The 2013 'Growing' Chat Thread

katholicos

In bed watching x files and admiring my seed potatoes chitting across the room from me in empty cardboard egg cartons. What a way to spend a saturday evening eh? My how times have changed!

The spuds are various. There was an offer in a garden centre, fill a bag of with second earlies for 1.99. They are a pretty mixed bag. I am trying to not to be perturbed that i don't know which seed spuds are which.

Helen2k8

Well, no sign of germination from any of the perennials yet (in a rootrainer propagator), and my sprouting seeds must be too cold to sprout as well!

Ah well.

katholicos

Apologies for poor quality pics (ipad photos and my hands are a bit swollen and shaky) but just thought i would share a snap or two. Picture one is of my leek, onion and chive seedlings that have come through.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79577750@N05/8403761750


Pic 2 is of my newish garden helper. Our border collie. She had her first birthday in December so as you can imagine, she is like a norty toddler! Hopefully she won't jump all over my raised beds and dig up my veggies this year! Last summer she was bonkers! Love her to bits though

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79577750@N05/8402672785/

Need to pot on some of those seedlings soonish...

Julieel

Anyone ever tried using the pound shops or B&M for the likes of potatoes or onions sets? Have they worked for you or do you think it's better to spend the extra money and get them from a proper garden centre??

katholicos

Hiya Julieel,

I have had failures with expensive onion sets, seeds and seed potatoes at times and successes with cheap onion sets, seeds and seed potatoes so i think they are worth a try. You won't be losing much money if they fail you, but you may also gain a reasonable crop from minimal financial outlay.

Let us know how you get on with your growing, whatever option you choose

rosy798

Julieel wrote: »

Anyone ever tried using the pound shops or B&M for the likes of potatoes or onions sets? Have they worked for you or do you think it's better to spend the extra money and get them from a proper garden centre??

I would love them to work, but I don't have the space to try on the off chance they may work, so tend to but better quality stuff.

mansars

Well as its lashing down outside and I am waiting on people getting back to me from work, I decided to plant a few things.

I bought a couple of weeks ago some deep root planters from Homebase with my nectar points, so decided to plant a few things to get the season started.

I planted some comfrey, gardeners delight tomoatoes, early nanates carrots, sweet corn, Leeks belton f1, spting onions, lettuce and parsnips.

About 8 plants (if Im lucky) plus I started chitting my charlotte tatties.

I plan to do one of these each month to try and avoid gluts.

Good to get the season started.

sarah222

I am planning on starting some toms in a coissant box this weekend. I got a tip off another thread on here and thought might give that a try on the window sill. Those clear trays with the lid so work like mini greenhouse? Anyone tried it. I have a greenhouse but we also have lots of snow here on the Black Mountains in Wales so dont want to heat that yet lol so thought as I have an old house with very large internal windowsills the dinning room (which we generally dont use) would be ideal. Doesnt get loads of sun but no where does here at mo.
How early do people start their tumbling toms? I love these as have 10 hanging baskets and a huge patio and can pick and chat at bbq's lol kids love them too

katholicos

mansars wrote: »

Well as its lashing down outside and I am waiting on people getting back to me from work, I decided to plant a few things.

I bought a couple of weeks ago some deep root planters from Homebase with my nectar points, so decided to plant a few things to get the season started.

I planted some comfrey, gardeners delight tomoatoes, early nanates carrots, sweet corn, Leeks belton f1, spting onions, lettuce and parsnips.

About 8 plants (if Im lucky) plus I started chitting my charlotte tatties.

I plan to do one of these each month to try and avoid gluts.

Good to get the season started.

Good on you for getting sowing. Are you growing the comfrey from seeds or did you plant comfrey roots?

I have never had much success with comfrey by seed.

Is it bocking 14 that you are sowing/growing ?

katholicos

sarah222 wrote: »

I am planning on starting some toms in a coissant box this weekend. I got a tip off another thread on here and thought might give that a try on the window sill. Those clear trays with the lid so work like mini greenhouse? Anyone tried it. I have a greenhouse but we also have lots of snow here on the Black Mountains in Wales so dont want to heat that yet lol so thought as I have an old house with very large internal windowsills the dinning room (which we generally dont use) would be ideal. Doesnt get loads of sun but no where does here at mo.
How early do people start their tumbling toms? I love these as have 10 hanging baskets and a huge patio and can pick and chat at bbq's lol kids love them too

Sarah, i use windowsill propogators that look like

this

Mine were £1.99 from either aldi or lidl. I can fit 3 in most of our windowsills, lengthways.

I find them the most suitable for me. I did have the big chunky propogators. From B and q but found them too bulky for our windowsills.

Of course, an old plastic tray from a pack of minced beef or fresh mushrooms will suffice and can be topped with cling film or a clear plastic bag can be used.

It doesn't have to be expensive at all.