The even bigger and better and hopefully not lower bits of growing your own in 2022!

LessImpecunious

enkeltliv said:

Brassicas are doing nicely. My concentrations are around herb sowings this week. The lemon balm is going great guns but the peppermint not so. Seems my parsely seeds aren't viable.

When did you sow the parsley? Can take more than a week to germinate, so may be hope yet!

Farway

enkeltliv said:

Brassicas are doing nicely. My concentrations are around herb sowings this week. The lemon balm is going great guns but the peppermint not so. Seems my parsely seeds aren't viable.

Unless you want hundreds of plants I just buy a growing culinary herb pot from Asda, 65p 70p depending if flat or curly, cheaper than packet of seeds and the works done for you. Just pot on into a larger pot

carinjo

MissRikkiC said:

Does anyone know if it matters when you plant potatoes (regardless of variety). I started off so many and wondering now if to plant a few extras to have a succession growing as we only bought 1st and 2nds (rather than main crop) but still have around 20 chitted and nothing to do with them! 

You could take a chance of rubbing off the chits (?) and storing them till july/august and plant them for christmas. One of my neighbours done that with 2nd early Nicolas  i gifted him couple of years ago. I had no luck when i tried it, but it was very wet and planted it in october 

carinjo

Farway said:

enkeltliv said:

Brassicas are doing nicely. My concentrations are around herb sowings this week. The lemon balm is going great guns but the peppermint not so. Seems my parsely seeds aren't viable.

Unless you want hundreds of plants I just buy a growing culinary herb pot from Asda, 65p 70p depending if flat or curly, cheaper than packet of seeds and the works done for you. Just pot on into a larger pot

I have done that before, splitting pots in 2 or 3. Propagating basil is easy too. But this year having a go at growing my own since got gifted a kit and got some free seeds in a magazine. Especially looking forward to the tarragon which was very slow to start, but got about 6 ready to be potted up. 

atrixa

Some of my chilli plants are starting to fruit- Ring of Fire and Horn Chilli. Herbs are doing well- basil, coriander, parsley, lemon balm, catmint, chives.

Garlic seems to be doing well outside. I'll sow some french beans next weekend.

MissRikkiC

@carinjo I’ll try this. Just need to store them but already have 5 bags on the go with 2nds and earlies so don’t need to start any more just yet. 

I have had to cover them with compost 5 times this week, literally almost every day so I think they’re doing okay! What on earth I do when the bags I’ve used run out of space I’m not sure! 

I’ve been pulling and eating and gifting so much broccoli this week, as well as having pulled 3 cauliflowers. 2 the curds has separated but 1 hadn’t (I had this one tightly wrapped) so need to make sure they’re used/gifted. There are 3 more to pull which considering the pack of 6 were approx £3 last September, I’ve already had my money’s worth so I’m happy with that. 

I started off a couple of courgette seeds this week and a single squash seed as well as some rosemary and thyme. 

I never have much luck propagating the supermarket plants so I’m happy to have bought a few seed packets for home. I also have coriander and basil to start (where they will stay) later on today. 

I’ve thinned carrots and radish this week and planted out chard (although I’m certain it was too early for the chard!). 

Lastly there are more flowers on my strawberries which is just crazy so early! But off to look at attaching milk cartons to racking for them all as I do seem to have a lot of plants and runners!! 🤩

carinjo

The brassica tunnel almost finished!
Will be planting the cabbage, cauliflower and chinese cabbage tomorrow after work.
In the pallet cold frame none of the lettuce germinated, but the beetroot, chard and radish doing well. Going to try a new packet of lettuce seeds, since last year they did not do well too. 
Work has been kicking my !!!!!!, so the potting up of tomatoes, herbs etc will have to wait for another day. 
At home the big seeds doing well, but only one courgette germinated, going to try another seed packet. 
None of the nasturtium or sweet peas germinated, so going to start again.
Ms C and I got complemented on our efforts on allotment today by a couple of the old boys. It meant a lot. 

MovingForwards

I picked up a few strawberry plants today and some garlic chives. Hopefully I'll get them in by the end of the week. 

I've also started tidying up the patio, organising empty pots and tools.

carinjo

The brassica tunnel is done! Planting tomorrow before work. O1io came through for me, picking up a roll of chicken wire on thursday to finish the beans arch tunnel! 

carinjo

A light frost on weekend done some damage to potatoes, cut the dead bits off, should be ok. Unfortunately either due to the frost or bad planning, the chinese cabbage i planted out looks like it not going to make it. I honestly sowed them too early, they were a good 20cm high when i planted them out. 
Done the first dig for the leeks, had to get rid of some potatoes we missed last year. The peas/bean arch is up after a lot of trial and error on Ms C's part. Need to get some longer bamboo canes, the ones we have won't reach the chicken wire. 
I am off this week, but only planning 2 allotment sessions, need a bit of a holiday and rest from working.