THE Prepping thread - a new beginning :)

GreyQueen

Cheapskate wrote: »

I think jko noticed it was wedgies and not wedges, as I'm sure you'd intended GQ...Monday typo...?!

A xo

Nah, people I know call 'em wedgies, the other wedgies for rucked-up undies being an Americanism.


Broad beans are the easiest things to grow and very productive. Just poke some holes in the ground, in paired rows, with the two lines of each pair about 8 inches apart in mid-late October. They'll germinate and grow about 6 inches tall before the sun gets too weak, then they rest until Spring and grow away fast.


The reason for paired rows is that they grow in such a way that they help support each other and, if you sow them in autumn as opposed to spirng, they aren't as susceptible to black fly.


Plus, I find it really heartening to see something in the ground all winter. They're frost hardy and I've seen them with little hats of snow on them and come out fine although a winter on the lines of 62-63 would probably kill them. HTH.


I deliberately grow more bbs than I can eat or freeze in the green as I let them dry out on the plant, harvest and use them as dry goods.They get 48 hrs soaking before cooking and I add them to salads. Would be a good storable starch in a prolonged situation.


I also pre-soak them for 48 hrs before planting as it makes them germinate really quickly. But they're very easy, Dad just chucked some seeds out in the winter, aimed for the compost bin and missed and the beggars germinated and he got a good crop.:rotfl:

maryb

GQ I know you don't grow brassicas but I'm hoping someone else will know the answer. I don't normally grow them but if it's all a bit tricky next spring and there's a shortage of fresh fruit and veg then having some purple sprouting broccoli to harvest might be a helpful prep

Anyway the question I have is, how big should the plants be before I plant them out? They are about 4 inches tall at present with about two or three proper leaves. Should I stick them in the ground now?

Cappella

Hello People.
I just got very cross on the Brexit Prepping thread, which I'm annoyed with myself about, and I'm retreating into lurkdom for a few days/weeks/months/year's/forever.
Keep prepping: and whatever the heck happens/doesn't happen next March may the Force be with you all.
I spend far too much time on MSE anyway. Time to pull up the drawbridge, put the kettle on and give my family and friends more time.
So, so long and thanks for all the fish - apart from the sardines which I really didn't care for
Lots of love
Cappella

moneyistooshorttomention

Cappella wrote: »

I loathe, hate and detest trolls and internet stalkers equally. They are all silly little cowards hiding behind keyboards. However they do real damage and their victims have very little redress.
As for today's society and 'celebrity culture' (surely an oxymoron?) give me my dog, anyway of the week.

Not a dog person - but I do like cats:). I tend to think the ideal solution is to encourage a suitable visiting moggy - so I'd get cat cuddles, but none of the responsibilities involved:rotfl:

Now if anyone moves in nearby with a bunch of cute kittens - who are all "good" about not going to the loo on other peoples gardens that sounds good to me.

GreyQueen

(((Cappella))) please don't stay away for too long we'll miss you. I very deliberately haven't got involved with that other thread, thought it wouldn't be good for the old blood pressure.

fuddle

mary, as you know I'm no expert but my winter cabbage went in the ground last week at about that size and each with 4true leaves. I put all my spring sowing brassicas in at that size and they were healthy and strong enough for the slugs to walk on by. I guess when I tuck into my first one I can tell you if that size is the right size good gardening luck mary

silverwhistle

pineapple wrote: »

I am registered with Guardian comments and the comments are as pro Brexit as the paper.

I think your very, very wrong on both counts. There is no way The Guardian is pro-brexit and I really don't understand how you get that impression.



They publish many articles about the impact of brexit, and then get criticised below the line as "spreading fear" by the fingers in their ears brigade. The more rampant brexiteers - and they're probably visiting from The Mail or funded by the Leave campaign - get tremendous criticism by the majority, and those latter posts get many recommendations.



So, sorry, for others on here whom haven't visited The Guardian, can I suggest you look for yourself and confirm that pineapple's view is not a very accurate one.

Karmacat

Cappella wrote: »

Hello People.
I just got very cross on the Brexit Prepping thread, which I'm annoyed with myself about, and I'm retreating into lurkdom for a few days/weeks/months/year's/forever.
Keep prepping: and whatever the heck happens/doesn't happen next March may the Force be with you all.
I spend far too much time on MSE anyway. Time to pull up the drawbridge, put the kettle on and give my family and friends more time.
So, so long and thanks for all the fish - apart from the sardines which I really didn't care for
Lots of love
Cappella

GreyQueen wrote: »

(((Cappella))) please don't stay away for too long we'll miss you. I very deliberately haven't got involved with that other thread, thought it wouldn't be good for the old blood pressure.

Cappella! I appreciate needing to spend less time on mse (I'm doing a *little* bit less myself) but please don't go altogether, please don't.



xxx

silverwhistle

GreyQueen wrote: »

Broad beans are the easiest things to grow and very productive.

Pah! Fake news! At least in my garden! The ones that do come up (meece problem?) get eaten by my healthy slug population.
I've never autumn sowed so maybe I'll try that suggestion.



They do store well, but it's the fresh, newly podded ones that make them worth growing - go well with snippets of bacon for the non-veggies amongst you. Not a vegetable you find frozen very often but worth doing when they're small if you have the volume - I never have!

GreyQueen

:question: I actually read pineapple's comments as meaning that the Guardian comments were of the same stripe as the majority of the Guardian editorial, i.e about as pro (meaning anti) Brexit as each other.


But I may have got a hold of the wrong end of the stick, perhaps pineapple might drop in to clarify at some point if she feels like it.


****


I do find broad beans to be a very polarising vegetable, folks seem to love 'em or hate 'em, I seldom encounter people who are so-so about their flavour.


Given their ease of growth, frost-hardiness, high return of calories for the neglible effort involved in growing them, I like them very much. Their flowers are pleasingly scented and extrememly popular with bees, which is one of the things I look for in my gardening.


I'm just chilling out with a cuppa before pedalling up to the allotment. Pretty tired tonight, but it is a lovely evening and I feel like taking some air, just seeing what's what and maybe doing a little tidying up.


:j I also want to see if the frogs are in the pondlette.