Help with growing veg

[Deleted]

Hi all

I was wondering if anyone had any tips on growing veg that they would share with me.

Ive built a raised bed behind my garage and id like to grow carrots and lettuce for my guinea pigs, I'm also going to try potato's in compost bags, would also like to try peas.

This is my first time for veg and would be grateful for any advise.

All the best karenwl

[Deleted]

dig it over, feed it, chuck it in, water it, watch it grow.

worked for me !

;D

[sweetleaf]

Does your raised bed get full sun? Veg do not grow well in shade unfortunately , but other than that, mrskp has it about right, Carrots dont like a rich soil so is you feed the raised bed too well it will lead to forking of the root, but you can grow them in pots, its a bit late for carrots this year but you can plant Broad beans, and you may get a crop of lettuce or two this year if you start now. Im growing cut- and -come -again salad leaves now ;D
It s probably too late for peas now.
You could invest in a cloche (or make one) this might help extend the growing season for you.

[Deleted]

Hi karenwl. Here are some treads I have collected when I was starting to grow potatoes.I grew first earlies in rubble and compost bags with success.I'm now growing second earlies which should be ready for picking at the end of this month.Have just planted first earlies again for Xmas harvest.You maybe to late to grow some yourself this year.Remember the frost.Hope all this helps.JAH

Heer's a method I've tried many times, and it does work.Take a builder’s 3 gallon bucket.Drill about 20 or so smallish holes in the bottom.Cover the base with 3 inches of compost.Place 3 chitted seed potatoes (spaced out & eyes uppermost) on top of this compost.Add enough compost to cover them completely.*When the shoots emerge, cover them again with compost and so on until the bucket is full.*This repeated covering of the seed is a substitute for earthing-up in the open ground and avoids the possibility of having green inedible potatoes on the surface.Deciding when the new potatoes are ready can be a little tricky as you wouldn't want to turn them out before they are ready, a little judicious probing into the compost should reveal all. A tell sign is when the stems thicken and are no longer spindly.By D. KnapperIn general this may be an indicator, but last year my 'spuds in buckets' did not flower. A bit of a broggle in the top of the container will give you an indication if there are any new potatoes there and if it is worth picking them. It is also possible to pull the whole plant out of the pot without disturbing the roots and thus keeping the soil intact. This usually easier if the plant is well grown because the pot is very full of roots. Also helps if the compost is relatively dry. The new potatoes are usually on the outside and possible to see. If they still look too small the plant can be put back into the pot, watered and then left for a bit longer.

Message 3 - posted by woodnick, Last WeekThats great. Did all 3 chitted potatoes grow in that one bucket? I assume that the size you mention is similar to the size i have got.

Hi Woodnick, Yes, all 3 spuds in one bucket, I think it's how you make sure you get smallish new pots - but don't quote me on that! I think builders buckets are a bit wider than your pots, but not quite as deep - I have done some in an old swing bin, and some in old compost bags, and I put shredded paper in the bottom first for moisture retention. Keep us updated on how you get on.

Another tread.You place two or three tubers in the bottom of a bag on top of 6 inches of soil or compost. Cover over and keep topping it up (often called 'earthing up') as the shoots and leaves grow, rolling up the bag as you go along. When you reach the top of the bag, stop. Depending on the variety of potato, either dig up at this point or wait until your flower heads have grown and fallen over and then do it.

The bag will attempt to fall over on numerous occasions. Do Not under any circumstances attempt to relocate your bag once it is over one third full. It will either rip or fall over spilling forth the contents which will never be the same again.

Early potatoes they take about 90 days before ready to pick. when they flower is also a good sign that they are ready. have a dig around but i would think they wont be ready till august

not all potatoes flower but basically 12/13 weeks for first earlies, a bit longer for second earlies unless planted at the same time as the firsts, and then approx 22+ weeks for early main crop or main crop and late main crop - but at the end of the day just stick your hand in and pull up one or two to see how big they are, they might still be small especially if they weren't watered well during the recent hot/dry spell. But as late May is quite late for potatoes I would be patient for a while yet. Joy

hello allThis has been touched upon in previous threads but I am after a bit more detail (being a complete novice!)I understand that I could grow potatoes now in a container which should be ready around Christmas time.If this is correct then I have some questions!1) What sort of container is best? How deep does the container need to be?2) I don't have any home compost - what should I be growing the potatoes in?3) To grow them for around Xmas do you have to grow them in a container or could I just grow them in the bed?And now for the embarrassing stupid question - 4) What exactly do you grow potatoes from? Can you buy some potatoes from the supermarket and wait until they have a few eyes and then whack them in the soil?I think I need a step by step dummies guide!Any help would be most appreciatedGreen Basil x

Got some on the go at the mo, Green Basil, so I'll have a bash at answering your questions:1) I use a tree container - large pot the size on a dumpy dustbin, with handles - but you can use anything that will hold (eventually) about 2 or 3 buckets of compost. In mine I get 5 plants per pot and I'll need 3 or 4 buckets at least, but you could use something smaller. I've seen them in a really tough poly sack, rolled down to begin with and raised as progress is made (see below)2) If you can find grow-bags on special offer, they would be a cheap source of compost at this time of year, otherwise general purpose should do.3) If sheltered and frost free you might get away with them outside in the bed - could you cover them with a large cloche? In containers, they really need to be moved into a greenhouse at the back end of the year.4) Good question - at this time of year you will have to hunt for seed potatoes, but for fun, yes, pick a variety you like of a 'salad' or 'new' variety (not main crop 'ordinaries') at the supermarket - or even better from loose spuds at a farm shop, and have a go:Whatever the container, put your 'eyed' spuds in on top of 6-9 inches of compost and cover them.As they grow (keep them watered, but not waterlogged, make sure there's some drainage holes) add compost so the leaves just show (called "earthing up") until you've got about 15/18inches depth of compost in total and then let them grow (maybe flower, maybe not) until Xmas. If they appear to finish before then, leave them and don't water anymore.Open like any other Xmas present, in hopeful anticipation, and you may be rewarded.

[Deleted]

Hi all

Thank you to everyone for the advice i cant wait to get started, but i must be patient and wait till next year.This will give me time to make sure Ive got things right before i start sowing my seeds, and planting my potato's.

Thanks again for the advice

Regards karenwl