The ups, the downs and the insides out of growing your own in 2024!

ArbitraryRandom

The only ones I've really done that are smaller than pea would be beetroot and squash - both have quite large cotyledon to facilitate potting - I've read it recommended for corn, but I bought 12 plugs this year to see if I like growing it and might try from seed next year if I do. 

Honestly, I don't know if it's the soaking that makes the difference or the being kept in a humid warm place (with the daily rinsing stoping them from souring/going mouldy). 

FreeBear

Well, grass (weed patch) mowed today, and moved a fig tree from an old butler sink to a hole in the ground. Probably the wrong time of year to do that.. We shall wait and see.

goldfinches

Well I shall never pay any attention to the Met Office ever again. The blasted twiddlepoops threatened a torrential thunderstorm for today which never materialised at all and just made everyone worry that our local gardens open event would be ruined. As it was I sat in the shade munching on an ice cream saying hello and handing out stickers to a stream of interested visitors and think I may have persuaded a few people to consider taking on a plot of their own. So, success all round I think and back to the weeding tomorrow afternoon. 

timehastoldme

Our new garden has two large well established gooseberry bushes in it. 

Covered in mildew. Any advice? Will a hard prune later in the year help, or are we best off starting fresh? Husband loves goose berry so he's a bit sad

alicef

@timehastoldme ouch.  Yes you can prune and then burn affected prunings.  To avoid in future make sure plants have really good airflow in & around them.    

I took out any of my gooseberry bushes that were susceptible to mildew as I couldn't ensure that I got round to pruning everything every year.

Suffolk_lass

@timehastoldme I agree with @alicef, the bush needs pruning to be less congested - an open goblet shape (for so many fruit bearing trees and bushes), reduces the fungal spores from spreading. If you cut into any of the tips that have curled and stunted, it removes it from this year's growth but make sure you also get rid of any old leaves.

The RHS has a good set of guidance which is based on non-chemical controls and suggests you locate them somewhere with good airflow, don't use nitrogen-rich compost and keep trimming the tips as soon as you see any affected. You might be better off pruning hard now and sacrificing this year, and consider moving the bush to a draughtier spot. 

By luck, more than judgement, ours are in a windy location and I have mildew resistant varieties (also on the RHS page. Mine grow through the adjacent blackcurrants so it's a good job they are really, as blackcurrants are also susceptible.

We are really busy with bees at the moment, but I have loads of ungerminated seeds this year. And my expert gardener neighbour has had exactly the same thing. Except tomatoes. Drowning in tomatoes and seriously considering 24 plants and where I can put them all. They need potting on today

-taff

A friends neighbour used ot keep goosberries and the fence between them was one of those chainlink ones, the gooseberries were always huge and good. The neighbour eventually swapped the fence for wooden panels, the gooseberries went right downhill. They like a lot of airflow so prune anything around them and away from them too.

Suffolk Lass, same, couldn't get many chillies to germinate, even with a propogator, nor the mint, nor the verbena buonariensis, nor the sweet cicely, nor the mexican hats....Tomatoes germinated mostly like stink but kept stalling growing,

droopsnoot

I've also had very little luck with chillies - I think out of the three sets of seeds I planted, I'll end up with four or maybe five plants. Peppers looked as if they weren't going anywhere, then seven popped up overnight. 

sammy_kaye18

Im glad its not just me who has had germinating issues. 

Nothing really looked like it was doing anything - then my tomatoes all started to pop up - I have 4 types growing at the minute......and we planted chillis - and I now have 3 lots planted. 
I think I have 3 baskets of chillis, 1 jalapeno and we planted some more the other day and I think they have sprouted. 

Cucumbers seems to have come alive finally - as well as my peas and beans which I couldn't seem to get going either. 
I have had 7 watermelon plants come up though so I'm wondering what on earth to do with them now. 

I seriously need pay day to hurry up so I can get some compost. 

KajiKita

I had peppers germinate for me but then just not grow, went really sickly and mis looking  … 
In the end I have had to admit defeat and go and buy some - these ones are growing like monsters! 🤷‍♀️

KK