Veggie Club 2010

[Dumbledoresgirl]

Anyone interested in joining?

I have a large garden and want to develop a reasonably large veggie plot. I have a small side lawn which I want to start digging up this year with the aim of turning it all into a veggie plot in the next couple of years.

Up until now I have only grown the occasional veggie, eg last year, I had 5 courgette plants, so I am a relative newcomer to all this. I would love any tips about converting lawn into veggie plot and would really like to know what other people are planning on growing this year (and when you are starting!)

Based on what we like to eat, previous experience of growing veggies and reading through books, I have it in mind to try growing courgettes, runner beans, carrots, beetroot and maybe onions this year. Anyone else want to join me?

Lou

No idea what one is best. Mine is from Wilkos and cost £20! It's got 4 stages (or shelves to normal non-gardening obsessed people).

It's wedged in a sheltered south facing corner so unlikely to blow away as there is a handy brick sticking out of the wall in the right place. I think they are good for a season or two but inevitably get ripped in winter.

If you can, I'd have a pull at the seams to check that they are well stuck and run the zips up and down a few times to check they run smoothly. Plus get one that allows you to roll the plastic front the whole way up - mine covers half the top shelf, which is also the tallest shelf which makes it a bit difficult to get the tall runners out to water/inspect/generally admire. HTH

I just had a cheapy one from Wilkos. Make sure you weight it though as mine managed to get 2 streets away one winter leaving behing the pots on the bottom shelf

BornToFolk - re snails/slugs -I use copper, but lots on here swear by beer traps.

My greenhouse thing is also from Wilkinsons - buy a spare cover when you buy it so if one rips you have another ready to go.

Anyone cold framing yet? I am a bit worried its a bit nippy for hardening off the tender stuff yet.

borntofolk - my hens are pretty good at getting rid of slugs but investing in poultry might be a bit of a drastic option

Re your spuds, mine are doing exactly the same thing - am wondering if it's just what they're meant to do? Perhaps it's a good thing?

Whoop! My spuds are sprouting! Should I cover them straight away or leave for a few days then cover?

My garlic also looks well as do my carrots. I have also ended up with about 15 chilli plant seedlings.

The herbs are all doing great so far. My garden is quite sheltered, so even though it's a bit chilly, the plants don't get the worst of it.

I'd love hens! hmmmm...maybe next year.

I had a look into copper tape and beer traps and it all seems fairly pricey. I seem to have spent a lot already on seeds, compost etc and don't want to spend any more! Can you make your own beer traps? Or are there any other cheap solutions?

Have become less worried about potatoes. I somehow thought that once the shoots reached the top of the bag it was time to harvest but I did some reading and discovered that they have to flower, then die back first. So, that seems to give the potatoes a bit more time to grow.

My rocket is doing brilliantly. Would definitely recommend it to any first timer, it's dead easy.

Hi, can I join?

DH has built me a raised bed this year, which has extended my veggie growing from just the usual pots on the patio!

I am growing potatoes, onions, carrots, peas, runner beans, beetroot, broccoli, lettuce, spinach, aubergines, courgettes, tomatoes and chillies.

I'm a bit worried as everything was doing really well but now it has turned really, really cold!

I have a Gardman mini greenhouse, I've had it for about 4 years. I had to replace the cover this year as the zip had broken, but other than that it is fine. The first year I made the mistake of not weighing it down and it blew over (killing all of my seedlings in the process) so now it is tied to the fence.

Me too please.

Moved into our house 5 years ago, it already had two nice biggish raised beds and an area with soft fruit bushes. We have cleared it every year, and then planted....nothing! But this year is different. We have really gone for it.

So far we have:

Raised bed 1:

French climbing beans
Runner beans
Red onions
Garlic
Spinach
Spring onions
Leeks
Rhubarb

Waiting to be planted out but sown in greenhouse is:

Pumpkin and butternut squash and melon

Raised bed 2:

Several types of lettuce
More spinach
More spring onions
Beetroot
A space waiting for the following brassicas:

broccoli and sprouts, currently hardening off in cold frame
swede
kale - also hardening off

In big growing sacks - potatoes, second earlies and maincrop - just coming up for their first earthing up

In grow bags against the fence around the edge of the plot:

4 different types of tomato
Aubergines
Outdoor cucumbers
red and yellow peppers

Also have two types of raspberry, a tayberry, three types of gooseberry, a blackcurrant and a redcurrant

Lots of strawberries in pots
Plus a raised veg trug (fab) for herbs and very delicate salad stuff,

It has coriander, parsley, chives, chervil, dill, cut and come again mixed leaves, thyme and oregano.

I'm feeling SOOOOO smug. Just watch me fail!

Also, must just say - very excited about the imminent delivery of my compost-turning- machine-thingy tomorrow!

just thought I'd pass on a tip we were given re slugs and snails - ground coffee - you sprinkle it around - we've just put it around the boundaries of the whole plot - if you want to put it around particular plants test with one first as some don't like it - apparently the smell deters snails and slugs - we'll see if it works but in the meantime the veggie patch smells nice!!!!

