Fruit & Veg growers Club 2007

[nikkie]

What is everyone planning to grow this year?
I have the bluberry bushes, strawberries,apple and pear from last year and hopefully i will get some proper fruit this year.Will be growing peas/tomatos/lettuce for definate as they all did really well. Cape gooseberry plants did well but fruit needed a couple more weeks of sun and never quite made it ,possibly start earlier this time.

Bought some Unwin seed potatoes in Poundland yesterday - So remind me - how do I chit? - I said CHIT!

sorry beme, that's new to me but am pretty sure that VVV should be able to help!

I also have a query...again.....Should I be pruning my fruit trees. I only planted my William Pear last year and it didn't do too well at all (looked like it had been burnt on the leaves) and inherited the cherry tree (which the birds loved) and apple tree (which did nothing)I only moved in in April. They all look like very young trees. Should I????

Also happy to report my ds (2.9) loves stone picking!!!! Looks like I am going to have some very stone free veggie plots this year. What I love even more is that when rellies/friends come round to visit he drags them up the garden to "teach" them how to do it. Even better

Justbeme - you put them on a tray, or if you have, some old egg boxes, and leave them in a cool light place for a couple of weeks. This is to encourage shoots and roots to start growing before planting.

However, there is some research that says mid and maincrop potatoes dont really need chitting. I wouldnt worry too much about it. Do it, dont do it. Chances are, the pack you have bought is probably full of potatoes with shoots on, yes?

Pruning of fruit trees - no need on young trees unless you are growing them as cordons or fans or something. Or if a branch is growing in the wrong direction. Pruning of trees always follows the standard advice of pruning any shrub or tree. Just above a bud, not too close, not to far.

SO, basically, just leave them be and let them get on with things this year.

I've only just found this thread as am 3 months pregnant and been a bit absorbed with the due July thread

Anyway. Do you mind if I eavesdrop? Have 5 large raised beds. Loads of garlic and broadbeans coming up. Have an asparagus bed planted last year and artichokes on order for this year.

All welcome

Although, from experience, dont be surprised if you lose interest in about 6 months time, and dont get much done for at least 6 months after

Well dd was one last week and got the asparagus planted in between feeding her!

Courgettes broadbeans runnerbeans potatoes chillies garlic aubergines didn't do too badly either.

Tomatoes don't like me though!

Am getting a fig bush, hopefully get a few more apples on my tree this year and think about some more permanent (read less time consuming) plants.

Got my new plastic greenhouse thing up tonight so will start as soon as the frost stops !

Does anyone know what seeds we should be planting in February? I have a funny feeling that aubergines should be seeded inside now???????? Anything else?

ds has planted his carrots in his little raised be (it was ALL he wanted to plant, he loves carrots...)

actually he enjoyed the ecperience so much he has replanted them several times. The bed is rather well dug now

He was very worried about the snow, he thought they might get cold and had a plan to go and put a nice blanket over them

Im going to check through my seeds later on and check, but, I know that some carrots can be planted, and spring onions, and spinach. They might need a bit of fleece over them to protect them from this particularly harsh weather though.

my carrots have now got a lovely fleece blanket over them, courtsy of ds

Peas,beans, onions spring to mind .
apparantly as I am up north we are supposed to be a couple of weeks behind the southerners due to it being colder.So why have they got the snow then?

The couple of weeks behind tends to be because the risk of frost lasts longer the further north you go, rather than the general ambient temp because frosts can cause damage. Temps just slow growth a little. I think lol!

Well my greenhouse is now gone and I have begun to dig over my new veggie patch. I dug up some of the grass but had to wait for tomoorw as need DH to help me move an enormous conifer before I can finihs the whole length.

But I want to plant now

Only had 2 icy days so far this winter too!

LOL - I want to as well.

I'm hoping that tomorrow will be dry so I can get out there and put up a mini polytunnel.

Ah, not a problem I have ever encountered. Wild rabbits tend not to wander far within the M25

I was going to Chit my potatoes indoors and I think in the next week plant and leave in my spare room some Aubergine /Peas /Tomatoes and Leeks. Thats according to the seed packets - Do you reckon thats ok?

Yep - sounds good to me

Yeah I am going to start on my peas and tomatos and peppers , they'll have to go in my bedroom window sill for a couple of weeks until its warm enough for plastic greenhouse!

Bought my seeds today - tomatoes, peppers, spinach, lettuce, courgettes, carrots and peas, and also some garlic, red onions and shallotts. Also some marigolds for that "companion" planting thing. Can't wait for the weekend.......Also am have arranged the skip and am clearing the "glory hole" and taking down the 2nd shed at the beginning of April so will have space for Greenhouse and an extra patch. ......................and commence the ongoing battle with those b*stard slugs.....grrrrrrrr.

please dont call it a "glory hole" !!!!!

That's what my father calls it, pile of rubble then?

LOL - that'll do