Grow your own dinner 2014

[Deleted User]

I planted cobra beans from sarah raven this year, first time from her. I cannot help wondering if they were duff as I have never had bean failures in the past. Am really pleased about the snail/nematodes warning Annie, thank you

browneyedbazzi

I haven't tried sarah raven seeds - I used Mr !!!!!!!!!!! and they seem very good. I'll have half a pack left once I've planted some outside and I'm really hoping they will keep until next year as they aren't cheap!

I've been out shopping this evening and I swear my beans are bigger now than when I left the house! I really hope we have a dry day over the weekend so I can get them planted out.

[Deleted User]

I have just been for a gentle furtle around my cobra sowings. Nothing in sight yet but the seeds, that I easily reached, are not loose, so am hoping that roots are going down. It was 6am and I noticed the finest of slime trails on top so now my theory is that the newly emerging shoots have been eaten. A few slug pellets placed and I will also start some on kitchen roll today. I need 14 plants in total, a mix of runners and frenchies and I have 7 so far, only 2 are cobra and I do like cobra, have grown them for years

browneyeye, I always keep seeds successfully from year to year. I keep them in lock and lock boxes in the fridge and I never leave them open to the air or moisture. The cobra seeds were new btw.

edit: Just back from the allotment and can confirm that nematodes do not kill snails, I caught one in the act of eating my baby parsnips, so with regret, I am putting pellets down

[Deleted User]

I went to the allotment early and was back by 8.30. I sprinkled a few slug pellets around yesterday afternoon and there were dozens of slimey slug trails and dead slugs this morning. I think I may well give the nematodes a miss next year. They cost me £22 and I used them when the soil was damp, followed by several periods of gentle rain. I am getting (I think) a good enough effect from slug pellets on their own. I have tried organic wool pellets in the past and they were useless, also tried beer traps and they were useless too

Jazee

Another one here just getting rid of snails as they are eating everythings. Very disappointing.

[Deleted User]

Jazee wrote: »

Another one here just getting rid of snails as they are eating everythings. Very disappointing.

yes, I agree, snails ruin a lot of good produce. I was in our front garden this morning early and spotted at least 6 fat snails climbing up and feasting on, my neighbours carefully tended delphiniums. The weather must be just right for slugs at the moment. I pulled them off and squashed them but my neighbour is going to be gutted as her plants were budding and only one flower stalk is left uneaten

browneyedbazzi

I've planted my french beans out this morning (managed to get out between showers!)...along with a scattering of slug and snail pellets. I've put the beans in grow bags that are tipped on their sides so they are narrow and deep instead of wide and flat. They're along side the wire fence and already over 2 feet tall so hopefully they'll provide a nice screen and lovely beans in a couple of months time I'm impressed with how nice they look already. They were growing at least an inch a day inside so hopefully they keep it up now they're in their proper place.

I've also planted my pea seeds this morning - in the same way as the beans, along the fence. My next job is to go out and buy some more compost because I am all out and have some plum tomatoes that are in desperate need of potting on....probably should have been done last week but I ran out of time.

[Deleted User]

and that last remaining delphinium flower stalk, just about to burst forth, broke in two in the wind this afternoon. Oh poor woman

browneyedbazzi

I feel for the delphinium kattie. A couple of my poor french beans have been battered by the wind too...I hope they'll come back

Jazee

My plastic tunnel has taken off in the wind. I'm in PJs now so not going out to sort it tonight.