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.

VVV - we grew pink fir apples last year too, so I know what I'm in for. We did get an excellent yield, more than we could manage really, and I didn't find them too awful to prepare. And I like the taste

I grew leeks for the first time this year and am just starting to pull them now. They look far more appetising than the one huge beetroot which is the only other thing left growing in my tiny veg plot.

I tried carrots, parsnips and beetroot a couple of years ago and also got just one huge beetroot! Redclover, lots of salad leaves and some herbs actually don't like too much sun. You could also try raspberries, again like it a bit shady and damp and soooo delicious

VVV (or anyone!) you mention blueberries, what sort of position do they need, does it need to be my prime south facing bed or will a bit of shade be ok? Should really get them out of their pots soon!

can I join in? I now have a veggie patch in garden and a good size lean to greenhouse. Just ordered some seeds online but no doubt will need some help along the way. Have onions and garlic growing at the moment. Should my garlic have green growth above the soil like my onions?

We have a big veg patch We grow onions, leeks, pots, purple sprouting (almost ready) beetroot, carrots, broad beans, runner, borlotti, flagolet and yin yan beans, climbing french, courgettes,pumpkins, butternut squash, winter squash, artichokes, toms, cucs, aubergines, melons, perpetual spinach (still going from last summer)rhubarb, raspberries, strawberries, goosegogs, blackcurrants,plums.

megalegs your patch must be huge! I think I'll have to grow some stuff in pots, whats good in pots by the way?

oh feck I need to get onto this thread

thus far this year I have been growing cress and mangos

I have 2 allotments and no motivation.

am going to hope someone gives me a kick.

I do carrots in a box but grow well in pots too. Salad crops do well in pots and herbs.

wat do ineed to get started never grown anything b4 would like to do veg

im sorry to keep pestering

Quokka, page down, there's some good suggestions for veg in pots from Sunday night, also courgettes as everyone says are very rewarding and grow fine in big pots. I've got a fig tree in a pot against a south wall which produced about a dozen gorgeous fruit in its first year - hoping for more come Sept.

Filly, where do you live to grow mangos? more info please

booby get a big platic pot, I mean big like 15-20 inches across and the same deep, some general potting compost and a packet of seeds. Follow instructions on the back and hey .... you are a gardener!

lol

cardiff

but I have a radiator

my book says it Can Be Done

Blimey! In a greenhouse or conservatory filly?

skibump - blueberries prefer sunny although partial shade okay.

They MUST have acid soil or planted in pots with ericaceous compost. I have neutral soil so have mine in large pots of ericaceous compost.

They are pretty low maintenance. The leaves look gorgeous in autumn - they go all different golds oranges and vibrant reds.

May I suggest keep an eye out on Gardeners World magazines to check out what freebies they have?

I got a free blueberry plant from them, amongst MANY other things last year. (Well you pay P&P but thats all).

no, my radiators are all in my house

um

it hasn't actually grown yet, i just planted it this afternoon.

hmm

am i not going to get a fine mango bush out of this then?

LOL! No idea filly - i was hoping you could tell me!

If it works for you though, let us know and I'll give it a go.

VVV - Gardners World free blueberry - hence I have one Actually 4 since I thought it was a good idea to buy the other varieties as well! Still, sounds as though they look good too, I'll be off to buy some bigger pots for them I think

Booby, as below, try courgettes if you like them. v easy, all you have to do once they get going is keep picking them...

Filly, fingers crossed, keep us posted

Most of my veg are in pots. I get the large plastic variety from wilkos(terracotta might look nice but takes sooooooo much more watering) and just use a multipurpose compost in them.

Last year grew peppers, toms, cucumbers, mini sweetcorn, carrots, courgettes, and dwarf french beans all in pots.

Spuds, caulis, garlic, onions, peas and parsnips in the veg plot.

Got shed loads of new seeds for this year and just itching to get the propergator out again...

Betty, yes, but best in really big ones so they can rest on the surface. Mine got about 1m across and seemed happy enough to dangle a bit over the edge. I've also heard of people growing them in the top of the compost heap!

oh, fab. Add that to my list, then, along with the very-easy-to-grow-and-great-for-kids spring onions and radishes.

I can't wait, now

Think there was adiscussion here about Pumpkins last year.They need polinatining and you may have to do it by hand.

I think pumpkins can also rot off if they don't get enough water - and last year was REALLY hot

How do you do spring onions Betty?

Oooh just had a quick glance down the thread - thx for the link Nikkie, I've subscribed to the newsletter

Am now inspired, will go and plant my garlic. Yep it's still in the packaging it came in and get big pots for the blueberries (yes, they're still in the packaging they came in )...and maybe some strawberries....tomorrow

Booby, have a think about what you like to eat, but tomatoes and courgettes are really easy. You can generally buy small plants at a garden centre or online fairly cheaply. Get 14" plantpots and compost as described. Plant little plants in big pots (and stake for toms) then water regularly and keep somewhere fairly sunny and sheltered. Once your tomatoes start growing come back for advice about pinching out - doesn't hurt, promise