The highs and lows of growing your own dinner 2015

Happygreen

Btw, is anyone else watching the Allotment Challenge this year? It must be so much harder being on your own instead of working as a team in a tough competition...

Davesnave

Happygreen wrote: »

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!

Very true. A bit of plastic makes a big difference. I'd expect 5 - 7 decent supermarket-sized fruits per plant.

We're still cooking with 2013's peppers, but they're quite labour-intensive. That's why last year's crop was not as good. I was renovating and not giving much time to the garden.

Happygreen

Dave, do you grow yours from seed? I never got more than 3 peppers on 1 plant, same with Aubergines....what do you give them as feed? I have well rotted chicken and duck manure, also wood ash for more alkaline loving plants but I've not put much research into certain plants yet...

Dizzy_Ditzy

Happygreen wrote: »

Btw, is anyone else watching the Allotment Challenge this year? It must be so much harder being on your own instead of working as a team in a tough competition...

It must be so difficult to be provided with heated greenhouses and pre-prepared ground *sigh*

Davesnave

Happygreen wrote: »

Dave, do you grow yours from seed? ..

Yes I do. I usually start early February in a heated propagator, then move them out gradually, from kitchen window to conservatory and then into the polytunnel.

The young plants in 9cm pots will get slow release fertilizer + whatever fertilizer's in the compost. When they go out into the polytunnel beds, those will have had well-rotted manure added in the winter. They do better in beds than in pots.

I feed with comfrey water when flowering starts.

I like Marconi and Chocolate as varieties, but I'm sure there are others just as good. It's only the California Wonder that went spotty and pitted on me though. Don't know why it was just them.

Although I have a posh polytunnel now, when I started doing peppers & chillies I only had a home-made thing with no doors, but the results were similar. I think it's moving them along briskly that matters, as our growth season is so short.

I failed when I grew aubergines. By the time they were a decent size, they were tough and bitter.

[Deleted User]

Happygreen wrote: »

Btw, is anyone else watching the Allotment Challenge this year? It must be so much harder being on your own instead of working as a team in a tough competition...

Yes, I have been watching it and really enjoying it. Nothing doing in my garden at the moment due to wind, rain and snow. Currently the garden is covered in around 4 inches of snow. There are some daffodils pushing through the grass just now though. It's been lovely to watch the Allotment Challenge for some inspiration.

Jazee

I've just had a look outside, frosty although just starting to rain, so the half dug plot will stay half dug today. I really want to be able to get outside for something other than dog walking.

Regarding peppers, I tried to grow them for the first time last year, in a plot and ... nothing. Moved one of the plants into my greenhouse when I got it in September and .... one green pepper albeit a bit small. So this year I am going to try just growing some in pots in the greenhouse.

kitty6

Happygreen wrote: »

Btw, is anyone else watching the Allotment Challenge this year? It must be so much harder being on your own instead of working as a team in a tough competition...

yes i'm watching it, like you say must be tough being on your own.

One thing I've picked up this year was to grow cucumbers outside, I've always grown my in the greenhouse. They all seemed to have good results from growing them outside.

Jazee

I grew my cucumbers outside last year in a veg sack. Went mad, ended up giving a lot away to neighbours. Will not plant too many seeds this year.

Happygreen

queen_of_cheap wrote: »

It must be so difficult to be provided with heated greenhouses and pre-prepared ground *sigh*

:rotfl: only comparing it to last year :rotfl:

if I compare it with my plot what they do is a doddle :rotfl:

I'm enjoying the entertainment of the show although I never have entered a show or grown a flower other than by accident :rotfl: