Help MBE grow his dinner 2012

Drea

I'm worried I've killed off a whole heap of plants today... I caned my tomato plants and then took all the stems off them other than the main top part... I read to do it and now I'm not sure I should have! I repotted the lettuce and all but three have made it to the bin... I failed miserably!

Then I took off three huge strawberry runners before learning I'm supposed to pot them while still attached to the mother plant!

I shouldn't be allowed out alone :rotfl:

djohn2002uk

Your Toms will be OK. Only take side shoots off where the leaves join the main stem and you'll be ok. Pinch the main stem out after 5 trusses have flowered. Sow some more lettuce now, there's still time. You know what you did wrong with the strawberries so just wait for more runners and do it right this time.

Drea

djohn2002uk wrote: »

Your Toms will be OK. Only take side shoots off where the leaves join the main stem and you'll be ok. Pinch the main stem out after 5 trusses have flowered. Sow some more lettuce now, there's still time. You know what you did wrong with the strawberries so just wait for more runners and do it right this time.

Phew I'm glad my tomatoes will survive, they were the first things I planted, didn't want to lose them

Little_Vics

annie123 wrote: »

How many toms did you pick up in the end?

16!!! Am amazed.

However, I have some very very disappointing news to share. Guess what I found poking out of the soil this evening?

a *&£@*&!^ potato.

Am back to 'gardening is traumatic' viewpoint.

mrbadexample

Little_Vics wrote: »

Guess what I found poking out of the soil this evening?

a *&£@*&!^ potato.

:rotfl: I've not grown that variety. Is it an early or a maincrop?

16 tomato plants eh? That should keep you well supplied. How big are they? Any flowers yet?

Little_Vics

it's a soon-to-be-dug-up crop because it's exactly where I want to put my squashes!

Tomatoes - 4 different varieties (although can't remember what), most plants are about 8 inches tall. I need to pot them on, but have run out of muck so have to bribe someone to take me to the garden centre to get some.

Aubergines are teeeeeeeny tiny - about as high as my little finger.

My pepper plant is looking very very sorry for itself. There are 6 peppers, but the leaves are curling up and drooping, and are covered in little white things. I've sprayed liberally with anti-bug stuff, and have stood him in a bucket of water for a good drink, but nothing doing. Fear it might be his last year, but he's served me well.

annie123

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Gooseberry - take out any that grow in the middle. It will grow them like crazy at the moment - just remove and pop into a pot of soil/compost and some may even shoot for more plants. Try and keep it as a bowl shape as much as you can - it will be worth it in the long run and they [should] have already flowered this year so next year is when you will get gooseberries.

Thank you and done

Redcurrant question:
I have 3 red currant bushes, different types.
The youngest one, this is it's 3rd year so just about to give me a crop, is being eaten by something :mad: not the leaves, they're all fine just the flower stems which have just got the tiniest little green berries behind them.
Most have the tips left intact, it's the bit between there and the branch. So I now have empty stalks till the last 1". Had a look over and couldn't see anything. The other 2 plants (none are near each other) are fine.
I put a net over it last week and they were looking fine then

Ideas as to what it could be? and how to stop it?

Sambucus_Nigra

Little_Vics wrote: »

16!!! Am amazed.

However, I have some very very disappointing news to share. Guess what I found poking out of the soil this evening?

a *&£@*&!^ potato.

Am back to 'gardening is traumatic' viewpoint.

I don't understand...I have lots of volunteer potatoes and bung straw round each one as they will all give me extra spuds later in the year. I even pot up ones that sprout in the compost heap.

Sambucus_Nigra

annie123 wrote: »

Thank you and done

Redcurrant question:
I have 3 red currant bushes, different types.
The youngest one, this is it's 3rd year so just about to give me a crop, is being eaten by something :mad: not the leaves, they're all fine just the flower stems which have just got the tiniest little green berries behind them.
Most have the tips left intact, it's the bit between there and the branch. So I now have empty stalks till the last 1". Had a look over and couldn't see anything. The other 2 plants (none are near each other) are fine.
I put a net over it last week and they were looking fine then

Ideas as to what it could be? and how to stop it?

Hard to say without seeing it but if it was netted and it's only 1 and no sign of bugs, doormice or another critter?

annie123

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Hard to say without seeing it but if it was netted and it's only 1 and no sign of bugs, doormice or another critter?

Ah, hadn't thought of mice I have some living in my log pile/stumpery only 6' away.
Note to self to move it to the top end of the garden later in the year.