The ups and downs of growing your own dinner 2016...

Fruittea

That's good news Moneystoshort. You'll make light work of it and have things growing in no time. And we want to see some photos of those raised beds please.


Good call Kantankrus - When you start to think about the price of things you really see the value of what you grow. I'm tempted to bake the muffins but it's too hot for me. Had to eat stewed rhubarb instead - poor me.


I went to BBQ last year at a neighbours only to see her husband had come back from the supermarkets with 4 packets of mint. All about £1 a bag. I sat there and said but it's growing there in the garden. She replied - Oh but I didn't know I could eat it like that. How mad is that?


One thought on herbs whilst I'm here - Coriandar I love the stuff - but don't buy the horticultural seed. I got a very large packet of seeds from an Asian food store and use that. Treat it a bit rough buy throwing a handful on compost in a flat seed tray and cover lightly. Leave out in the rain and you have coriander in no time. Worth a try as I find you only get a few seeds in the usual packs.

sazzlebgood?

:j:jjust got back off holiday and the water butts are full:j:j:j:j:j

Kantankrus_Mare

Fruittea wrote: »

That's good news Moneystoshort.


I went to BBQ last year at a neighbours only to see her husband had come back from the supermarkets with 4 packets of mint. All about £1 a bag. I sat there and said but it's growing there in the garden. She replied - Oh but I didn't know I could eat it like that. How mad is that?


One thought on herbs whilst I'm here - Coriandar I love the stuff - but don't buy the horticultural seed. I got a very large packet of seeds from an Asian food store and use that. Treat it a bit rough buy throwing a handful on compost in a flat seed tray and cover lightly. Leave out in the rain and you have coriander in no time. Worth a try as I find you only get a few seeds in the usual packs.

Funny enough......that was last thing at allotment before I left today. Had some corriander seeds left in a packet and put them in a large pot where some tulips had died off.

My muffins were nice but if I did again I would use more cinnamon in the crumble and put more rhubarb in the main mix.

Have no "proper" wine in the house so decided to try the homemade stuff and it was bloody lovely!!

sazzlebgood?

just come back from a very wet but lush looking allotment. Constructed a frame for the cucumbers to climb up and inserted some small flower pots next to them and the peppers. Apparently this stops them getting stem rot and ensures water gets to the roots. We've also inserted 6 inch pipes next to the toms as I've read they have roots for water and roots for feeding. Have to say they look better than last years so maybe the pipes are working. Picked a small punnet of strawberries for the kids (saved about £1 total so far is £12.50). Hoping this rain doesn't last too long otherwise the strawberries will go moldy and raise the risk of potato blight.:eek::eek:

Fruittea

Hi Everyone
Another wet day but it's quite bright - so good for growing.


Sazzlebegood Can you explain the cucumber and pot thing a bit more - or take a picture as I've not heard of that before - are you sinking the pots into the soil? Great about the strawberries by the way.


And also a question about the peppers. I'm tempted to put some out in the front garden in pots - it's front facing and gets really hot. Do you think it will work are yours outside?


I have tiny tomatoes on my Tumbling which is in the spot I want to put the peppers - so it seems to work for them.


Thanks for the update on the muffins Kantankrus - all noted.

sazzlebgood?

fruittea cucumbers need lots of water but their stems can rot in wet soil. So I've sunk pots (measuring about 3 inches across) into the soil about 3 to 4 inches away from the stem. When you come to water you pour it into the flowerpot instead over the plant. I've not tried peppers outside but if your tumbling tom copes give them a try. Hope this helps

Fruittea

Thanks for that Sazzlebegood - I'll give it a try. It's great to learn lots of new things.

thriftylass

The cucumbers in the conservatory are doing well. Will clip the growing tip soon as the nearly have 9 leaves. The first flower buds are appearing.

Harvested the last of the bak choi and used it in chicken noodle soup. Will also harvest some spinach and the first swiss chard soon.

First tomatoes are appearing but the chilies are still behind. Not even flowers yet.

Started getting the first peas off. Only have 5 plants so the kids just eat them as a snack when ever they are ready to encourage more fruit.

zafiro1984

Agree with Sazzlebgood about the cucumbers rotting. I plant mine on a mound so the water drains away but I think the flowerpot idea is a winner.

Picked more strawberries and new pots this morning, need to pick some salad for lunch but i find I have to do it just before we eat or they go limp - any ideas for keeping it fresh.

Would you believe it, but my mint has died after about 5 yrs. went to the supermarket and bought a 'reduced' pot, used the mint in pea and mint soup and planted the remaining roots out. I just hope it takes.

sazzlebgood?

zafiro hi ,you could either do what my FIL does, harvests the lettuce and makes sure it has roots on and plant it in a plant pot to take home or you could harvest the lettuce with its roots and soon as you get home put the roots into water, this is what I do, and this should keep it fresh for a couple of hours. Both methods work