Page 34 | The Vegetable Patch Mark 2

MereDintofPandiculation · 2022-09-01T08:13:24+00:00

A continuation of the thread for those of us growing edibles, to share triumphs and failures, swap expertise and solve problems

Lovemusic33 · 27/08/2023 16:31

Possibly poor pollination or the wet weather we had in July? The plants are huge and still producing more flowers but not sure how many will be successful.

LemonFrosting · 27/08/2023 16:52

Hello!

Is it too late to grow pumpkins?! I'm presuming so.

catwithflowers · 27/08/2023 17:46

@tizwozliz would you share your courgette fritter recipe please? 😃

tizwozliz · 27/08/2023 19:37

I don't really follow a specific recipe

Normally just mix grated courgette, with some gram flour, a bit of salt and pepper and some grated parmesan.

Brieandbeetroot · 27/08/2023 19:45

@LemonFrosting if you are in the UK then yes, I'm afraid so, I usually so mine-mid May/end-June.

First maincrops (Picasso) are out. Only from two plants and some real whoppers, I'm so pleased after what has been a fairly unpredictable year results wise, lots of growth with minimal produce.

Brieandbeetroot · 27/08/2023 19:56

That of course should say sow!

Original poster

MereDintofPandiculation · 27/08/2023 20:34

LemonFrosting · 27/08/2023 16:52

Hello!

Is it too late to grow pumpkins?! I'm presuming so.

Yes, we’re coming to the end of the season

OP posts:

LemonFrosting · 27/08/2023 20:39

I thought so!! New to growing food this year and hadn't thought of pumpkins! I'll put it on my calendar for next year though, thank you :)

catwithflowers · 28/08/2023 08:30

@tizwozliz 😊. Thanks!

tizwozliz · 26/09/2023 18:37

Courgettes slowing down now but still coming. My purple potatoes were disappointing as so much slug damage. Thought my corn was going to be a write off as I'd been peeking at the ends, but turns out it was just the ends that weren't fertilised. Still lots of apples on the trees.

Picked up some unwind seeds at a bargain price in Tesco (15-20p a packet) so all set for next year.

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 26/09/2023 18:50

Good colour on the purple spuds. What variety are they?

tizwozliz · 27/09/2023 08:03

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 26/09/2023 18:50

Good colour on the purple spuds. What variety are they?

Salad Blue

Original poster

MereDintofPandiculation · 27/09/2023 08:46

I gave up on purple spuds as I couldn’t see them against my dark soil

OP posts:

EverydayMusing · 30/09/2023 08:43

Great posts! Green tomatoes: should I pick now or shall I wait until the heatwave that’s about to hit London next week?

Original poster

MereDintofPandiculation · 30/09/2023 09:31

EverydayMusing · 30/09/2023 08:43

Great posts! Green tomatoes: should I pick now or shall I wait until the heatwave that’s about to hit London next week?

If the plants are still healthy, you might as well wait. Tomatoes always taste better ripened on the plant

OP posts:

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 30/09/2023 16:12

Don't pick them unless there's frost forecast (very heavy frost, if under glass).

On a similar note - what, if anything, can be done with unripe black grapes? They've fattened up nicely but are showing no signs of changing colour (unsurprising - they're oitdoors and we're a good way north). I'll leave them on the vine as long as possible, but I think ripening is overly optimistic.

TheGander · 30/09/2023 18:03

I have a question about sweetcorn ( for next year). Do you remove the side shoots which sprout near the bottom and go on to bear cobs? I left them on this year, it the cobs were mostly disappointing, small and or unfertilised.

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 30/09/2023 18:29

I never have, and haven't had a problem.

Was it dry while they were developing? Did you plant in a block?

LemonFrosting · 30/09/2023 20:15

What do I do with my strawberry plants over the winter?!
I only had a few strawberries off my one plant (second plant died), then it sent out some runners so I've pegged them down and now have another 3 strawberry plants! None of them have produced any fruit though.

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 30/09/2023 21:53

The runners won't fruit until next year, and will come into full production the following year. Making runners does reduce the energy available for fruit production, so it's generally best to cut them off as soon as you spot them apart from a small number to keep your rotation going (it's best to replace plants approx every 4 years, but do a few at a time rather than replacing all at once).

Are they in pots or in the ground? If in the ground, do nothing. If in pots, just make sure they don't get waterlogged over winter. In spring, pull off the dead leaves once the new growth starts.

TheGander · 01/10/2023 08:30

Hello, yes I planted in a square block. I made a point of watering regularly. The side corns didn’t come to much and I wonder if it’s just a waste of the plant’s resources.

Original poster

MereDintofPandiculation · 01/10/2023 09:14

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 30/09/2023 16:12

Don't pick them unless there's frost forecast (very heavy frost, if under glass).

On a similar note - what, if anything, can be done with unripe black grapes? They've fattened up nicely but are showing no signs of changing colour (unsurprising - they're oitdoors and we're a good way north). I'll leave them on the vine as long as possible, but I think ripening is overly optimistic.

How tongue-curlingly acid are they at the moment? I use spare grapes in a cake - ordinary Vctoria sponge, half the mixture in the tin, thick layer of grapes, other half of cake mixture on top. But I think mine are close to ripe, just very small

OP posts:

LemonFrosting · 01/10/2023 11:44

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 30/09/2023 21:53

The runners won't fruit until next year, and will come into full production the following year. Making runners does reduce the energy available for fruit production, so it's generally best to cut them off as soon as you spot them apart from a small number to keep your rotation going (it's best to replace plants approx every 4 years, but do a few at a time rather than replacing all at once).

Are they in pots or in the ground? If in the ground, do nothing. If in pots, just make sure they don't get waterlogged over winter. In spring, pull off the dead leaves once the new growth starts.

Edited

Thank you so much for your reply! They're in pots. I haven't any space for a greenhouse so goodness knows what I'm going to do! I got talking to a lady on the bus and she said about covering them with straw?

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 01/10/2023 14:33

Unless you're in Shetland or somewhere just leave them. You really don't need a greenhouse for strawberries! Tuck the pots against a wall for a bit of shelter if you are in a very cold/wet region.

tizwozliz · 31/10/2023 21:07

Picked my one and only pumpkin today along with a few other bits.