James Wong - Homegrown Revolution

littleluna89

We went a bit overboard with this stuff, have had mixed results, but have learnt a few things so hoping for better yields next year!

Chillean guava: Bought one which was quite small but is growing along nicely, I'm hoping it will actually flower and fruit next year, bought two more in the Sutton Seeds sale, and 3 veregated ones from an ebay seller. (so basically I better love them)

Musk Melons: About 5 of the seeds germinated, have at least one melon growing but it's hard to tell in the greenhouse so might have to hoof the pots out for a better look! they were seriously unhappy out in the garden so will need to keep these in the greenhouse again next year.

Tomatillos: we planted half the pack and have two enthusiastic plants which flowered well and look like they're going to produce some Tomatillos for us to eat, verdict is out on whether we will need to plant twice as many (or none) next year.

Rat Radish Tails: Initially suspicious, these things are bloody brutes and have taken over our veg patch (killing my wimpy quinoa), didn't need 5 plants (huge mistake) they're very radishy, though i've realised however, i've never really used radishes so now have 100000 little green pods to get creative with.

Asparagus Peas: These were a bit tasteless, think i steamed them too long, and the pods grow seriously quickly so now they're all to big on the plants, but the plants were very pretty in flower, will use these to plug gap next year.

Wild White strawbs: These took three sowings to produce anything, and the last lot were very enthusiastic so the conditions must have been bad initially, transferred to a bed they're doing *nothing* verdict is still out.

Kiwi: this was initially promising, lots of flowers that seemed to turn into fruit, but then the fruit all dropped off and then the whole thing slowly started to die, I took it out of the ground and put it in a pot with a mix of homemade compost, multipurpose and ericatious soil and it's starting to get new growth, so when I buy it some company next year they're going in slightly acidic soil!

Wintergreen: got one plant that I was coaxing to a decent size then it fried on a particularly hot day in the conservatory. Will try again, might see if i can hunt down a plant.

Microgreen herbs: nothing to shout about.

quiona: fairly wimpy looking and then killed by very enthusiastic marauding Rat radish Tail Plants!! Will have to sow *lots* more net year

Kafir-lime: got this in the new offer at SS, it smells divine, yet to use it.

I have a list as long as my arm of plants to get from J Wong's books ready for next year, my husband is in real risk of rescuing my debit cards

welovemarmite

little luna - I have a long list for next year too!!

SilverSapphire

I was looking at Robert Dyas website yesterday and in their sale they had lots of Sutton Seeds, in particular the James Wong ones, reduced from £1.85 to 92p.

I don't know what the use by dates would be on them but might be worth a look in store if you have one nearby as I assume the same reduction would be available there.

Edited to say that I have now been in store and they did have these seeds there also for half price. Use by dates were 2014 and 2015 so fine to get for next year.

Mad-Frog

Thought I would update on what has and has not grown well for me

Cucamelons - Very rigarous took over tomato plants next to them in greenhouse, for how big they were not so many fruit but enough, personally I didn't like the taste so won't grow again but would have to declare growing from seed a success

Tomatillos - Grew bigger than all other tomato plants, loads of flowers (tried helping pollinate with paint brush) very disappointed with the amount of parcels (they grow in little parcel things). Definitely will not grow again a waste of greenhouse space in my opinion.

Inca berries Loads of fruit, all in parcels, all still green I am assuming they grow orange by the picture, will wait until the end of October and give up

Electric daisies To get the amount shown in the picture you would have to sow all the seeds in the packet in a very small pot, they did grow and do make your tongue go anaesthetic like but again not for me really, only about 5 daises emerged after loads of seeds planted

Melon Would only recommend you grow this if you have a massive pot or plot, grew in greenhouse the plant would happily have filled the entire greenhouse if I let it, loads of flowers only one fruit which was massive when picked but not ripe : Something to grow in an abandoned greenhouse maybe

Popcorn plant These seem to be doing okay with about the same amount of 'popcorn' as you would expect from normal corn, haven't tasted yet as they are still growing so can't comment

Kiwi plant I have grown in a large pot, with hindsight and re reading the instructions I think this would have been better in the ground, seems to be doing well, I can't work out from my 'kiwi' and the packet whether they are ready or not

The success would be the cucamelons if I liked the taste, I think the kiwi plant and popcorn will do alright, personally I won't be bothering again with anything else

poorly_scammo

Mad-Frog wrote: »

Inca berries Loads of fruit, all in parcels, all still green I am assuming they grow orange by the picture, will wait until the end of October and give up

Mine are still green. The books that I've consulted say to treat them like tomatoes and ripen on windowsils once it's too cold for them to remain outside.

cootambear

just throw it in and see what works

never be guilty if it doesnt grow, its a fing plant !!!!!!, if it grows be proud