The Vegetable Patch

[MereDintofPandiculation]

Now bookbook has sadly left us, and stirred into action by @DobbleDobble, I think it’s time to start a general thread for those of us who try to grow edible produce, fruit, veg, herbs, to share successes, failures, questions and answers

[quote PoseyFlump]@CrabbyCat ah I see! And carrot seeds are really hard to collect yourself. I saw on real seeds how you have to leave them till the next year and they grow like 6 foot tall or something! I knew parsnips expire quickly but didn't realise carrots too. I like experiments so maybe I'll give it a go too. [/quote]
It’s basically everything in the parsnip family, so carrots, parsnips, parsley, presumably dill, coriander.

That makes sense. I always struggle with parsley so this year I soaked the seeds in warm water (read it somewhere, something about removing the coating) for 24 hours and they all germinated lovely.

I've collected coriander seeds very easily from bolted plants. The seed forms quite quickly after flowering and because it's so large it's easy to gather. I got half a jam jar full from a small clump and resowed the following year with good germination

@PoseyFlump I struggle to germinate even fresh carrot seeds outside (clay soil?) so I always do mine in trays and then plant out later. I did a bit of looking into temperatures, and apparently carrot seeds ideal temperature for germination is 27C (www.allotment-garden.org/gardening-information/best-temperatures-for-seed-germination/). I had mine in trays in the kitchen where we had underfloor heating. I got more than enough 3 year old seed to germinate doing that, even if it did take longer. I wonder if the same is true for parsnips?

Has anyone done potatoes in 'no-dig' method? Would you still dig a 12" trench and pop the seed potatoes in and over and keep earthing them up as usual- or would you dig each of them their very personal little hole and then continue as above?

@valerianaofficiana I’m giving them a go in one no dig, I’ve dug it into its own hole

@CrabbyCat I think you're right about parsnips! I tried transplanting carrots last year but I think I left it too late and all the points folded over and went very hairy. Looked really funny! So I'm trying toilet roll carrots this year. Working well but a bit boring after you've done 30 or 40!

@valerianaofficiana good question! I'm going to try some in a no dig bed too. Think I'll follow @DobbleDobble and give them each a hole like I would in a small potato bag. I've also got some true potato seed growing as an experiment so I'm trying to figure out what to do with those later (they're one inch tall seedlings at the moment)

I’ve started sweet potatoes too in a glass but seeing no roots even after 2 weeks may give up on that if no joy by end of month.

Oh and I rebelled this year and didn’t chit my 2nd earlies before putting in.Tbf I had decided against doing them initially so when I bought a bag they were slightly chitted anyhow.

@valerianaofficiana

Has anyone done potatoes in 'no-dig' method? Would you still dig a 12" trench and pop the seed potatoes in and over and keep earthing them up as usual- or would you dig each of them their very personal little hole and then continue as above?

I have read about lying them on the surface and covering them with compost. Actually, memory’s fading, I may actually have done that

Lying the spuds on the surface and covering makes sense, especially if your raised beds aren't very deep. And there'll be a nice little mound so you know where they are! How far apart do people space potatoes in a raised bed? I've only used bags before.

@DobbleDobble my sweet potatoes have only just got small roots showing, no slips yet. I read that sometimes they spray them with an inhibitor so I wonder if that could be the problem. I may give up too for this year. One of them looks like it might have the tiniest of something appearing but it's probably my wishful thinking.

Just found an excellent video on YouTube about potatoes in raised beds. Very good explanation. It's called 'Things we do to ensure huge potato yields' by MIgardener channel.

Horseradish arrived and so in with the rhubarb. Waitrose had reduced Jerusalem artichokes this week, so they are also in. Parsnips have germinated. First time ever. I think everything else is behind or leggy

@valerianaofficiana I grow my potatoes like this every year. I just put them in to their own holes 4/5" deep.

@PoseyFlump I use the square foot method so do 4 per square foot. You could do less and get larger potatoes. I'm quite content with smaller ones.

Hello, hello! I dipped in and out of these threads last year when we first ventured into veg growing. It was all very hit and miss as we didn’t get our beds built until early May so planting was very hurried and we kind of went with a “throw everything at the wall and see what sticks” approach! We were also restricted by what was still available in the garden centre so ended up with some varieties that we didn’t really want/didn’t work.

We were also learning on the job and found that we planted some stuff far too close together - courgette plant next to strawberries = smothered strawberry plants and no fruit . However the courgettes were a roaring success so we’ll be doing those again this year.

Yesterday I spent the morning weeding the beds and mixed in a box of chicken manure pellets. Would it be overkill to get some bags of farm manure and add that in now too? We’re not growing from seed so we’re a couple of weeks off planting anything yet so that would give plenty of time for the manure to break down and mix in the soil.

Out of interest, can anyone recommend an online company to get seedlings from? Our local garden centres are pretty good, but not always the best range of options.

I manured all my beds yesterday, I don’t plan on planting for quite a few weeks, my seedlings in the greenhouse are growing very slowly due to the colder weather. The only thing doing well are my peas which I will plant out in 2 weeks time. My pak Choi has germinated but not much else, no sign of tomatoes or lettuce. I think I may have to redo lettuce or buy plugs.

cavemum - ideally you should manure in the autumn, especially if it hasnt rotted down. I would keep the manure and then put it around the plants as a mulch when they are slightly bigger trying to stop it touching them. that way it will supply nutrients but wont rot the plants and the seedlings wont grow leggy in the super rich manure.

Thanks for the tip dreamingofsun, I should add it’s not fresh manure it’s well rotted bags from the garden centre. Haven’t bought any yet so will have a ponder as we’re still a few weeks off planting.

Did a run to the garden centre for a recce and ended up coming away with a small bag of first earlies seed potatoes to have a crack at our first potatoes this year!

Still no fruit or veg plants in Aldi, but I did get two honeysuckles & two jasmines for £1.49 each. They also had clematis & rhododendron's.

Productive day today, got most of the raised beds weeded. Still need to do underneath the fruit bushes. I found a random little fruit plant of some description growing in the woodchip between the raised beds - I'm thinking gooseberry?

What a lovely plot, Tiz ! And yep, that looks like a gooseberry - behold the thorns of horror! Cuttings take so easily just from a bit shoved in any soil or woodchip. And they also layer, if a bit is touching the floor.

Nice haul , Squirrel! I really like Aldi plants. Loads of my soft fruit is from there. They have veg in next week iirc.

Definitely a gooseberry @tizwozliz - I have 4 all coming into leaf now with a few flower buds too. Thorns are vicious though!
Oh really? Will check them out next week.

Thanks @notsogreenthumb, I've done square foot at home so I'm just trying to figure out whether to continue at the allotment or give them more space.

Hi @CaveMum I remember you from last year

Afternoon all,

I hope everyone is enjoying the sunny weekend! I know my seedlings certainly are. Here's hoping they make up for lost time now with the cold snap we've had.

I have a bit of a strange issue. I planted potatoes next to my garlic, a couple feet away, but somehow the potatoes are sprouting up in the garlic area. Anyone know why that's happened or what I can do? I don't want them towering over the garlic and shading it

Have you had potatoes there before? Any chance it could be an accidental one left in the ground? Or do you have any animal activity that might have dislodged them after planting?

A badger perhaps, investigating your potatoes and relocating them in the process?