Help MBE grow his dinner 2012

mrbadexample

gazza975526570 wrote: »

They are best planted when still dormant - thats why generally when you buy them they look like a dead twig!!

So yeah - fine to be out now, and if you havent already got them out - get them out now!!!

Cheers gazza. I'll put mine in tomorrow. I chose ones with sprouty bits so I knew they weren't dead.

djohn2002uk

A sander for a pound??? What?, a block of wood and a piece of sand paper?:eek:

Lotus-eater

Angelfeathers wrote: »

Wow, apparently my last frost is late April! I always assumed it was mid-May, for some reason. Well, that's nice to know! :-)

Don't forget it's an estimation of the general area, weather conditions vary year to year and geographical conditions vary enough to make a difference. Whether you are in an urban or country area, also makes a big difference.

emiff6

mrbadexample wrote: »

I know Sambucus is a big advocate of getting them out in the cold nice and early, and I wouldn't argue with that, but I fear for your tomatoes with the forthcoming cold snap that's predicted. Can you bring them in overnight?

I can, but I'm not gonna!

This evening I've covered them with 3 layers of fleece under the cloche. If they're such puny things that they keel over and die, well, there's lots more seed in the packet.

It's a bit of an experiment really, so I'll be pleased if they survive, but not too disappinted if they don't.

emiff6

mrbadexample wrote: »

I went to Poundland today. Bought some raspberries, the last tayberry, some pots, two polytunnels, a sander and some screwdriver bits.

When can I plant the raspberries out then please?

My 3 bare-root raspberries arrived this morning and I set to and planted them straight away. Not grown them before, so did a bit of reading research in advance and:
>Stood the rasps in a bucket of water for an hour before planting.
>Added bonemeal to the soil from the holes.
>Only planted them shallow - 4 inches - usually I dig holes half way to Oz when I plant stuff.
>Spread the roots out well.
>Mulched around the plants (but not too close to the stems) with well rotted FYM.

I got autumn fruiting ones for less fiddling about with supports and pruning, chose Joan J for taste plus (I hope) no spines.

What breed are yours MrBE?

lemonjelly

mrbadexample wrote: »

If I was you I'd buy plug plants. :whistle:

And where would the fun be in that?:D

kara7758

mrbadexample wrote: »

A few more things achieved today:

More cat-proofing (I hope). They climb through this at the lowest point:



Right of the door handle you can see a mucky patch where they put their dirty feet. That's not a huge problem, but when they come the other way they jump up on to the felt on the sloping roof, which is slowly being ripped to shreds. That will make the roof rot, so it's got to stop. If this doesn't work I'll see how they like anti-vandal paint. :mad:

Just a word of caution about putting anti vandal paint on it. My neighbour 2 doors down painted her entire fence with anti vandal paint, not just the first 2" as it states in the tin. It was to deter intruders as there had been a spate of break ins. Consequently two of my cats who climbed onto her fence got covered in anti vandal paint and trod it all over my carpets and furniture. One of the cats was ill enough to need a vets attention. My carpets were ruined and I spent hours with a bar of green fairy soap washing the oily paint from everything else. The cats had numerous baths to get it off their fur.

I spoke to her about what had happened and warned her in case other cats had climbed her fence and the possible consequences. I could have sued her for the damage to my carpets etc, but didn't as we are good neighbours and of course she didn't do it intentionally. I've placed plastic carpet grippers on the areas I want to stop my cats climbing up and it has worked. Hope this is an ok suggestion?

annie123

mrbadexample wrote: »

How should I know? I've never grown them before! I'm waiting for annie to turn up and tell me.

opps! I was awol

gazza975526570 wrote: »

They are best planted when still dormant - thats why generally when you buy them they look like a dead twig!!

So yeah - fine to be out now, and if you havent already got them out - get them out now!!!

And gazza is right, they will be fine, even if it snows!

mrbadexample wrote: »

Cheers gazza. I'll put mine in tomorrow. I chose ones with sprouty bits so I knew they weren't dead.

When buying twigs, scrape a little bit of bark away down near the root end, if it's green its alive, if not it's a dead twig!


Vanish for a day or to and I've got pages to catch up on.......going back to read them all now.

annie123

mrbadexample wrote: »

Mine's a nice big healthy seedling. In fact, it's one of my biggest, healthiest-looking seedlings:



Sorry about that - it's not the chilli. The rest of yours look mighty fine though - I'm sure it'll catch up.

Very nice looking........goes of sulking as mine don't look like that this year:(

mrbadexample wrote: »

Thanks. The chillies and peppers seem to be loving my home made compost. The tomatoes perhaps a little less so. :undecided

Home made compost is great for seed sowing if your sterilise it in the microwave first;) , this year as I had to move my full compost bin early feb due to fence down, so I just spread it around the beds and bought homebase seed compost with added john innes.
Never ever again. I am so disappointed by the germination rate and the stunted growth.

lemonjelly wrote: »

Not one of my 14 tomato seeds has germinated. I'm going to start ranting at the family next...

Bring them indoors where it's warmer, they'll soon pop up.

Think I'm up to date!

Lotus-eater

emiff6 wrote: »

I got autumn fruiting ones for less fiddling about with supports and pruning, chose Joan J for taste plus (I hope) no spines.

Should be no thorns on Joan J, they are truly a brilliant raspberry, grow like weeds, you should have no trouble from them and they taste and look (the fruit) fantastic.