The highs and lows of growing your own dinner 2015

Bambywamby

Continuing with weeding and prepping the soil at the moment. Fortunately it is sunny, cold but no frost here so a perfect gardening day.


I used the Suttons Seeds code someone one kindly offered on the site and Sutton's sent me a packet of free aubergine seeds along with my order. Never tried growing aubergines before, looking forward to seeing how they grow.


xx

Bambywamby

Happygreen wrote: »

Aldi and Lidl both. No issues there, will buy again from both. Lidl Peppers were difficult but that may be my very personal problem with growing peppers, lol.

Twice I have tried growing peppers (from different packets and brands) and they just didn't germinate. My soil isn't conducive to growing peppers is the only conclusion I can come up with. x

Bee70

I've not had much luck with peppers either - I got small plants by the end of summer, so no chance of fruiting.
Did anyone want to pursue the idea of a seed swap? I've gone through my seeds now and have far too much of some things eg runner beans and radishes!

sparkychris

Bee70 wrote: »

I've not had much luck with peppers either - I got small plants by the end of summer, so no chance of fruiting.
Did anyone want to pursue the idea of a seed swap? I've gone through my seeds now and have far too much of some things eg runner beans and radishes!

Me!
Am moving into a new house which has veg plots and a greenhouse!!!
I don't want to go mad first year but I'll definitely be doing a bit!

I definately want lots of herbs, some beans, courgettes and maybe some peppers.

If want any of the above, get in touch. I'll go seed shopping on Saturday and we'll do swapsies!

:T

Happygreen

Bambywamby wrote: »

Twice I have tried growing peppers (from different packets and brands) and they just didn't germinate. My soil isn't conducive to growing peppers is the only conclusion I can come up with. x

I think they need a heated seed tray or something....I've been trying on the window sill in the boiler room each year but even when I start them off in January they might germinate 6 weeks later and they never grow a decent height. It's probably just not worth trying as last year the Lidl bought plants had some rot as well so why bother....imagine what I''ve got on the window sill for 2 weeks now

zafiro1984

I tried the sort that you put on pizzas a few years back. If I remember well they were slow to start, even though I started them off in heat. They were in the same greenhouse as the tomatoes. However, they grew really well to about 3-4ft and gave a fantastic crop of green turning to red peppers. Pity - we don't eat peppers and DH is allergic to tomatoes (makes you wonder why i bothered?) Froze loads and off loaded them onto the kids, so at least they wern't wasted.:)

threellamas

Just ordered all my seeds for the year. Was a complete new start for me having been travelling for a few years and throwing out everything seed related before I left.

I shopped around, ordering from 3 places-£80 later!!! But I have everything Ive ever wanted.

Going to order the polycarbonate greenhouse tomorrow uaing amazon vouchers.

Ive set a budget of £150 costs, but am not counting greenhouse as thats vouchers... lol

Yay!!

Effyb4

I'd like to join please. I have bought some seeds and plan to use a couple of small beds, containers and my kitchen windowsill. I am not very green fingered so would appreciate any advice. I have bought the following seeds:

garlic bulbs
tomato seeds
pepper seeds
beetroot seeds
leek seeds
green bean seeds

I also have fertiliser and some compost. I'm planning to prep the ground outside asap (when it's not too wet).

Davesnave

I think the Lidl peppers are California Wonder, in which case I wonder why they grow them in California, because mine got some kind of rot just prior to ripening, when grown in a mixed polytunnel bed of peppers.

None of the other five or six varieties of peppers was affected, so I must conclude this was a failing of California Wonder.

Won't bother again. There are plenty of good, cheap ones, like Marconi.

RHS grows peppers outdoors near me at Rosemoor, but personally, I wouldn't, due to unpredictable summers. No bother under plastic, if started early enough.

Happygreen

Davesnave wrote: »

I think the Lidl peppers are California Wonder, in which case I wonder why they grow them in California, because mine got some kind of rot just prior to ripening, when grown in a mixed polytunnel bed of peppers.

None of the other five or six varieties of peppers was affected, so I must conclude this was a failing of California Wonder.

Won't bother again. There are plenty of good, cheap ones, like Marconi.

RHS grows peppers outdoors near me at Rosemoor, but personally, I wouldn't, due to unpredictable summers. No bother under plastic, if started early enough.

Thanks, Dave. I bought them because they were a good offer and mine had failed. If that happens again will look at Marconi. But I have to look at the input/output, if 3 peppers are 99p most of the year and a plant is 1.50 and grows 2 fruit my maths says I should be better growing something else in that space, lol. Unless they germinate in time to grow something!