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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2007 14:40:41 GMT
Hello All, thought I would keep a bit of a diary to record my first ever attempts at growing veggies. I'm a bit late as I planted shallots and garlic back in November. If you see that I have done anything unwise or you have any suggestions on my work in progress please feel free to comment.
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 13, 2007 14:45:08 GMT
Well done TJ fab idea, I'll be right behind you as a newbie to veg growing this year.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2007 14:45:41 GMT
Day 1
Sat 13th January 2007
I went to Sainsburys today and asked them for one of those cardboard crates they store their veggies and fruit in as I need something to chit my potatos in.
I've now spread out my seed potatos (bambino) in the crate, covered it in a piece of old cardboard and left it in the garage for them to sprout.
I have no idea how long they will take to sprout, and I'm alittle concerned I have too many as I have a lot of veggies I want to grow this year but I guess I can ditch what I don't want or find a potato pot thing to grow the remainder in.
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Post by sleepysunday on Jan 13, 2007 14:59:14 GMT
I wouldn't chit your potatoes in the dark. You will end up with leggy and very fragile shoots. I've always chitted mine in the GH. When it comes to planting rub off all but the 3 strongest chits.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2007 15:03:48 GMT
What I'm going to grow this year - In the veg plot - raised and all ready in place from the previous owners, covered in tarpaulin at present apart from the lines of shallots and garlic Pea - karina - along the edge of the plot Swede - Airlie - in a line Onion - ramrod - in a line Carrot - resistafly - in a line Brussels sprout - igor - just 2 plants, one on a corner each - the instruction on the packet confuses me - says sow under glass feb-march, plant out apr-may, sow outside apr-may, thats fine but then it says plant outside sowings in june-july?  ?? Parsnip - tender and true - in a line Sweetcorn - mini pop - four plants in a square - again packet is confusing, says sow early in warmth, tap rooted so deep pots, I understand the deep pots but what exactly does sow early in warmth mean??? as soon as it gets warm straight into the soil? whats classed as warm? can I sow in the GH? its not heated so would April be warm enough? Carrot - Flyaway - in a line - prepare with phosphaate 2 weeks before sowing - what form does this come in, is it a liquid? what does the phosphate do? - my other carrots instructions don't mention this??  In the GH - unheated - 2 level staging halfway across 1 side rest of that side is soil, the other side is all soil but I think the cats been in it  Chilli - Ring of Fire - in pots - anothe runclear packet (to me anyway), sow shallow and on edge - I understand shallow but on edge?? what does that mean, edge of what? and at 28 degrees - presumably that means in the house for 7-28 days - could I start these now? Tomato - gardeners delight - in grow bags - is this a good idea (the growbags??), says sow in trays or jiffies - whats a jiffy?? Germinate at 21-25 degrees - does this mean can't sow until May/June/July?? Cucumber - Silor - in grow bags - again is this a good idea?? says sow at 21 degrees but also says sow under glass in feb - apr, its not 21 degrees in feb - apr?? Cucumber - Cumlaude - in grow bags Sweet Pepper - bell boy - in pots Tomato - Alicante - in grow bags, again its says sow at 18 degrees but it also says sow under glass jan - mar - presumably this means if the GH is heated, what time of year does it get to 18 degrees in a uheated gh?? Lots of questions up there and I'm not expecting anyone to answer them all on here but just wanted to show that instructions can be very confusing especially for first time growers. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2007 15:06:11 GMT
blinkin henry
I tell you these instructions are rubbish. Sleepy, it says do them in the dark until tiny shoots appear and then put them in a light place 8-10 degrees - I don't have a light place that is that cold - hmm, or do I, do you think a unheated GH is that temp??
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2007 15:08:19 GMT
"Well done TJ fab idea, I'll be right behind you as a newbie to veg growing this year." wahey  , are you having as much trouble as I am with the damn instructions on the packets?? |
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Post by sleepysunday on Jan 13, 2007 15:09:38 GMT
I've never done them in the dark. Maybe they are right and I've been doing it wrong. What do others think?
