What's growing in your veggie plot?
Discussion
It's time to get things growing, and with the predicted hike in vegetable prices I'm gonna be doubling up on everything. My oak raised beds have finally been finished off and the frosts are nearly over.
I already have some over wintered onions, shallots, Savoy cabbage and Red kale coming on nicely. I've just sown 40 "Express" broad bean seeds - supposed to be the fastest growing beans so I may be climbing the stalk tomorrow! Charlotte potatoes are chitting away nicely and will be planted on Good Friday (like my Grampy always did). Might risk a bed of carrots tomorrow.
So what are you all doing in your plots?
I already have some over wintered onions, shallots, Savoy cabbage and Red kale coming on nicely. I've just sown 40 "Express" broad bean seeds - supposed to be the fastest growing beans so I may be climbing the stalk tomorrow! Charlotte potatoes are chitting away nicely and will be planted on Good Friday (like my Grampy always did). Might risk a bed of carrots tomorrow.
So what are you all doing in your plots?
Nothing yet - next weekend I'm going to dig my small plot over and see whats left after my experiments last year (stick anything thats sprouting, onions, spuds etc. in the ground and see what happens) - my onions do seem to be sprouting again.
I think though, this year I may read up on what I should be doing and actually do it properly rather than bung it in and hope.
Plan is proably herbs, onions, strawberries, raspberries and spuds.
I think though, this year I may read up on what I should be doing and actually do it properly rather than bung it in and hope.
Plan is proably herbs, onions, strawberries, raspberries and spuds.
At the moment only the herbs are in and growing well - invested in a 3 tier planter for them and they seem to be thriving, have prepared 2 long planters for a selection of lettuce, easily accessible from the back door, but not sure what to grow otherwise this year.
Courgettes worked really well last year, but they were planted for ground coverage to keep weeds down whilst I decided what to do with the area - still no idea so probably similar veg again. Beans - runner last year, might go dwarf this year as I like them.
With the rain being as continuous as it is, nothing's getting done at the moment
Courgettes worked really well last year, but they were planted for ground coverage to keep weeds down whilst I decided what to do with the area - still no idea so probably similar veg again. Beans - runner last year, might go dwarf this year as I like them.
With the rain being as continuous as it is, nothing's getting done at the moment
The perennial herbs are in already from previous years, the first of the soft herbs are on the kitchen windowsill. The rhubarb's well on it's way.
We grow our spuds in containers and I only emptied last years' yesterday - there were half a dozen forgotten charlottes chitting away so I've stuck them in smaller containers to see how they do. We've got Anya's and some earlies in the garage ready to go in next weekend.
Last year's strawberries were in containers but they're going in the garden this year, with a few extra bought ones.
Peas and string beans will be on the east facing fence where there's a bit of shade
Tomatoes are going in hanging baskets and a couple of patio shrub ones.
Then we'll have baby leeks, garlic and purple sprouting broccoli dotted in the flower beds, and the soft salad leaves, baby carrots, peppers, chillis and radishes on the patio. Might have some blueberries in pots as well. We bought an auto-watering system to make it easier for this year.
We just need to decide what to put on the west facing warm fence.
If you live in a flat, all the herbs, tomatoes, peppers, chillis, radishes and salad leaves can be done on a windowsill or balcony. Easy peasy - we used to do loads when we had the flat.
God we sound like The Good Life! Wish I had an arse like Felicity Kendal's!
We grow our spuds in containers and I only emptied last years' yesterday - there were half a dozen forgotten charlottes chitting away so I've stuck them in smaller containers to see how they do. We've got Anya's and some earlies in the garage ready to go in next weekend.
Last year's strawberries were in containers but they're going in the garden this year, with a few extra bought ones.
Peas and string beans will be on the east facing fence where there's a bit of shade
Tomatoes are going in hanging baskets and a couple of patio shrub ones.
Then we'll have baby leeks, garlic and purple sprouting broccoli dotted in the flower beds, and the soft salad leaves, baby carrots, peppers, chillis and radishes on the patio. Might have some blueberries in pots as well. We bought an auto-watering system to make it easier for this year.
We just need to decide what to put on the west facing warm fence.
If you live in a flat, all the herbs, tomatoes, peppers, chillis, radishes and salad leaves can be done on a windowsill or balcony. Easy peasy - we used to do loads when we had the flat.
God we sound like The Good Life! Wish I had an arse like Felicity Kendal's!
Rude Girl said:
God we sound like The Good Life! Wish I had an arse like Felicity Kendal's!
Keep the thread up, we're contemplating some veg in pots for this year (still in rented so don't want to play with the garden too much). Also my Dad's mobility is suffering and I like the idea of building him some trestles with pots so he can grow small quantities of veg at a height he can get at without bending.
Piglet said:
Rude Girl said:
God we sound like The Good Life! Wish I had an arse like Felicity Kendal's!
Keep the thread up, we're contemplating some veg in pots for this year (still in rented so don't want to play with the garden too much). Also my Dad's mobility is suffering and I like the idea of building him some trestles with pots so he can grow small quantities of veg at a height he can get at without bending.
Rude Girls idea of toms in hanging baskets is also a good one. Done this for the last two years with "Tumbling Toms" they just keep growing and growing. Only need 3 plants per basket.
