The kitchen garden thread

[sleep envy]

who's growing what?

the propagator came down from the loft today and and there's already trays of gardener's delight, pomodoro roma, red basil, green basil, lola rosa and rocket on the go

spuds are chitting nicely, the shallots are in and the winter garlic is nearly ready for harvest

[Pete Franklin]

I started growing last year and had a very successful first year of it being almost self sufficeint for veg throughout summer. my only real problem was that i had too much of one thing and not enough variety. So this year i am planning the following:

runner beans
french beans
cucumbers
caugettes (3 varieties)
squash
carrots
raddishes
mixed leaf lettuce
rocket
endive
chard
spinach
kohl rabi
purple sprouting broccoli
beetroots (various varieties)

herb garden is already in full swing

the only thing I'm going to have to buy is potatos and onions and speciality veg like aparagus

[sleep envy]

blimey, that's some selection!

beans, spinach and carrots will go in next month - still too cold for them - but all our herbs have lasted well in the cold frame

still no olives from the tree through

[Pete Franklin]

sleep envy said:

blimey, that's some selection!

beans, spinach and carrots will go in next month - still too cold for them - but all our herbs have lasted well in the cold frame

still no olives from the tree through

Well last year I did: runner beans, cougettes, carrots (different varieties/ colours), lettuce, rocket, chard, spinach and beetroot and found that i had too much of everything and was getting bored eating the same thing all the time. so it makes sence to do more types but less of them.

Hopefully it will last a bit longer into the autumn with the squashes and broccoli as well. might think about some other brassicas also but i find it hard to get excited about cabbages and slugs can be a pain.

where do you live to be growing olives?

Edit: just seen Columbia

[sleep envy]

North London really

[Cotty]

I have not had huge success growing things in pots on the balcony so will probably stick to herbs which did grow well

[Simpo Two]

Chives are easy to grow.

[sleep envy]

PauPalil - have you had a crack at chillies and peppers? Sunny spot, splash of water every three or four days, pick them off when you need them. Easy.

[dmitsi]

Cotty said:

I have not had huge success growing things in pots on the balcony so will probably stick to herbs which did grow well

You should try some potatoes on a balcony.

Just get a compost bag and fill about 1/4 with decent potting compost. Put two or three potatoes (pref chitted) and cover (just) with more compost. Pierce a few drainage holes near the base and water. When the green starts growing up, keep adding compost to keep the foliage covered and just roll the compost bag sides up as you go. Keep doing this until mid summer, and you'll have a bag full of potatoes.

[21TonyK]

We are in the throws of redundancy and moving so haven't done anything as we planned but once settled I want to start growing some of the more obscure stuff I use. Micro herbs, salad leaves etc. Just a few covered raised beds down one side of the garden.

Any tips/suggestions? I just about mow the lawn (sometimes).

[Cotty]

dmitsi said:

Keep doing this until mid summer, and you'll have a bag full of potatoes.

An tip the bag up when you want to get to them. Bit messy on a balcony

[sleep envy]

21TonyK said:

Any tips/suggestions?

work out what needs lots of sunlight and what doesn't, check pH levels and what needs lots of looking after

if you buy organic seeds be prepared for odd shaped veg - possibly not best for presentation but they taste miles better

[Pete Franklin]

21TonyK said:

We are in the throws of redundancy and moving so haven't done anything as we planned but once settled I want to start growing some of the more obscure stuff I use. Micro herbs, salad leaves etc. Just a few covered raised beds down one side of the garden.

Any tips/suggestions? I just about mow the lawn (sometimes).

you will probably find that it is easier to grow micro herbs indoors in an area with good natural light. salad leaves are really easy if you are growing the cut and come again variety (recomended) these can be grown in pots or in beds but from experience i would have stuff like this as near to the house as possible as it makes it so much easier/ convenient as you want it as fresh as possible and will likely be picking a little often. most salady things will grow well in partial shade.

A lot of the more obscure stuff is a bit harder to grow hence why it costs more. things like asparagus and globe artichoke need a year or two without cropping before you can start harvesting. do a bit of research before you dive in and i'm sure you'll work it out.

Its all pretty easy though and very, very satifying.

[sleep envy]

and asparagus need a massive load of space!!

[tenex]

dmitsi said:

Cotty said:

I have not had huge success growing things in pots on the balcony so will probably stick to herbs which did grow well

You should try some potatoes on a balcony.

Just get a compost bag and fill about 1/4 with decent potting compost. Put two or three potatoes (pref chitted) and cover (just) with more compost. Pierce a few drainage holes near the base and water. When the green starts growing up, keep adding compost to keep the foliage covered and just roll the compost bag sides up as you go. Keep doing this until mid summer, and you'll have a bag full of potatoes.

This being PH, shirley old car tyres should be used. . They actually work very well.
Grew lots last year but the Scottish Highlands mean a whole lot can't eg runner beans.(which normally couldn't be easier,)Even tomatoes in a greenhouse are usually a waste of time. Stuff has to be pretty hardy and nothing goes into the ground until mid May.

I grew tatties, carrots, peas,parsnips,leeks,neeps,sprouting broccoli,Savoy cabbage and Cauliflower.
Fruit does well rasps,strawbs, black and red currants and gooseberries.
Any salad stuff/herbs have to be grown in sheltered tubs.

Personally I don't think it is worth struggling. It only leads to disappointment.
Growing your own should be satisfying.
Pete Franklin seems to have got it sorted.

[Kneetrembler]

My broad beans plants are now just under 1 mtr high and I have just started picking.

The peas are through.

Just picked and made some Kumquat marmalade.

Herbs, Flat leaf parsley,Coriander,Mint,Lemon Thyme,Thyme, Rosemary, Lemon Balm, all growing well.

Artichokes are now doing well.

Spinach being picked.

[Mobile Chicane]

A question on Gardener's Question Time about what to grow in a recession (which face it, we're still in) concluded not to bother with potatoes and onions (unless you really do have the space), and focus instead on things which are expensive to buy (herbs) or are best eaten ripe and / or fresh (tomatoes, peas, sweetcorn etc).

I've focused more on herbs, and am lucky in that the garden is already planted with bay hedging, rosemary, various sages, thymes, marjoram, chives and oregano (which attract bees )

I'll add a pot of mint to this, some parsley, and dill scattered in the herbaceous borders.

[Bill]

Mobile Chicane said:

A question on Gardener's Question Time about what to grow in a recession (which face it, we're still in) concluded not to bother with potatoes and onions (unless you really do have the space), and focus instead on things which are expensive to buy (herbs) or are best eaten ripe and / or fresh (tomatoes, peas, sweetcorn etc).

Like all good ideas that's so obvious once it's pointed out

We're still in the throes of the first year with twins so nothing's happening apart from the established herbs and gooseberry and blackcurrant bushes.

[Cotty]

Mobile Chicane said:

I'll add a pot of mint to this, some parsley, and dill scattered in the herbaceous borders.

Definately keep it in a pot, that stuff likes to grow and take over if not contained.

[stackmonkey]

I'm more on the herbs side than actual vegetables, so have;

rosemary,
thyme,
oregano,
marjoram,
chives,
garlic,
lavender,
sage,
sorrel,
lemon balm,
mint.

plus the following fruit;
blackcurrant,
redcurrant,
blueberry,
apple
pear.