Help MBE grow his dinner 2013.

annie123

OMG! that's a lot of marrows. I'll stick to courgettes.
Good luck with the comp, wouldn't know if that's a good weight or not for them as I don't grow because I don't like them much. But they look like fine specimens to me.

That PP looks ready to pick to me. I've never found the taste as nice as a bns but may be just the type I grew.

First sign of powdery mildew on a few courgette leaves, that should slow the bu**ers down.

Been a tad nippy overnight lately, down to 9c so this weekend I'll bring my chillis in to ripen quicker.
The Hungarian hot wax is so slow to turn, been yellow for ages, Wonder if they'd mind being oiked out of the soil and into a pot?

Little_Vics

I have a slightly-orange-ish tomato! Hoorah!

Fueled by this success, what can I plant now for the harsh winter? We get a LOT of snow and ice here from Dec-Feb, it will rain consistently until June, and - well - gah, basically.

I have an empty cold frame and about 2 square metres in the veg patch which isn't taken up with courgettes.

Ideas??

annie123

Little_Vics wrote: »

Fueled by this success, what can I plant now for the harsh winter? We get a LOT of snow and ice here from Dec-Feb, it will rain consistently until June, and - well - gah, basically.

I have an empty cold frame and about 2 square metres in the veg patch which isn't taken up with courgettes.

Ideas??

Kale. Can't the stuff personally but it will grow anywhere and survive being buried under snow.

Little_Vics

can't stand it either to be honest!

annie123

It's rained so much from Thursday 'till last night it's filled my new water butt up! There was maybe 1/2" in before so we're really pleased that the turf roof works as it didn't flood and the water drained away as expected.

New lawn seeds growing on bare bits, leaving the runners now to go to seed, and the Bloody butcher toms have finally decided to produce a blush at last on one. Did wonder if I'd have to green chutney the lot.

Going to dry/freeze the basil today, my old chilli plant need the window spot now. The rest will have to go under cover for as long as poss, the nights have been getting colder and the days cloudy or wet too. Could do with 1 last long sunny warm period to get the chillis red and my bns hardened off. I'm not ready for autumn yet.

Did you win MBE?

Dizzy_Ditzy

All of my chilli plants are getting a second wind and all have exploded with new flowers in the last couple of days!

I went out with a cotton bud yesterday to aid pollination, but when should I bring them into the house? They're in the greenhouse at the mo, but the weather is getting pretty nippy at night now

I'm very disappointed with my tomatoes. I've lost lots of beefsteaks though holes appearing in the sides, blossom end rot or splitting my plum toms look fine until you cut into them, and you find a rather large black spot inside them :eek:

annie123

QoC Chillis are quite hardy really, they have to be here as I have no greenhouse. I bring mine in anywhere from now 'till mind October, all depends on the night temps. Any lower than 10c here and the ripening seems to stop or slow right down. My 2nd flush of flowers will happen when they're inside. I doubt your greenhouse has got any near that cold yet.

The spot inside the toms is called Blackheart and the cause is the same as blossom end rot. Too little water or erratic watering. They're fine to eat, just cut out the black bit. And I do the same with any tom that has holes in it. Once you cut it open it's easy to see where the hole ends and any bits to avoid.

Spend the winter pondering on how to avoid the same problem next year. It could be bigger pot's, grow them in the ground or maybe less plants to look after and keep on top of re watering.
That's assuming we get some hot dry weather next year.
Mine were in danger of drowning last year there was so much rain!

Dizzy_Ditzy

annie123 wrote: »

QoC Chillis are quite hardy really, they have to be here as I have no greenhouse. I bring mine in anywhere from now 'till mind October, all depends on the night temps. Any lower than 10c here and the ripening seems to stop or slow right down. My 2nd flush of flowers will happen when they're inside. I doubt your greenhouse has got any near that cold yet.

The spot inside the toms is called Blackheart and the cause is the same as blossom end rot. Too little water or erratic watering. They're fine to eat, just cut out the black bit. And I do the same with any tom that has holes in it. Once you cut it open it's easy to see where the hole ends and any bits to avoid.

Spend the winter pondering on how to avoid the same problem next year. It could be bigger pot's, grow them in the ground or maybe less plants to look after and keep on top of re watering.
That's assuming we get some hot dry weather next year.
Mine were in danger of drowning last year there was so much rain!

Thanks Annie, very helpful

mrbadexample

annie123 wrote: »

Did you win MBE?

Not yet. Deadline is halloween, as usual. But I didn't like what I saw in his garden.

Little_Vics

How's your aubergine going MBE?