Piglet said:
Also my Dad's mobility is suffering and I like the idea of building him some trestles with pots so he can grow small quantities of veg at a height he can get at without bending.
Rocket, basil and baby spinach are fantastic for containers at height - even better because they all cost such a fortune to buy. And what could be better in summer than a homemade burger with lovely peppery rocket. 
Piglet said:
Keep the thread up, we're contemplating some veg in pots for this year (still in rented so don't want to play with the garden too much). Also my Dad's mobility is suffering and I like the idea of building him some trestles with pots so he can grow small quantities of veg at a height he can get at without bending.
We get a couple of the grow bags and either lay them on sleepers or a couple of bricks with some planks across, for my mum who is in a wheelchair. She then plants all sorts in them, ie tomatoes, strawberries, chillis etc, anything which is quite happy to have some water thrown at it each day but doesn't need alot of faffing about with!Think you could probably plant most things like this depending on how much time your dad wants to spent fiddling with them.
Rude Girl said:
For Piglet in particular... The Thompson & Morgan seed sale book has just plopped through the door here. Have a look on their website for a pea called 'half pint'. It can be grown in containers or even on a windowsill. That could be a hoot.
Thanks for that I'll have a look. I'm off this weekend to get myself a cheap black bin, a couple of bags of compost and some seed potatoes and I'll have a go at spuds to start with. We'll be moving from here in less than a year so there isn't much point doing too much.
The peas look good though so will try to track some of those down and try them here, peas on the windowsill sound like fun!
We're going to leave doing Dad's garden for this year, next year we'll be much closer to him so will start earlier and get him organised, I think raised beds and/or pots will be a good solution for him over the next few years.
Piglet said:
Rude Girl said:
For Piglet in particular... The Thompson & Morgan seed sale book has just plopped through the door here. Have a look on their website for a pea called 'half pint'. It can be grown in containers or even on a windowsill. That could be a hoot.
Thanks for that I'll have a look. I'm off this weekend to get myself a cheap black bin, a couple of bags of compost and some seed potatoes and I'll have a go at spuds to start with. We'll be moving from here in less than a year so there isn't much point doing too much.
The peas look good though so will try to track some of those down and try them here, peas on the windowsill sound like fun!
We're going to leave doing Dad's garden for this year, next year we'll be much closer to him so will start earlier and get him organised, I think raised beds and/or pots will be a good solution for him over the next few years.
http://www.unwins.co.uk/asparagus-pea-seeds-pid111...
Planted the cherry toms last night - had such a bumper crop last year I thought I'd do them again and in the same area, plus planted some Cos lettuce.
Will get going at the weekend again with the Spinach, onions, dwarf beans and spuds - in a black bin that was left by the previous owners - our compost bin is now about 18 months old so should have some nice mulch at the bottom to aid the spuds. Plus some mushroom compost left over from those B&Q grow your own mushrooms (£5 a box - take a look - good for flat owners with no garden) should feed them nicely
Will get going at the weekend again with the Spinach, onions, dwarf beans and spuds - in a black bin that was left by the previous owners - our compost bin is now about 18 months old so should have some nice mulch at the bottom to aid the spuds. Plus some mushroom compost left over from those B&Q grow your own mushrooms (£5 a box - take a look - good for flat owners with no garden) should feed them nicely
Sheepy said:
Can I just ask about growing spuds in containers/tubs etc? Always fancied giving this a try (Mrs S is skeptical). What's the best option? Ones I've heard are grow-bags stood on end and plastic rubbish bins.
Easy to do and well worth it. Any large deep bin will do. Put about 6 inches of soil or compost in the bin and put 4 spuds in, cover with another 4 inches. When they sprout to about 6 inches tall add more compost to just below the top of the plants. repeat maybe twice more. Job done.Most people say to "chit" the seed pots first but there really is no need.
This is a great website for tips on spuds..........
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/suttonelms/POT2.HTML
dickymint said:
Sheepy said:
Can I just ask about growing spuds in containers/tubs etc? Always fancied giving this a try (Mrs S is skeptical). What's the best option? Ones I've heard are grow-bags stood on end and plastic rubbish bins.
Easy to do and well worth it. Any large deep bin will do. Put about 6 inches of soil or compost in the bin and put 4 spuds in, cover with another 4 inches. When they sprout to about 6 inches tall add more compost to just below the top of the plants. repeat maybe twice more. Job done.Most people say to "chit" the seed pots first but there really is no need.
This is a great website for tips on spuds..........
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/suttonelms/POT2.HTML
Sheepy said:
dickymint said:
Sheepy said:
Can I just ask about growing spuds in containers/tubs etc? Always fancied giving this a try (Mrs S is skeptical). What's the best option? Ones I've heard are grow-bags stood on end and plastic rubbish bins.
Easy to do and well worth it. Any large deep bin will do. Put about 6 inches of soil or compost in the bin and put 4 spuds in, cover with another 4 inches. When they sprout to about 6 inches tall add more compost to just below the top of the plants. repeat maybe twice more. Job done.Most people say to "chit" the seed pots first but there really is no need.
This is a great website for tips on spuds..........
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/suttonelms/POT2.HTML
http://www.rhs.org.uk/Learning/Publications/pubs/g...
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