Growing your own veg and fruit

Magentasue

moggins wrote:

I've still got half the garden empty though and I'm looking for things that will produce towards the end of the year. Is it too late now or is there something I can put in now?

This page might help. It depends where you are - if you're in the north you can be planting April/May things now whereas in the far south you can try June planting.

I'm coming towards the end of spring planting but if you start NOW you could get stuff in for a later harvest if you plant indoors to give a head start. You might not get as good a harvest but it's still early enought to get a decent return. Plant what you like to eat - put some runner beans in pots and put them out when they're a few inches high and they should take off, same for peas, peppers and tomatoes. Protection and a bit of care should enable them to catch up.

I'm still sowing a few beetroot and fennel every week so that I get a steady supply. In a few weeks I'm going to start planting winter crops. This week I've got some cabbage, onions, carrots and beetroot ready from October sowing so I'm hoping to extend that idea although I'm learning as I go along.

moggins

Thanks for that, I thought I might be a bit late but obviously not, I know of a farm that sells seedlings so I might pop up there today. I also have a cloche which got all of the oher stuff off to a really good start so I could shove that back over a few seeds and see what happens. I don't want to shove anything back in my mini greenhouse as I lost loads of seedlings when we went out for the day and the sun started belting down on them when I was out

raeble

from the book - "50 ways to kill a slug"
Spring clean your garden regularly - hoe and weed, cut back over hanging plants etc.
Plant tender seedlings away from the prying eyes of slugs or protect them by using the cardboard centres of loo rolls
Remove all slug trails - on ground by hoeing over, clean slime off your tools by using vinegar and warm water solution
Gently hoe your garden to expose slug eggs for the predators.
Try and cultivate your garden in spring when the slugs are hibernating.
There are certain plants that slugs hate - mint, garlic, fennel, geraniums, chives, foxgloves - if you plant a selection of these around your plants, they should act as a barrier to slug infiltration.
Soot is a great barrier - it blocks up the mucous glands and restricts movements. Mixed with lime and ashes it will be even more effective as there are more chemicals that slugs don't like. Re-apply after rain. Apply some extra soot to your face and do a war dance!
Let me know if you would like me to post some more extracts from the book.

moggins

Slugs don't hate my mint, they love it!! I'm losing loads of my mint to the little blighters and they've eaten all my basil seedlings

apprentice_tycoon

moggins wrote:

Slugs don't hate my mint, they love it!! I'm losing loads of my mint to the little blighters and they've eaten all my basil seedlings

Gourmets then.......

moggins

Oh great, I'm blessed with gourmet slugs, that's all I need

I'm going to try the slug pub, maybe I can get them that ratarsed they won't find my veggies

Fran

raeble wrote:

There are certain plants that slugs hate - mint, garlic, fennel, geraniums, chives, foxgloves - if you plant a selection of these around your plants, they should act as a barrier to slug infiltration.

Chives are the only edible thing I've got actually growing in the ground in my garden and they get covered in slug trails! Luckily they are big enough and growing quickly enough so I still get chives though.

moggins wrote:

Slugs don't hate my mint, they love it!! I'm losing loads of my mint to the little blighters and they've eaten all my basil seedlings

I've tried 3 times to keep basil alive that I got from the supermarket but they die off each time, haven't reached the garden. I've got my peppermint on a windowsill and it's doing great.

raeble

moggins wrote:

Slugs don't hate my mint, they love it!! I'm losing loads of my mint to the little blighters and they've eaten all my basil seedlings

I have got foxgloves, garlic and mint in my garden. The only thing the slugs appear to avoid are the garlic. I suppose it could mean a specific variety of the plants mentioned...

More tips from "50 ways to kill a slug"
Eggshells, grit, sand, sawdust, crushed nuts, sea shells, gravel and pine needles. If at first you don't succeed try one of the others. Slugs will experience great discomfort trying to slime over this little lot, a bit like getting a stone in your shoe.

Make time for a haircut. If you suffer from a lack of hair on your head, then perhaps a neighbour could oblige, or perhaps a pet dog or cat. Hair makes a great barrier. No matter how silky your locks, the slug will be reluctant to cross them.

Vermiculite - add some water to vermiculite, so that it swells up. Place this around your plants. The slugs will be attracted to the moisture but won't like the movement as for them it will feel like a landslide.

Send them off-piste - Put petroleum jelly around the base and tops of your plant containers. Watch Mr Slug having to muster all his energies to get past this gummy barrier - it's stick or slip for the slug!

tru

Can you eat radish leaves? I've just eaten one, they taste OK but will I be ill tomorrow? :rotfl:

catznine

raeble wrote:

from the book - "50 ways to kill a slug"
Spring clean your garden regularly - hoe and weed, cut back over hanging plants etc.
Plant tender seedlings away from the prying eyes of slugs or protect them by using the cardboard centres of loo rolls
Remove all slug trails - on ground by hoeing over, clean slime off your tools by using vinegar and warm water solution
Gently hoe your garden to expose slug eggs for the predators.
Try and cultivate your garden in spring when the slugs are hibernating.
There are certain plants that slugs hate - mint, garlic, fennel, geraniums, chives, foxgloves - if you plant a selection of these around your plants, they should act as a barrier to slug infiltration.
Soot is a great barrier - it blocks up the mucous glands and restricts movements. Mixed with lime and ashes it will be even more effective as there are more chemicals that slugs don't like. Re-apply after rain. Apply some extra soot to your face and do a war dance!
Let me know if you would like me to post some more extracts from the book.

Yes please! This is war! the blighters have got my radishes (didn't think they liked them!) only a matter of time before they get the lettuce! :mad: