Veg to plant in April and things to do.

Fay

How long do cucumbers and french beans generally take to germinate? I have had mine in a week now but no sign of life-I didn't keep them near the warm aga though and now I'm wondering if that was a mistake??

Sally_A

About a week to 10 days in a warm place. Don't panic have a quick ferret in the bean pot and I bet you will see action.

Synonymous

Hi Guys,

In the last 8 days I've sewn mangetout inside in loo rolls and they've all come up already. The earliest ones to germinate are now about 10-15 cm tall and are getting too big to be indoors! Is it ok to put them out now? Are they susceptible to frost?

My plan is to follow the instructions on the seed packet (although this was for the seeds to be sewn direct) which is a trench 15cm wide and 5cm deep (or as deep as the loo rolls) and then zig zag the plants across the width at 5cm intervals. Does this sound about right? That would give me about 15 plants in one row and the packet says they get to be about 100cm high - how many mangetout are we talking from that many plants? Should I be doing another row - its to feed just me and the freezer With that kind of formation whereabout do you put the supports? I had my eye on some twiggy branches but one of the other allotmenters seems to have set them on fire!

Also, when planting out do I leave them in the loo rolls or cut them out?

Thanks again!

PS. forgot to say, I'm in South Yorkshire and the last frost risk is end of May if that helps!

Fay

Sally_A wrote: »

About a week to 10 days in a warm place. Don't panic have a quick ferret in the bean pot and I bet you will see action.

Thanks Sally I shall have a look later-it's like being an expectant mother :rotfl:

funkymonkey849

Fay wrote: »

Thanks Sally I shall have a look later-it's like being an expectant mother :rotfl:

Haha! I know the feeling. I remember when my 'babies' left home last year (moved from windowsill to greenhouse'. I was so worried about them outside on their own!

If you have time for 24 hour care then grow some parsnips

I think veg growing turns your brain a bit funny! :rotfl:

gazza975526570

Synonymous wrote: »

Hi Guys,

In the last 8 days I've sewn mangetout inside in loo rolls and they've all come up already. The earliest ones to germinate are now about 10-15 cm tall and are getting too big to be indoors! Is it ok to put them out now? Are they susceptible to frost?

My plan is to follow the instructions on the seed packet (although this was for the seeds to be sewn direct) which is a trench 15cm wide and 5cm deep (or as deep as the loo rolls) and then zig zag the plants across the width at 5cm intervals. Does this sound about right? That would give me about 15 plants in one row and the packet says they get to be about 100cm high - how many mangetout are we talking from that many plants? Should I be doing another row - its to feed just me and the freezer With that kind of formation whereabout do you put the supports? I had my eye on some twiggy branches but one of the other allotmenters seems to have set them on fire!

Also, when planting out do I leave them in the loo rolls or cut them out?

Thanks again!

PS. forgot to say, I'm in South Yorkshire and the last frost risk is end of May if that helps!

The way ive done mine is sown in cell modules and transpant them fairly soon after germination.

I put two sticks about 10 inches apart and then put string all around them at about 12 inch intervals up the sticks.

I then transplant three rows within here - so they are about 2 inches apart all around.

I reckon ive got about 100 plants or sow in a row.

First year of growing them - ive no idea how many i may actually get!!!

Orange_King

Synonymous wrote: »

Hi Guys,

In the last 8 days I've sewn mangetout inside in loo rolls and they've all come up already. The earliest ones to germinate are now about 10-15 cm tall and are getting too big to be indoors! Is it ok to put them out now? Are they susceptible to frost?

My plan is to follow the instructions on the seed packet (although this was for the seeds to be sewn direct) which is a trench 15cm wide and 5cm deep (or as deep as the loo rolls) and then zig zag the plants across the width at 5cm intervals. Does this sound about right? That would give me about 15 plants in one row and the packet says they get to be about 100cm high - how many mangetout are we talking from that many plants? Should I be doing another row - its to feed just me and the freezer With that kind of formation whereabout do you put the supports? I had my eye on some twiggy branches but one of the other allotmenters seems to have set them on fire!

Also, when planting out do I leave them in the loo rolls or cut them out?

Thanks again!

PS. forgot to say, I'm in South Yorkshire and the last frost risk is end of May if that helps!

I still have mine in the greenhouse - not as well developed as yours. I was hoping for 30 seeds to germinate in 3 seperate batches but have only had about 50% success.

I also start them in loo rolls which are then placed direct in the soil having ensured the roots are able to peek out somewhere.

I have started a decking project at the far end of the garden so I feel as if I'm neglecting the crops - still, getting plenty of soil from digging post holes. Once I have sieved it through it will be put to good use. so much to do and so little time to do it in - this flamin 9 - 5 work thing really sucks.....

prophecy_grrl

Hi all

I have now got about 10 tomato plants on the go, 8 lettuces, 4 corgetttes, 4 pumpkins, 2 sunflowers and a load of beans and peas. I've put them all into bigger pots now they';re looking bigger, but am unsure of the next steps. They're all still in my plastic greenhouse at the minute, when should I be moving them outside, and putting feed on them, and putting sticks in for them to climb please? sorry for so many questions am just excited about our 'crops' and can't wait to post pics on here when they're in full swing!

All advice appreciated

prophecy xxx

Sally_A

Hi Prophecy,
Yes by all means put your bean sticks in now, but first dig in a load of compost/manure as beans are hungry feeders, they also like moisture. Unsure if you are using bamboo or sticks from the hedgerows, but collecting beansticks from the fields (with permission - and most farmers don't mind, as hazels need coppicing anyhow) is something to do October to Feb.
I have some french beans out already, but I plant them inside the wigwam so that I can place perspex or old glass frames around the outside for overnight protection.

My courgettes/squashes will go outside after the 3rd week of May, if yours are too big, you can put them out but they will need protection, a simple 4 stick type teepee and covered overnight with fleece or bubble wrap held in place with clothes pegs will help - the top of the teepee will be just the right height to take your eye out, so make sure you use cane toppers, the tops from fabric conditioner bottles work well.
Pumpkins will spread up to 6ft, so bear this in mind when planting - mine tend to go travelling in a WSW direction, and allow approx 1m x 1m for courgettes.

Both pumpkins and courgettes like some good muck dug into the hole before planting, and if you can make this more of a mound, with a moat around the edge for watering (they don't like getting their stems wet) so much the better.

Tomatoes, can go out end of May (depending on your last frost date).

CandyB101_2

We have a friend who's the local woodsman/coppicing something or other.
He gave me some 'pea sticks' last year, I was amazed when the OH bought them home, basically they were just branches/sticks, but worked absolutely brilliantly. So easy, just push in the ground and they gave great support .... a visit to the local woods and a cheaper option than going and buying canes etc.
(Not his website) ... but it shows the sort of thing I mean (scroll a little down the page)
http://www.allotmentforestry.com/fact/bbps.htm
Love the 'victorian style 'sweet pea' style idea too.