

You say "out there", so if it is outside, I wouldn't worry, it will have been pollinated if the insects can get to it. You don't need the cotton bud - just gently brushing past it every now and then should do the job.