Help MBE grow his dinner 2012

mrbadexample

Angelfeathers wrote: »

But if we can grow them all separately here (I've been very successful with beans and squash/courgettes here the last two years, even if I haven't tried corn), why wouldn't they work together? Is it to do with them shading each other out or something?

I think you should try it and report back with the results. Complete with photographs, of course.

Sambucus_Nigra

Angelfeathers wrote: »

But if we can grow them all separately here (I've been very successful with beans and squash/courgettes here the last two years, even if I haven't tried corn), why wouldn't they work together? Is it to do with them shading each other out or something?

Feel free to try it but it doesn't work. The beans overtake the corn, you can't harvest the beans as the squash leaves get in the way and it is designed for crops that are dry before harvest when the leaves are long gone.

Angelfeathers

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Feel free to try it but it doesn't work. The beans overtake the corn, you can't harvest the beans as the squash leaves get in the way and it is designed for crops that are dry before harvest when the leaves are long gone.

*nods* Thanks for the clarification. I don't foresee the squash on the ground being a problem as I've worked out how to train it where I want it - up the fence, if necessary! - but the beans overtaking the sweetcorn is more of a problem. Perhaps I'll just try growing them together (so they can benefit from the nutrients) but not *up* each other...

Lotus-eater

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Feel free to try it but it doesn't work. The beans overtake the corn, you can't harvest the beans as the squash leaves get in the way and it is designed for crops that are dry before harvest when the leaves are long gone.

The 3 sisters doesn't work very well, but squash with sweetcorn does. The squash keep the ground shaded below the sweetcorn and works as long as you give the squash roots their own space, ie not too close to the corn, otherwise they compete for water and nutrients.

I have tried drying beans with it and it works better than green beans, as you just leave them till the end, but they need more support than the corn normally.

hazzie123

Yay my Peppers have finally germinated! Just from the bedroom windowsill in seed trays with cling film on top.I now have 13 Paper Lantern Pepper plants and 6 Razzamatazz Peppers. They did take nearly 3 weeks and I was only going to give them another week if they didn't how any sign of life.

Very pleased and the boarders are finally taking shape and we have bought some shelving for the greenhouse so I can really get cracking.

Fay

furball wrote: »

All that hard work is done now. Just have to cross my fingers and see what flowers. As for the veg i haven't planted any yet, what's holding me up. i haven't got any plastic label things so i know what i have planted where:D. I threw a yogurt pot that i could have cut up so kicking myself:mad: As soon as i get some labels i will be off and running/planting oh and need some more canes for peas and beans. I have daffodil bulbs in flower in a barrel, do i leave them in if i want to plant tomatoes or do i lift them:o

Hi furball, your garden is looking great! Well done you.
I saw a tip on Beechgrove last year (which starts again tomorrow night, I watch it on iplayer)...anyway, one of their presenters had the most beautiful slate like plant labels, lovely and large. He told you that he had cut a tall black plastic plant pot up into strips and used a silver pen to write the names on. We did it on monday, but didn't have a silver pen (doh!) so used a tall raspberry plant pot in green and a black marker pen. Works well...sadly not as beautiful as the slate like ones, but still, good and hopefully will last.
We were also at Hanbury hall yesterday (national trust)...beautiful walled garden full of flowers and veg that they supply the other Midlands NT properties with. They used pieces of 1 inch timber as plant labels with names written on in marker pen, also looked lovely.

s_glover

emiff6 wrote: »

I've been thinking about runner bean supports. The traditional way is two rows of opposing canes slanted at an angle and secured at the top to make a long tent shape. But then a lot of beans must hang down inside the 'tent' space. Would it work to tie each pair of canes as a cross (or saltire if you want the proper term and a clear idea), so that the beans are hanging outward by the time they reach the top of the canes?

I'm thinking there must be obvious reasons why this is not a good idea or you'd see it done more often, but I can't think of any. What have I missed?

Growing runner beans up string also works. If you have a spare wall to use pop a couple of hooks in the wall top and bottom then use a long garden cane, curtain pole etc across at the top and bottom and tie string between the two the beans will happily climb up the string.

I have ordered some sweet pea seeds with a£10 voucher I had, hoping they arrive soon so i cna plant them. Thi nk I might grow these with the beans and make a nice display. Do you just put them in alternately?

furball

Thankyou Fay, I will have to google beechgrove. Love the idea of slate labels. I was actually thinking of lolly sticks as i know you can buy them in boxes but not sure if they are dearer than plastic sticks. A walled garden would be my idea of heaven. I also have a thing about dry stoned walls. Probably because there used to be one running the full length of my garden front and back including where the fence is that i have replaced. The people at the back of me have the original 5ft drystone wall still in place but whoever lived here years ago knocked mine down:( The most annoying thing is the people behind don't care about the garden, it's a tip. Which is such a shame as the people who lived there before had the best garden on the lane, lawn, flowers, veg plot. So sad. Oops sorry for rambling:o

mrbadexample

furball wrote: »

The most annoying thing is the people behind don't care about the garden, it's a tip. Which is such a shame as the people who lived there before had the best garden on the lane, lawn, flowers, veg plot. So sad.

I expect my neighbours thought that about me when I moved in. It wasn't full of junk, but I didn't own a lawnmower, the shed was a wreck etc. At that time, gardening was just a chore that made my back ache. It still makes my back ache but for some reason I don't mind so much any more. :rotfl:

furball

I shall live in hope then. I won't hold my breath though as she has been here 4 years. She says she hates gardening and just doesn't do a thing with it. It's the same as my front garden 80ft long and south facing. I never see her in the garden, ever, even in this weather.

Oooh forgot to say i have got some labels. Made from a stork tub. Only had to make 2 cakes to use it up.