Fruit and veg growers of 2023
Discussion
First time ever attempting to grow anything (43)
Decided I wanted some tomatoes at home and the conservatory would be a great place to propagate and grow them.... a few months down the line from mouldy seedlings, pots taking over conservatory much to the Mrs annoyance we fell really lucky on getting an overgrown allotment !!
Much joy when I turned up for a look and it had 2 greenhouses (albeit 1 needed new glass), a shed, loads of raised overgrown beds. Winner
Got to work removing years of weeds etc, will find some pics of the first days.
We have Toms various, Spuds, Sweet Peppers, Various Chilli Peppers, Sweetcorn, Various Peas, Strawberries, Carrots, Beetroot and Pumpkins at the moment.
WOW this hobby drags you right into it.. Just muddling along at the moment but everything seems to be growing
So this is where im upto at the moment, first mini harvest of peas, strawberries and new potatoes
If i'm doing anything wrong I could use pointers
Decided I wanted some tomatoes at home and the conservatory would be a great place to propagate and grow them.... a few months down the line from mouldy seedlings, pots taking over conservatory much to the Mrs annoyance we fell really lucky on getting an overgrown allotment !!
Much joy when I turned up for a look and it had 2 greenhouses (albeit 1 needed new glass), a shed, loads of raised overgrown beds. Winner
Got to work removing years of weeds etc, will find some pics of the first days.
We have Toms various, Spuds, Sweet Peppers, Various Chilli Peppers, Sweetcorn, Various Peas, Strawberries, Carrots, Beetroot and Pumpkins at the moment.
WOW this hobby drags you right into it.. Just muddling along at the moment but everything seems to be growing
So this is where im upto at the moment, first mini harvest of peas, strawberries and new potatoes
If i'm doing anything wrong I could use pointers
It's not been very good weather for veg here in mid Kent. April/May it was cold and too wet to get onto the garden, and since then it's been hot and dry, and now a hosepipe ban*.
I usually do early potatoes, replace them with late runner beans, and onions. Last year it was also dry and (using my irrigation system) the Charlottes produced a reasonable crop, looked good, but were awful when cooked. Runner beans, as usual, Enorma, just not nice, onions not big enough to be worth the effort. This year only 4 runner beans of 32 germinated (germination has been an issue discussed over the pub table), but may be as well as I'm not sure how I'd have got the canes in the ground. If it rains enough I may do a late crop of leeks.
Strawberries have been OK, also greenhouse so so (late germination peppers), with tomatoes and cucumbers coming on well. I think I'll leave it at that and maybe the leeks.
I usually do early potatoes, replace them with late runner beans, and onions. Last year it was also dry and (using my irrigation system) the Charlottes produced a reasonable crop, looked good, but were awful when cooked. Runner beans, as usual, Enorma, just not nice, onions not big enough to be worth the effort. This year only 4 runner beans of 32 germinated (germination has been an issue discussed over the pub table), but may be as well as I'm not sure how I'd have got the canes in the ground. If it rains enough I may do a late crop of leeks.
Strawberries have been OK, also greenhouse so so (late germination peppers), with tomatoes and cucumbers coming on well. I think I'll leave it at that and maybe the leeks.
- Hosepipe ban is not because of a shortage of water, reservoirs are full. But issues with getting it to customers apparently. Rep of the water co said we were drinking too much (not me) and suggests raising prices by 73% by 2030.
Edited by Sticks. on Wednesday 21st June 18:49
Nothing to show from my garden I'm afraid.
Started with 85mph winds which trashed all the corn and tomatoes, then we had golf ball size hail, which trashed the few things remaining, and now we have 110F (43C) temps for the next few weeks, and lets not forget the gophers
Looking forward to the autumn when I can try again.
"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."
Sir Winston Churchill.
Started with 85mph winds which trashed all the corn and tomatoes, then we had golf ball size hail, which trashed the few things remaining, and now we have 110F (43C) temps for the next few weeks, and lets not forget the gophers
Looking forward to the autumn when I can try again.
"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."
Sir Winston Churchill.
Just dug up the few potato plants I had, they were an early variety. I was pleasantly surprised anything had grown.
Accidental tiny carrot.
Found some aubergine 'seedlings' in 6 inch pots I'd forgotton about and put them in where the potatoes were. Hopefully thats OK, but might be too late anyway.
My garlic seems to be getting trodden on by something. Onions mostly going well, maybe I can try digging one up soon? Presumably as it when in the ground as an onion, its hopefully only got a bit bigger!
Peas are going OK, not ready to eat but growing well. Tomatoes are appearing on the plants but leaves are very yellow on some. Panicking about 'blight' but maybe I'm just over or underwatering. The fruit themselves look fine, feel fine.
Good effort above with the new allotment. Not sure how you have the time! My small 4m x 4m (including some pots on patio) is plenty to keep me busy. Maybe the second year of trying I'll be better organised and know what to do when and how....
