What should I be planting?

susanwillow

Any tips on what I should be planting this weekend (if the weather is good)?

I only have grass at the moment but I will be digging borders, with one raised border at the back of the garden which I was hoping to grow some potatoes in. I'm not sure when I should be putting the seed potatoes in though?

Nile

Hi, we move threads if we think they’ll get more help elsewhere (please read the forum rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

I’ve moved your thread from the ‘In my home’ board to the ‘Greenfingered’ board, where it is better suited.

Regards

Nile

DaftyDuck

It's probably mild enough that you can plant first early potatoes, but it is at the beginning of the window if you are in the North. It's probably worth staggering potato planting, so some in the next week or so, and some in a few weeks time. There are likely to be many frosts yet to come. Other veg to plant now? Broad beans and early peas if you are reasonably protected, or you can start them off indoors. I have potted up all my tomato and chilli seeds by now. Cabbage & cauliflower seed can be planted if sheltered with a cloche. I don't like transplanting them if possible, but you can sow them indoors in a pot or seed tray with cells (polystyrene things are best for this). Other veg to sow would include parsnips, peas, carrots, radish and some salad crops like lettuce and the mixed leaves - although that might be brave, so sow some later as well. Onion sets and shallots can go out now as well.

That's veg covered!


Note there's a gardening forum about two below this, where some of us gardeners idle the cold days away.... and like magic.... we move there. Happy landings :rotfl:

susanwillow

Thanks for that DaftyDuck. I probably don't have enough room to grow everything listed but I do have a decent size conservatory which gets a lot of sun throughout the day. Someone suggested growing tomatoes in there as the temperature when the sun is out (even when nippy outside) is quite high. Good idea?

DaftyDuck

Tomatoes don't actually need - or like - too much heat. They also tend to get greenfly, which drip sticky pee on the floor.... Now, lemon trees and other citrus.... they grow well in a conservatory, if given lots of water. I have enough to keep the G&T well topped up!

KarlBristol

If there's enough room (mainly height) in your conservatory I'd recommend planting up some cucumber to grow inside. We had great success with them last year and it's not something that you see planted up everywhere you go which is nice.

I'd also suggest planting some onions and garlic outside. Even the most brown fingered of people have success with these two and ours are a good three inches out of the soil now.

I'm partial to herb planting... Have you considered a few mint varieties, basil or rosemary? They can be grown almost year around.

I'm leaving our potatoes for another couple of weeks as they haven't started chatting enough for my liking

susanwillow

DaftyDuck wrote: »

Now, lemon trees and other citrus.... they grow well in a conservatory, if given lots of water.

I've got a lemon tree in there now which has just started to come to life. It has a warning on the label saying don't use the lemons that came on the tree... but I assume any that grow this year will be good to eat?

susanwillow

KarlBristol wrote: »

If there's enough room (mainly height) in your conservatory I'd recommend planting up some cucumber to grow inside.

What did you grow them in?

DaftyDuck

Almost all sold plants have a label on saying don't eat the fruit.... It's generally a "elf & safety rules is rules" type of thing, for two reasons. Firstly, plants are often sprayed to get them looking perfect for sale. Can be insecticide, can be wax for shiny fruit & leaves... not really nice to eat. Secondly, there are all sorts of rules on selling foodstuffs that don't apply to ornamental plants. So, "Don't eat" labels spring up on every darn fruity plant!

I do tend not to eat the lemons that are growing at point of purchase until they've been rained on a bit or well-watered. But, new ones that grow, no problems from the off.

trollopscarletwoman

susanwillow wrote: »

Any tips on what I should be planting this weekend (if the weather is good)?

I only have grass at the moment but I will be digging borders, with one raised border at the back of the garden which I was hoping to grow some potatoes in. I'm not sure when I should be putting the seed potatoes in though?

The traditional time to plant first early seeds is on or around St Patricks day which I believe this year is March 17th. Nothing set in stone with planting and plants do catch up.

Personally I start very little off in the actual garden. With larger seeds such as broad bean, runner bean, french bean and so on I put moist compost and the seeds into a plastic bag. Put them in a warm place. 10-14 i tip them out and se which ones have germinated. then pot and grow on. takes a bit of hit and miss out of germination.

DaftyDuck

I thought St Patrick's day was always the 17th... I thought it was just Jesus Day that got shifted around for maximum confusion.