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Any gardeners? Are you planting more than normal?

53 replies

LooseleafTea · 08/03/2020 21:47

I thought rather than panic buying I would try and enjoy the garden a bit more and make it a bit more productive as it’s good anyway for diversity etc and I just bought lots of heritage seeds from the Real Seed Company that sounds lovely.
Whether or not I’ll manage to grow much is another matter! as our soil looks really poor and i haven’t much energy to sort it but I might try some gro bags to start with and like the idea of doing something positive as we all love homegrown veg.

So far I’ve ordered peas, French beans, Brussel sprouts and chard! No particular reason other than like them

OP posts:
NeckPainChairSearch · 08/03/2020 21:52

Yep. Sowing more salad leaves, cime di rapa, chard, lamb's lettuce etc. Anything nutritious that grows fairly quickly. Will be putting in more potatoes and summer squash too.

I'll watch the thread for more ideas.

Bonuslevel · 08/03/2020 21:53

I have planted a few seeds today, cucumbers, french beans, basil, peppers, lettuce. I wouldn't normally start as early as this, but felt like I wanted to do something.
If you haven't time to improve your soil go for grow bags. Carrots can cope with poor soil. They dont like too much fertiliser anyway.

LooseleafTea · 08/03/2020 21:56

Oh thank you for the carrot tip and I’m so pleased you are planting too. I’m finding it really helpful actually. I’ve also discovered it can be free too as I have tiny little tomato seeds sprouting I removed from a tomato i was having for lunch ! And also kept some seeds from a squash I’ll plant in a month or so.

Salads sound nice too

OP posts:
Bonuslevel · 08/03/2020 22:05

Yes massively therapeutic, it felt good getting back into the shed today. The kids played in the garden and then ruined the peace helped 😁
Potatoes are a good idea.

NeckPainChairSearch · 08/03/2020 22:12

Some of the organic garlic from Tesco is shooting, so I'm putting that in, although it's probably a bit late now. The non-organic stuff never sprouts - I assume it's got some growth inhibitor sprayed on or something.

You're right, it's is so therapeutic.

FelineUK · 08/03/2020 22:40

Waiting for the garden to dry up first before digging it over in preparation for this year's gardening season. Will grow the same veg I do each year, perhaps more greens tho.

moominmomma1234 · 09/03/2020 03:36

Is there anything I can plant now that will be edible by May/June ? I think that’s when the height of the crisis will affect my ability to go to the store

NeurotrashWarrior · 09/03/2020 04:44

Salad is a great idea. Might get some seeds today actually.

Courgettes worked well once. I think it's worth considering what's the most gain crop wise if you're going to do it. Which is probably salad and easy herbs.

Dh will be glad of my bags of compost for once!

NeurotrashWarrior · 09/03/2020 06:24

Just remembered that young purple sprouting broccoli leaves were lovely once, I ate the thinning out shoots. Wrong time to plant but might get some decent green leaves by May and sooner if eat thinnings if plant now.

bellinisurge · 09/03/2020 06:26

Started off my pea seeds for pea shoots. Quick growing. Cut and come again . Indoors on the window ledge.
Real Seeds Co are great. Lots of success with them.

OffTheShelfElf · 09/03/2020 06:50

Yup, same here. I've just planted out my 'first early' potatoes, and I planted way more than usual.

NeurotrashWarrior · 09/03/2020 08:33

Spinach?

HasaDigaEebowai · 09/03/2020 08:35

I'm starting on seed this weekend. I started pulling up spring onions yesterday and then checked myself and instead replanted them and just chopped off the tops since they will regrow far more quickly than replanting from seed.

Im planting double of everything just in case.

bellinisurge · 09/03/2020 08:39

Spinach is also a good one @NeurotrashWarrior Easy. Can do in a pot on a window ledge. Great to use young leaves for salad or chopped into a pasta sauce.

HasaDigaEebowai · 09/03/2020 08:40

perpetual spinach (not technically spinach) is even better. It just keeps going and going

AvocadosAteMyHamster · 09/03/2020 08:40

I’ve got my perpetual spinach replanted and peas and mangetout - I’m going to do more peas than normal because pea shoots are delicious and will be ready really quickly.

The Real Seed Company seeds are the best I have bought for their germination rates. Almost all of mine came up last year.

I’m trying to plan for things that will be ready quickly and mid-long term planting as well. I’m going to run out of space before too long!

NeurotrashWarrior · 09/03/2020 09:16

Dh has moaned about my old recycling tub hoarding for years; now he will see why!!!!

The benefits of growing up in the middle of nowhere.

NeurotrashWarrior · 09/03/2020 09:17

Didn't know about perpetual spinach, will investigate!

NeurotrashWarrior · 09/03/2020 09:18

OMG why have I never found this wonder food before?!

All year round and hardy!

bellinisurge · 09/03/2020 10:17

I meant perpetual spinach when I said spinach. It is brilliant. And can cope with any shit gardening skills that I have .

NeckPainChairSearch · 09/03/2020 10:18

Is there anything I can plant now that will be edible by May/June ?

Broccoli Raab/cime di rapa is usually ready after about 40 - 50 days. Very fast compared with the regular kind. And lovely with pasta.

marie3877 · 09/03/2020 11:06

I have an allotment and grow lots of veg. Currently I ve got growing, Peas for shoots and peas for pods, lettuce, spring onion, multi sown beetroot, cauliflower, broccoli, kohlrabi, pak choi, komatsuma aubergines/chillis (need to grow undercover in greenhouse not outside), spinach, chard, radish and spring cabbage. Usually these crops are all available to pick May/June. I haven t started my potatoes of yet as its bit early for me, I m in Lancashire and we re likely to get quite a bit of frost yet, but you could start of first early potatoes in tubs at home, just cover with fleece if there is any frost forecast and the leaves are coming through. If you want a quick crop first earlies are best, there is a variety called swift which I was harvesting last year at the end of May, its really fast, there are tastier potatoes but its not bad considering how fast it grows.
in April I ll be sowing, courgettes, Kale, kalattes carrots, parsnips, tomatoes, winter squash, leeks, outdoor cucumbers and sweetcorn. French beans grow really fast so I don't usually sow them until May and plant out in June.
If you want to grow any fruit, raspberries are my favourite, I grow autumn varieties as they are easy, will crop the same year you plant them and crop from August through to November.
Charles Dowding has a brilliant you tube channel all about veg growing, I learnt how to grow by watching his videos and reading his books. Huw Richards has a good book for anyone just beginning to grow veg as well called Veg in one bed. I love gardening, I find it so relaxing. Real seeds are my favourite place to buy seeds too.

marie3877 · 09/03/2020 11:08

Sorry about the typos and bad grammar, I was typing fast and now I cant edit it!!

viccat · 09/03/2020 11:19

I did last year and will probably do again, not particularly related to corona fears though.

I highly recommend growing tomatoes in containers - I had 8 tomato plants last year, all in containers, and got LOTS of toms for weeks! Courgette is really easy and fast growing too, and I also grew mini cucumbers. Lettuce is super useful to have around as you can just pick as much as you need at a time.

Bonuslevel · 09/03/2020 21:32

Yes to the micro salads. Radish is super quick growing so I'm going to pop some of them in this week too.

I'm off to research perpetual spinach...I'm intrigued.