You could conduct your first experiment and do some each way - then decide which way is best
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2007 15:16:15 GMT
thats a great idea Sleepy  as I think I have too many anyway, its doesn't matter if some don't work |
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Post by Alicat on Jan 13, 2007 15:17:21 GMT
Hi TJ - Goodluck with your vegies I'm new too. so it will be interesting to see how we all do. Hi Sleepy Always wondered what to do with the chits on my potatoes. - In the past I have just thrown them in the ground and hoped for the best. If TJ dosen't mind me asking on her thread.? Which good all round pototoes do you recommend to try? - that is if i'm not too late.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2007 15:20:49 GMT
Hi TJ - Goodluck with your vegies I'm new too. so it will be interesting to see how we all do. Hi Sleepy Always wondered what to do with the chits on my potatoes. - In the past I have just thrown them in the ground and hoped for the best. If TJ dosen't mind me asking on her thread.? Which good all round pototoes do you recommend to try? - that is if i'm not too late. HI Alicat, ask away Are you going to start a thread about your growing ups and downs?? it will be great so see other peoples progress |
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Post by sleepysunday on Jan 13, 2007 15:22:09 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2007 15:27:04 GMT
Wow some great links there Sleepy thanks, I am going to move them all into the GH. Thanks!! |
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 13, 2007 15:27:28 GMT
TJ "in warmth" means a heated propagator to me, I always chit potatoes in the greenhouse/shed, Jiffies are fibre pots that you plant out in......... because they break down, no root disturbance, I have to go out now, but Ill read through again when I return and see what else I can say to help. We will all be here as new questions arise ....
As it says in HitchHikers....
DONT PANIC!
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 13, 2007 15:28:21 GMT
I agree with you too Sleepy - I always chit my spuddies in my Mum's front porch sitting in egg boxes (the spuds, not me...). She has it slightly heated and has a big window. They chit really well in there.
Tomatoes germinate better with heat so I'd wait a while and sow them in a windowsill indoors. If you get them off now they'll be too leggy by the time it's warm enough to put them in a GH. You don't really gain much by starting very early with veggie seedlings as they have to wait too long indoors if it's a cold Spring.
Good luck TJ, growing veggies is brilliant, I look forward to your next entries.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2007 15:28:25 GMT
Thanks Sweetie (iminneedofasmuchhelpasicangetsmiley)  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2007 15:31:08 GMT
I agree with you too Sleepy - I always chit my spuddies in my Mum's front porch sitting in egg boxes (the spuds, not me...). She has it slightly heated and has a big window. They chit really well in there. Good luck TJ, growing veggies is brilliant, I look forward to your next entries. You guys are fantastic, I have a porch with a massive window which is unheated which would be perfect, no fear of frost in there!! gonna move the tatties to there, glad I hadn't yet trekked up to the end of the garden in the rain yet ;D |
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Post by sleepysunday on Jan 13, 2007 15:32:05 GMT
I'm glad we caught you in time |
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Post by Alicat on Jan 13, 2007 15:34:49 GMT
Hang on the tree won't come down - OH needs help.
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 13, 2007 22:11:38 GMT
"Well done TJ fab idea, I'll be right behind you as a newbie to veg growing this year." wahey , are you having as much trouble as I am with the damn instructions on the packets?? Not yet TJ waiting for my seed order to arrive. Have just been chatting to OH about getting seed tats too so your thread is being soooo useful already.  |
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 13, 2007 22:29:54 GMT
TJ You need an electric propagator the best ones are temperature controlled.... mine are not, (the same temperature for everything!)But they work very well I think ;D
When they say a seed should be sown on edge it means not flat i.e. least surface area for water to accumulate on, so less risk of rotting. Some of these seed packs have instructions that assume you have grown them before Im sure, some veg are sown in seed beds and transplanted into final positions and others would hate the disturbance, sweetcorn being one of those, in my opinion ..if you cant get a propagator a warm windowsill above a radiator may do very well but cover the tray with a transparent cover, It will help to keep it warm, and conserve moisture. wipe it clean every day and lift it (prop it up on a label) for a portion of the day for ventilation.
It sounds a lot of work, but really it takes moments.
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Post by Alicat on Jan 14, 2007 0:14:31 GMT
My next door neighbour grows tomatoes in a growbag but he puts the tomatoes in a tall pot first, then into the growbag ( I assume with the bottom cut out.) this gives the tomato plants more compost to get their roots into and helps with watering. I have also read that you should only grow 2 plants per grow bag. - What does everyone else do please.
Sleepy - Thankyou for the potatoe advice. Think I might look for some 'Kestral' pots at the GC.
