Show Us Your Veg Patch - You Know You Want To!! (Merged Thread)

debmorris

We recently had a new bed in front garden and added lots of compost from our compost bin. Then we put in a few cheap bedding plants. But we are very surprised that from the compost has sprouted loads of tomato plants, 2 plants which are starting to bear fruit which I think might be peppers and another triffid type thing which I first thought was a courgette, then as it got bigger a marrow but now I think it may be a pumpkin. Quite amazing. Not exactly the show I was expecting in my front garden tho. Have thinned out the tomatoes and they are starting to grow fruit so I am very excited. Next year we are going to spread the compost bin over a bed in the back garden and see what we get!!!!:T

beaney50

Have grown climbing courgettes for the first time and they`ve been great. 4 plants grow in the space of 1 normal courgette plant. I also always grow climbing french beans as you can find them easier and they don`t get dirty or eaten by slugs and again it`s saves space. if someone will tell me how to put pictures on here from My Pictures I`ll post a photo but where do i find the URL?

kprice580

beaney50 wrote: »

if someone will tell me how to put pictures on here from My Pictures I`ll post a photo but where do i find the URL?

Go to www.photobucket.com

It's a free hosting site that you can upload photos onto and then it gives you a link to post on here for all to click on and see.
All you need to do is register (free) and your away.


HTH

Katy x x

hathor

Welcome Juliemay

From what I have seen, that seems to be about the going price of blueberry plants. Be careful putting them in a border, though, unless you know what kind of soil you have. They must have acid soil, so if that is not what you have, stick to pots filled with ericaceous compost, and water only with rainwater or if you use a teapot (I do, but then I'm an old fogey), you can empty the cold tea from that on them (it's acid).

I want some blueberries, too, and have decided to go for the variety Top Hat, which is a dwarf variety, ideal for containers, growing no more than 2ft tall or wide.

T & M have them for about £12 each, but if you buy two you get one free, so that brings down the average price to around £8. Plants purchased this year will fruit next year, and they last for several years, so overall that doesn't seem like bad value to me, especially when you think how expensive blueberries (fruit) are to buy in the shops.

jtb2412

Been a busy week for us in the garden ! Got back from holiday (luckily MIL and FIL came to 'garden sit' for us so everything was repeatedly picked and weeding/watering done).

However, before we went away on hols, I lost ALL my cabbages, brocolli, sweede and cauliflower to the darned cabbage whites and their caterpillars :mad: . So ...... I set off another lot before we went away and have just been out this morning and planted them out. I've also enviromeshed all of them so hopefully the little blighters won't be able to get in and lay their eggs this time ! I've spend an hour and a half building a frame for the mesh to go over and have pegged it all down so it should be 'butterfly tight' ! Since planting about an hour ago, i've counted 5 cabbage whites in my garden (had none last week) so they must smell the plants a mile off ! Hoping i'm not too late to start again with them but we'll see !

Have done a mega pick of runner beans (been raining the last 2 days so couldn't really get out there) and i've got another carrier bag full to blanch and freeze (will do that tonight !)

My tomato plants (bush variety) are looking a bit sorry for themselves after the strong winds we had yesterday. I popped them up against the wall by the house which is fairly sheltered, but there are still a few branches that have snapped. Not sure if the tomatoes on them will ripen - anyone know? If not i'll take them off and make some green tomato chutney (be a good excuse, been wanting to make some for ages !)

Second lot of dwarf beans we planted have just finished so I'm off out again (just having a cuppa!) to take them out and pop in the compost bin.

Then i'm going to have a tidy up in the greenhouse and I think that will be it for today !

All 12 chilli plants doing really well and ripening off lovely. Hubby couldn't resist last night and picked a lovely hot red looking one - suffice to say he was jumping about the kitchen and it certainly made his eyes water. He does love chillis and eats quite a few but said these were 'rather on the hot side' ! lol

How is everyone else getting on? Soon be sweetcorn time !!! Yay !!!

Ian_Griffiths_Halifax

I've been out shopping this morning as I'm about to take on a half share in an Allotment. First time growning anything in 30 years!

I went to Woolworths and spent £18 on seeds! They are all reduce to 60p a packet and have long dates on them. I just hope my back doesn't give up before I've planted them all.

Now to read up on all the threads on this forum and get a book from the library 'The Dummies Guide to Allotments'.:rotfl:

JWF

Wow good luck with all them seeds Ian! Don't forget to phase some of your sowings (for some things anyway) so that you'll get a continuous supply of produce

Ian_Griffiths_Halifax

JWF wrote: »

Wow good luck with all them seeds Ian! Don't forget to phase some of your sowings (for some things anyway) so that you'll get a continuous supply of produce

I've already thought of that. I didn't fancy eating Lettuce for breakfast, dinner and tea each day for 3 weeks then having nothing but raddishes for the next. :rotfl:

jtb2412

Ian_Griffiths_Halifax wrote: »

I've already thought of that. I didn't fancy eating Lettuce for breakfast, dinner and tea each day for 3 weeks then having nothing but raddishes for the next. :rotfl:

Lol, we've had nothing but runner beans for the last couple of weeks. Kids don't even bother asking what's for tea now, they know the answer !

I'm sure you will have a roaring success, enjoy !

greyhoundcrazy

juliemay wrote: »

Great thread. i am inspired to try and grow something(anything) edible in a small raised bed 1.5m by 1m.
Cheers

If you want some fast crops then you can still sow salad things, such as little gem lettuce and radishes. you can still sow rocket and spinach too. You could be munching on the rocket in just 2 - 3 weeks.

If you are thinking of over wintering some crops then try japanese onions, garlic and broadbeans (aquadulce claudia are the best winter ones). You could even plant radish in between these, because they grow so fast that you will pick and eat them before the onions even get going.

Or sow your salads now, eat them and then plant the overwintering things in early Oct.

Swiss chard is also nice and tasty, plus decorative looking. You can pick it small for salad or grow it big for greens over winter. It grows fast and doesn't need much care.