Fed up this year

twiglet98

I've had my worst year too - only expanded the veg and soft fruit ideas four years ago, I just did herbs and tomatoes before then.

I don't grow winter veg, but the past three summers I've had mountains of courgettes, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, sugar snaps, french beans, broad beans, sweetcorn...

This year, most of my courgette seeds failed to germinate and of the few that did, they keeled over when planted out. Not a single bean has germinated, have just put some on wet kitchen roll in the airing cupboard and hope I may get a late crop if they ever get going. My tomatoes have only been out of the growhouse for three weeks but look very sad, I've had fleece over them in the growbags and perhaps it was too wet underneath. The leeks aren't growing. Of 16 sweetcorn plants set out in a block of 4 x 4, I have four plants left and I think rabbits have had the rest. Of 25 purple sprouting plants, only six are left, no idea what had them as they're covered in fine netting to keep the butterflies off. Only two of 15 kale plants germinated, they're now outside but not growing. Of a row of peas sown outside, only four are peeking above the ground. The raspberries and blueberries aren't looking promising, though the strawberries look ok so far. Slugs have got to the radish tops, killed all the companion marigolds, and have got past the eggshells and copper tape to the lettuces. The herbs all look ok and potatoes have foliage, though of course no guarantee of a decent crop. And my growhouse has been totally broken in yesterday's wind, all the plastic bits that the tubular frame sections push into have broken. It had new fleece and polythene covers this spring, they're still intact, but I'm hardly inclined to get another frame, the long list of failures is upsetting enough but the wind is just about enough to make me call it a day and let the weeds take over again!

Eenymeeny

spirit wrote: »

I bought some rhubarb plants that were tiny last year. I know you are not meant to, but i have picked Lbs and Lbs worth already. I keep chickens and each time i muck out their run I chuck loads of it on the 'barb.

Can you get hold of any manure or well rotted compost?

No, but I can get chicken manure pellets or blood fish and bone. Would that be any help do you think? I've been composting over the last year too. I could maybe put some of that on top?
If it's warmth that does helps I'm thinking maybe I should cover it over with something? I'm grateful for any advice

spirit

i don't think it's the warmth necessarily but warmth will help too I'm sure. The stuff i pile on mine is Hemcore base (which is a horse bedding really but makes a good chicken run material) with added poo from 13 hens it's good stuff by the time it goes on the garden.

So this will add warmth as well as extra nutrients.

could you put a wanted ad on Freecyle/Freegle for some manure - horse or chook?

valk_scot

As an allotment holder of 15 years experience I can assure you that there's very seldom a year where everything grows well, there's always at least a couple of things that sulk or just don't grow at all. This year it seems to be peas and beans for me, last year it was sweetcorn and tomatoes, year before it was potatoes. But then again this year I'm getting fabulous salad crops and strawberries and the onions and garlic last year were fantastic!

It's all swings and roundabouts. No gardener can get everything perfect every time so don't belive the annoying gits that tell you otherwise. You will build up lots of experience over the years though and this will allow you to maximise your chances of getting good results. Also, pay close attention to YOUR local climate and soil conditions. What works for me (east central Scotland, light sandy loam, soft water) won't necessarily work for you in your area. It's 90% environment, 5% experience, 5% luck for veggie growing.

I wouldn'y put raw chicken manure on anything less robust than rhubarb btw. It can burn and scorch young plants and the rich environment actually retards seed germination. Great stuff for the compost bin though, or bag it seperately and let it rot down for a few months. Rhubarb doesn't need extra warmth at this time of year but it can benefit from the crowns being covered up in winther, after summer growth has dies back. I usually put a six inch layer of straw over the top, then cover it with some well rotted manure or the rougher bits of bin compost. The new growth comes up through this in the spring.

mary-op

Thank goodness its not just us - OH, after having most of last year in hospital, was looking forward to getting stuck in on the garden
So far, things he's bought as plants are slow, but at least they're still there.......he planted one lot of carrots -they got eaten but the second lot he did are thankgully popping through.
Runner beans are ok (bought as plants), french beans he planted as seed........nothing....so he planted another lot and just when he was thinking they wouldn't show and he'd dig them up and plant something else they started to pop through. Success at last he thought........not so.......now the leaves have all turned yellow and not looking hopeful. Someone told him that too much water does that.........well we've had more than too much !
He's just thankful for the things that are growing and he's having a re-think for next year
Good luck............we are need some sunshine:)

Eenymeeny

Thanks for the rhubarb advice, don't want to hijack this thread!:T:o:)