vegetable virgin...

[giraffeski]

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What's the common name for that?

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My dad calls it Montbretia, KatieMac - don't know if that helps.

I have to say I have it in the border and don't find it invasive.

Yes - that's it

I have it too and in a bed with lily's it's doing fine - doesn't pread too much in my garden either

My sweet potatoes go in tomorrow - but I don't know if they need a wigwam....

I'm quite . I'd love to hear how you get on. Sweet potatoes are so yummy and so good for you. I just don't think I could plant another type of veg this year!

I'm really confused as to how they grow - they are a convolvulos type plant (hence the wigwam) - bt the sweet Potatoe is obviously underground

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They wer quite expensive £20 for 10 plants (& 2 died) - but DH & DD love them (so do mindees)

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I don't hink they are annuals - sold as similar to rhubarb and asparagus

or think or spell either

You can be our trailblazer, KatieMac, and next year we'll be asking for 'slips' (as I believe sweet potato cuttings are called) and tips.

But google won't say if they are annuals or perenials

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Aparently the ones in the supermarket are sprayed with a growth inhibitor

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From The Garden, RHS mag, March 2003:

Plants produce long trailing or climbing stems up to 10ft with heart shaped leaves and tuberous roots.

Grow these tender perennials as annuals in the UK. Plant under glass frames, through polythene in beds to raise soil temperature, or grow in pots in an unheated glasshouse.

Were you planning one of those options, eg having black polythene on your beds to raise temperature? It sounds like a wigwam is a good idea to let them grow up rather than sprawling.

Heres a tip for all the excess garlic and herbs that grow and go off before you can get round to using...(in particular coriander).... pick it, chop it/crush it whatever, add a little water and freeze in ice cube trays for adding to cooking when its out of season. Just thought i'd drop that one in!

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You can do it with spinach, yes, but you need to accept that what comes out of the freezer doesn't look great on salads! You need to add some water and blend it - a great source of vitamins, just not pretty vitamins!!

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Something is eating the lower leaves on my runner beans! Slugs, do you think?

I was out in my garden at 11.30pm last night; a frost was forecast so I was busy covering things up with fleece in the dark! Nice day today apart from the two rabbits 'planted' in my veggie beds.