Accidental tiny carrot.
Found some aubergine 'seedlings' in 6 inch pots I'd forgotton about and put them in where the potatoes were. Hopefully thats OK, but might be too late anyway.
My garlic seems to be getting trodden on by something. Onions mostly going well, maybe I can try digging one up soon? Presumably as it when in the ground as an onion, its hopefully only got a bit bigger!
Peas are going OK, not ready to eat but growing well. Tomatoes are appearing on the plants but leaves are very yellow on some. Panicking about 'blight' but maybe I'm just over or underwatering. The fruit themselves look fine, feel fine.
Good effort above with the new allotment. Not sure how you have the time! My small 4m x 4m (including some pots on patio) is plenty to keep me busy. Maybe the second year of trying I'll be better organised and know what to do when and how....
cml24 said:
Onions mostly going well, maybe I can try digging one up soon? Presumably as it when in the ground as an onion, its hopefully only got a bit bigger!
I've just lifted out one of my onions and left it on the side to ripen, though I'm not sure how long it needs to be left for. Leaves had gone, and that's what the packet tells me is a sign that they're ready, though it also might be a sign that something has eaten or otherwise destroyed them.I have flowers on a couple of potato plants, which I think means they're nearly ready.
Sticks. said:
It's not been very good weather for veg here in mid Kent. April/May it was cold and too wet to get onto the garden, and since then it's been hot and dry, and now a hosepipe ban*.
I usually do early potatoes, replace them with late runner beans, and onions. Last year it was also dry and (using my irrigation system) the Charlottes produced a reasonable crop, looked good, but were awful when cooked. Runner beans, as usual, Enorma, just not nice, onions not big enough to be worth the effort. This year only 4 runner beans of 32 germinated (germination has been an issue discussed over the pub table), but may be as well as I'm not sure how I'd have got the canes in the ground. If it rains enough I may do a late crop of leeks.
Strawberries have been OK, also greenhouse so so (late germination peppers), with tomatoes and cucumbers coming on well. I think I'll leave it at that and maybe the leeks.
You do know that there are usually exemptions for watering food crops under hosepipe bans? I usually do early potatoes, replace them with late runner beans, and onions. Last year it was also dry and (using my irrigation system) the Charlottes produced a reasonable crop, looked good, but were awful when cooked. Runner beans, as usual, Enorma, just not nice, onions not big enough to be worth the effort. This year only 4 runner beans of 32 germinated (germination has been an issue discussed over the pub table), but may be as well as I'm not sure how I'd have got the canes in the ground. If it rains enough I may do a late crop of leeks.
Strawberries have been OK, also greenhouse so so (late germination peppers), with tomatoes and cucumbers coming on well. I think I'll leave it at that and maybe the leeks.
- Hosepipe ban is not because of a shortage of water, reservoirs are full. But issues with getting it to customers apparently. Rep of the water co said we were drinking too much (not me) and suggests raising prices by 73% by 2030.
Edited by Sticks. on Wednesday 21st June 18:49
droopsnoot said:
droopsnoot said:
I've just lifted out one of my onions and left it on the side to ripen, though I'm not sure how long it needs to be left for.
About two weeks, or until the outside is papery dry, according to the RHS.Its looking like a bit of a mixed bag for me so far this year.
First corgettes that I had taken my eye off and got marrows.
Just two spring onions from a whole tape of seeds.
Carrots, runner beans, sweetcorn, spuds, courgettes, strawberries and garlic going rampant.
Tomatoes a disaster.
Melon and cucumber doing ok
First corgettes that I had taken my eye off and got marrows.
Just two spring onions from a whole tape of seeds.
Carrots, runner beans, sweetcorn, spuds, courgettes, strawberries and garlic going rampant.
Tomatoes a disaster.
Melon and cucumber doing ok
Edited by 48k on Wednesday 28th June 10:44
The biggest pots are 9" but I'll try and sort out some bigger ones or grow bags. I had to move most of them outside the greenhouse due to lack of space. Some of the yellow blossom has turned brown and they are more bushy than last years. Been watering and feeding like I normally do so not quite sure what's different this year. Will give bigger pots a try.
So after 7 years being on the waiting list at my old place I moved house and after 2 weeks of being on the allotment list at my new place, I have been offered a plot! 2 are available.
This one is not as over grown, Closer to the water trough but nothing in place.
Or do I go for this one, A little bit bigger, needs more clearing. It has a mature apple tree which I would keep and a shed with a lock that I would need to cut off. I am siding with the one with the shed as it would give me a good start out. But it is further away from the main gate/water.
This one is not as over grown, Closer to the water trough but nothing in place.
Or do I go for this one, A little bit bigger, needs more clearing. It has a mature apple tree which I would keep and a shed with a lock that I would need to cut off. I am siding with the one with the shed as it would give me a good start out. But it is further away from the main gate/water.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff