Anyone Interested in Exchanging Tips for Varieties of Veg?

[RuralLass]

Okay, I admit it..... I'm a bit obsessive about growing my own. So much so, that I have a bash at most veg types & test loads of varieties of each crop. Even set up a database to capture all thoughts, recommendations etc. OCD or Wot!! But fact remains that there are simply masses of varieties for most veg & new ones coming out all the time. So I thought it might be a good idea to talk to folks, pick up tips & share my own favs...... If anyone's interested, dive on in.

rurallass thanks for the wise advice! I am still hopeful for my pumpkins, just wanted one for Halloween! Taking up a lot of room for no result. I'll just buy one next year

As for the onions - visited a friend's lottie and saw some mahoosive ones - am just wondering if onions and I are not destined to be the best of friends. Will try again next year!

In all honesty, I must admit I ain't good with onions from seed - tried for several seasons & had very disappointing results, though some folks seem to find it a piece of cake! My revelation was to go down the sets &/or plantlets route & not a day's problem since. This year, am literally falling over 'em. Just making a lamb hotpot with freshly pulled Centurion onions, some of my Marco garlic, several home-grown bell peppers (hydroponics & sweet peppers were sooooo made for each other), courgettes & something I saw on Celeb Masterchef, snappily called (phonetically) 'Nudies'!! Actually, gnudi - ricotta / parmesan dumplings not unlike gnocchi. Yum....

RuralLass - just getting my coat. I'll be round for my tea in 20 mins or so

I am trying to grow a giant pumpkin. It is already pretty big. I need to get it onto a pallet before I can no longer lift it!

I have no idea what I'm going to do with it, I just fancied the challenge.

SuzieHomemaker - well done you!! Have never successful managed a biggie..... Lots of pumpkin pie, I should think! DO leave on vine to ripen fully, though, so you get the full sweetness.

Did anyone hear GQT last week, with Bob Flowerdew talking about his card indexes for each of his veg beds going back 26 years? Now that's serious record keeping. He also had some carrot variety recommendations.

Can anyone help with Sweetcorn??? Have grown several varieties this year (ones that CAN be grown alongside each other, not like Supersweets) and they have all been very nice indeed (way better than shop bought) but disappointingly only one cob per plant, so a bit consumptive of precious veggie space. What I'd love is a really sweet variety with reliable 'kernelling' i.e. full cob of seeds, not a lot of failed patches - and at least 2-3 well sized cobs per plant. ANY RECOMMENDATIONS???