Gardening in Yorkshire

s_glover

I tried for the first time last year but with little suiccess. I grew a few in large planters. The plants grew well and formed a few very snall squashes but these never grew ad just seemed to rot. Might well have another try again this year though, planing them in the ground as we now have our own garden.

Would love to hear anyones success stories with squash and any other veg in Yorkshire.

It would be especially useful to know what time to sow seeds, plant out etc as I tend to go by the packet but think this must be a bit early with us being in the north. We recently picked up 2 bargain cold frames from Argos so are planning on building those this weekend. might look into getting some fleece too to protect things outside.

granthamgal

Listen to Joe Maiden and Tim on Radio Leeds Sunday am 9 to 12. They are brilliant and you can ask anything - flowers, veg, trees, pests. I have an allottment and my stuff can differ from next door!! but some advice on spuds, natural time to plant is Good Friday (let the seed pots sprout for a few weeks first in light cool place - its called chitting). Go for it.:)

s_glover

Thanks very much. I've got my seed potatoes so will start them chitting this weekend, does that sound about right?

pineapple

I'm in Pennine Yorkshire a few miles from Hebden Bridge. Not only does it tend to warm up later here (compared to the south), apparently this March has been forecast to be colder than usual . Strikes Garden Centre near Tod has a lot of reasonable value seed potato varieties at the moment.
I've got some second earlies and some mains. The second earlies are chitting already. Anytime from March for both is the recommended planting time (that's what it says on the packet:rotfl:) I'll be keeping an eye out on the weather!
This year I'll be better organised and remember what I put in each bag. For some reason I did a lot better with the red skinned Desiree potatoes last year.
I use organic compost and sometimes think it would be cheaper to buy the flippin things. However there's nothing like the satisfaction of growing your own food and eating it fresh.

s_glover

Hi Pineapple,

I'm about 13 miles from Hebden bridge. I definitely think that growing veg the way I do isn't terribly economical but the satisfaction and tase of fresh veg straight from the garden is great and we have fun trying. Hopefully with a garden of our own thi syear we might eb a bit more productive than previous years in pots and planters

grandmaster00

ive had great success with both summer and winter squashes in yorkshire - leeds to be exact. the problem you are facing sounds like they are not getting pollinated properly - nothing to do with growing conditions. cant understand why you are having problems with the sprouting brocolli either as yorkshire is almost ideal for it - are you sure you are leaving it long enough? or even planting it early enough ? it takes roughly 12 months to reach maturity and to flower

s_glover

Grandmaster, I would love to get to grips with growing squahes. Any time would be really appreciated, when to sow, best planting position, anything to watch out for etc?

Little_Vics

pineapple and s_glover - you are both very very close to me! Seems we have our own micro-climate in the Calder valley!!

I'm putting in a quince tree and damson tree this year and keeping my fingers crossed. I'm also keen to see what Incredible Edible Tod plant - surely they know what they are doing and we can just copy them?? That's my cunning plan anyway!

s_glover

Hi Little Vics,

Great to hear from people close to me. We've just moved into our house in the last month so am completely new to growing anything here but looking forward to getting started and getting any tips.

Little_Vics

Have you come across Incredible Edible yet? http://www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk/

They are fab.....