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 14, 2007 0:20:28 GMT
My next door neighbour grows tomatoes in a growbag but he puts the tomatoes in a tall pot first, then into the growbag ( I assume with the bottom cut out.) this gives the tomato plants more compost to get their roots into and helps with watering. I have also read that you should only grow 2 plants per grow bag. - What does everyone else do please. Sleepy - Thankyou for the potatoe advice. Think I might look for some 'Kestral' pots at the GC. Im growing Lady Chrystl and Red fir Apple pots on reccomendation from these boards and I grow my toms in a similar fashion to your neighbour , except I put the pot in a pot if you get my meaning, to give a really deep root run ;D And yes the top pot has no bottom.... a piece of big pipe would be just as good as the top pot IMO. |
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Post by Alicat on Jan 14, 2007 0:28:07 GMT
Cheers SL They are on the list too now.!!! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2007 7:17:25 GMT
I've never done them in the dark. Maybe they are right and I've been doing it wrong. What do others think? You could conduct your first experiment and do some each way - then decide which way is best Always a great idea to experiment with different methods and find the one that works for you ;D I'm with sleepysunday, always chit in light and warmth. That's those years I can be bothered to chit - the jury's out on whether it makes any difference, but it's nice to have your potatoes chittin' whilst it's still too early to plant seeds. Trunkyjo, looking at your list I wondered if you might want to consider successional sowing. If you sow e.g. carrots, lettuce, beetroot and year round cauli ievery ten days or so during the growing season, you'll always have fresh carrots - and if the fly get some, you've got others from later or earlier sowings. I'm planning to sow cucumbers in succession to have them all summer, our last were harvested in November last year  Enjoying this thread, great idea I'm gonna be a newbie with minipop this year too |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2007 10:52:33 GMT
TJ
I'm in total agreement with everyone on chitting potatoes, I usually put mine in egg boxes/trays and have them in the garage under the window (the garage is heated)
I know you are growing 2 varieties of Carrot which have carrot fly resistance - but the carrot fly can be a b*gger and you might still have a problem. I found last year that growing Spring Onion and Leeks next to the carrot helped (the smell puts the fly off) but the best thing was making a cloche/cover as the fly can't or won't fly higher than about 18". My contraption was made out of an old net curtain from a charity shop!!
I don't think about sowing seeds of anything like tomato, pepper, chilli until the end of Feb at the very earliest, and even then I usually wait til March when it's getting abit warmer (I'm in the North of England).
I do have an unheated greenhouse - seeds just won't germinate if they are too cold. Or they will just be very leggy, I have found that the temptation to sow early can be disappointing as you don't always get good germination. I do use those little cheapie propagators that come with a plastic lid and always have my seed trays in the sunniest spot, however, a plastic bag secured with a elastic band over the top of a plant pot makes a reasonable mini propagator!!
When I first started veg growing I bought Dr Hessayons veg expert book, it's very basic but has handy little calendars if when to sow/plant out. I still use it as a reference!! I'd recommend it when you're starting out!!
Good Luck with your veggies ;D
GH
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Post by lottielady on Jan 16, 2007 16:53:15 GMT
Just another tip when you are planting your sprouts - put a stake in at the same time and FIRM the plants really well - they don't like to wobble about in the wind. I didn't stake mine and most of them were blown by the time I went to pick them.
LLx
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2007 13:39:06 GMT
Thank you LL, will bear that in mind!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2007 11:07:56 GMT
Thank you for all your replies everyone. I'm off to the gc today to get myself a heated (but not variable) propagator so I can get started. I do however have some questions (  hehe, as per usual). I do want to grow successional crops, would sowing one week apart help with that or should it be longer??  Toms - i'm growing 5 varieties, I don't think I need to necessarily worry about successional planting with these but how many seeds of each type should sow? bear in mind I think I'd like 1 good plant (unless I can put 2 in a growbag hole??), I'm thinking sow 3 of each variety and then keep the strongest 1 or 2??. I'm going to sow my sweet peas today, 5 of each variety I think, I have three varieties. Supersprout, you are also doing Minipop aren't you, are you going to sow in a heated propagator and when are you going to do that do you think? my packet says sow early in warmth - whats early for goodness sake??  I must say all your comments have helped with understanding the daft instructions on the packets, I have re-read through the instructions this morning (of course I'm working as well,  I can multi task because I'm female  ), and I did understand them better, except for the minipop  |
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 22, 2007 11:29:00 GMT
Only bits I can maybe help you with TJ is..... I think succession planting is from about 2 weeks apart, depending on what it is your growing....length of growing time to harvesting etc. And is obviuosly governed by the planting space you have as well I guess. Sweat Peas can be done from October ish time to Spring so ok to do now. Hope I've told you right |
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as I think I have too many anyway, its doesn't matter if some don't work
Enjoying this thread, great idea 
), and I did understand them better, except for the minipop