Help MBE grow his dinner 2013.

Badrick

NinjaB wrote: »

Do I have to buy organic ginger? I was wondering if the ginger I usually get would work or if perhaps it is treated in some way not to grow.

I really like the idea of giving this a go

I had a go at this a few years back, you just need a piece of fresh ginger (got mine from Chinese supermarket) about 8-10cm long and plant it flat in a pot at 2-3cm deep and I kept mine in the greenhouse all summer, it didn't end well as I thought the frost had got it when the leaves died back, and not knowing that was when you're supposed to harvest the root, binned it. :rotfl:

annie123

lemonjelly wrote: »

Thanks Annie. Like MrBE I only grow for consumption purposes.:DFancy ornamental stuff isn't for me.:o

Should I plant it in a bigger pot & leave it in the same pot all year?
Is it the kind of plant that attracts cats or similar?
Does the plant flower?
Am I right in thinking that it is ready to harvest when the leaves go yellow?

NinjaB wrote: »

Do I have to buy organic ginger? I was wondering if the ginger I usually get would work or if perhaps it is treated in some way not to grow.

I really like the idea of giving this a go

Haven't grown it since DS left home as he was the ginger lover so must be 12 years now.
The biggest problem I had was finding ginger that was fresh and alive still. I ended up buying from a market. The supermarket ginger was very dry and often is even now so when I find it really fresh from where ever I am, I buy lots and freeze it.

You need ginger pieces with little bumps from where the shoots will sprout. Can be cut into several pieces if needed provoding each bit has a potential shoot.
Things I found out:
Direct hot sun will kill it
So will very dry air
Grew much better with compost and perlite mix
Loves humid air so with no greenhouse or conservatory I found sitting on top of a dish of pebbles and water worked well and it was happy is dappled shade all day or early morning or evening sun only.

Grew it in a large pot from what I remember so must have been 12" or more, and other than watering it or the pebbles didn't need any other looking after, not eaten or sat on by snails or cats.

Don't remember it flowering, just leaves. Did need a long growing season to get the best roots and was one of the first things I did in jan/feb. You can start it now just won't have as many roots.

This link seems to provide good instructions.

http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-ginger.html

EDIT: having just read badrick's post, :rotfl: (sorry shouldn't laugh but couldn't help it), harvest when it has died down by tipping the whole thing out and collecting the roots.
I have also pinched a bit during the growing season without affecting it. Bit like rummaging around looking for potatoes only more difficult.

annie123

djohn2002uk wrote: »

Made a big mistake a little earlier.
Went to get my bean canes from in the shed and my hands were black. Loads of them were covered in black sooty mould, due I presume to the wet making the shed damp. So, I get 2 buckets of hot water (my wife offered to help) and it said on the tin "add 15ml to 5 litres of water". I now realise I added about 100ml to each bucket, each of which was about 2/3 full. My wife had her Marigolds on but I had bare hands and I said to her just before we finished the approx 80 canes, "my hands are stinging like I've fallen in some nettles" and she said "that's why I put gloves on" but before we'd finished she'd got holes in them so was stinging too. But more was to come. We both stunk of Jeyes so it was a shower for me and a bath for her and all our clothes in and the washing machine going. Next time I'll read the tin more carefully because she says if it affects the beans I'm dead.:eek:

Your poor things, I've been 'stung' by Jayes before, nasty stuff and don't use it any more. Hope you're both feeling and smelling better today.

annie123

Little_Vics wrote: »

what do you guys think of this?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Palram-Grow-Deck-Raised-Shelf/dp/B0063GKHN0

I've found one being sold locally for £35

Don't think so LV. Long term you'll find it too small and get frustrated with it. Try ebay or freecycle for a lean too greenhouse, someone may be upgrading.

Bit more space in this:
http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=654159

or one of these:
http://www.primrose.co.uk/greenhouse-type-leanto-greenhouses-c-696_3595_3596.html?src=cbtype

If I were you, I'd get by without one now and buy when they're one sale at the end of the season.

lemonjelly

Thanks for the tips annie.
No idea which way we face, but our patio gets the morning sun, & about 11isg starts to become shadey. Sounds like that is where I need to put it.
I will pot it up one evening this week!

lemonjelly

On the greenhouse front, I'd suggest as a starter to get something like this:

Wilkinsons do them, fairly affordable too.
I originally got the 4 tier shelf one, (like this) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gardman-4-Tier-Mini-Greenhouse/dp/B00080KPA2/ref=sr_1_9?s=outdoors&ie=UTF8&qid=1365593384&sr=1-9 but whilst it is great to start stuff off in, it quickly gets crowded. So I bought a walk in one the next year & use both.

Little_Vics

Thanks folks.

LemonJelly - I had one of those in 2011. It didn't last long....

So - stupid question - what's the difference between a cold frame and a greenhouse??

Badrick

Little_Vics wrote: »

So - stupid question - what's the difference between a cold frame and a greenhouse??

If you don't ask, you don't find out, it's not a stupid question.
A cold frame is just a very low unheated greenhouse, usually with a hinged roof, so you can access plants

Cold frame

Greenhouse

annie123

Little_Vics wrote: »

Thanks folks.

LemonJelly - I had one of those in 2011. It didn't last long....

So - stupid question - what's the difference between a cold frame and a greenhouse??

Size!

Cold frame is small and used for hardening off plants or overwintering, greenhouse is large enough to harden things off in and grow plants in too.

MBE has a greenhouse (now tall enough for him to walk into without hitting his head;)) and you've seen pics of what he grows in that.

The down side to greenhouse is you need space and a bright spot for them. The downside to cold frame is can't get much in it and grow anything above 12-18" tall, the plus side, it takes up little space.
There is also the price difference.

That's why I thought a lean to might be more suitable for you if you have a bit of wall free. Useful like a greenhouse but takes up less space.

What do you want to use it for?

annie123

I've sown my watermelon seeds

Pkt says 2 weeks germination time so should be right for planting out end May/June.
No idea what the germination rate is so I've sown 3 to a pot and will thin to 1.