We did a ground coffee experiement last year. Made a circle on the wall and collected snails and put them in. It took them 5 mins to escape. One braved it and went across on its own/ The rest worked together and used a dead one as a bridge.

do not trust snails

Sinister snails....

Though I am worrying about these wee jumpy fly thing living in the soil of my tomato plant. Are they a pest or are they harmless?

I would not trust a snail. I didn't realise they has such good team working skills though...

I'm going to try the coffee thing, thanks!

hope you don't mind me joining, i'm late as usual!

I grow a few veggies, have a couple of little fruit bushes (gooseberry and redcurrant) that were real cheapies, only been in a couple of years, had tiny harvests last year but looking good for this year (if the birds keep off!).
I also have a raised bed and a greenhouse. I grow tomatoes and chillies in the greenhouse ( I'm in North yorks and find that tomatoes outside just don't ripen in time) and for the same ripening-reason I stick to cherry toms- have some tumbling ones growing well at the moment.

I have random potatoes sprouting in the raised bed that must have grown from the odd potato I missed from last years harvest and the same with what looks like garlic.

Mange tout in a pot growing up a wigwam- this was very successful last year, and even dd (who's 7 and a good helper) eats it when she can pick it herself!

french beans and peas up wigwams in the raised bed.

A pot of lettuce/ spinach/rocket/ spring onions all of which are sprouting nicely- it's in the greenhouse at the mo to get it going, I'll move it by the kitchen door when (if?!) the weather warms up.

I have some 'dig in' beetroot sprouting in the greenhouse (I start most things off on the windowsill or in the greenhouse, again because it's chilly up north and I find things are a bit late if I don't)

I've also tried a few courgettes from the dig in seeds, but they arrived a little late so I'm not sure they'll work.

I'll plant more radishes/ spring onions and lettuce/salad throughout the summer.

Mrs Chemist, I often get little flies in the soil of tomatoes, I've tried spraying with soapy water but it doesn't seem to help much, but they don't seem to cause problems with the tomatoes.

Btw, I've seen a few people mention freezing chillies- I often have a glut but have never frozen them, how does that work?

There was a little plant sale at the farmers market yesterday so bought another tomato plant (now have ten!), a courgette, some french marigolds to keep the pests away from my 'matoes plus some lovely aquilegia for the big containers round the edge of the roof.

Given that I only have a roof terrce 15 foot square, it's starting to look a bit busy up there!

Have also sown some successial lettuce as well; did some two weeks ago that is starting to get their first true leaves, so am gambling on some watercress now. No idea if it'll work but it should get plenty of water!

My tomatoes are all up - have had 100% success with the seeds and they are just getting their first true leaves. They are a bit late this year but hoping that we will eventually get a warm spell and then they can catch up.

With chillies, I just put them in a tupperware container whole and put them in the freezer. Then when you need one, take it out and let it sit for 5 mins before chopping - doesn't take much to soften them up. Use as normal. They lose their crunch so better for cooking than putting in raw things, but then how often do you actually want to crunch on a raw chilli!

I string chillies up & dry them. Or last year we made tons of roast veg pasta sauce.

freebutton I get carried away with tomatos too

The good thing about a roof terrace is no slugs and snails! I lifted all the decking and got rid of all the nasties and whitewashed the whole thing so it's sparkly clean this year.

Hey all, does anyone have a any tips for a complete novice on growing fruit and veg? I'm finding out today if I get an allotment and I'd love to grow potatoes, onions, beans, salads, some herbs, tomatoes that sort of thing; and involve the children. I've got a couple of books from the library but can anyone offer some help please?

Yay, my tomatoes from seeds are starting to get proper true leaves. I am deeply over-excited (to the point where I am photographing them every few days ).

JodieO: First year, I'd concentrate on buying plug plants rather than trying to grow from seeds. Bit late for that now I'd say. If you don't mind spending a bit of money, a little herb garden from mature-ish plant is a good start. Lettuce is v v quick (6 weeks from seed). Sow some every week so you get a continuous supply. Get some runner beans; they grow like mad. I love tomatoes but wonder whether you'd be able to give them enough attention on an allotment - but that might be me being PFB about them!

Also speak to the old codgers (massive stereotype!) around you. They might have over-supply of certain seedlings and be able to give you advice on how to get started. Also investigate autumn stuff too; it'll be no time before the summer is over. Never done spuds but they are supposed to be dead easy.

I think the key thing is not to do too much; plant a few of a variety of things rather than loads and loads of one thing so you can see what grows well and what needs too much attnetion or doesn't like the soil or whatever.

Good luck; I am very jealous

JodieO, no advice but we got an allotment yesterday. (actually its called a gardening plot where we live).

Mine needs a bit of turning over first so going to get tools tomorrow then my fil is going over it with a rotivator.

I got a book which states month by month what to grow.

I can't believe how excited I am about this.

Greenhouse one is now full with tomatos chillies and peppers

I now have 3 melon plants, 6 squash plants some pumpkins, fennel, celery, leeks,cabbage tons more tomatos, courgettes, beans all to go somewhere. I have 2 full beds and pots full of peas. Going to have to tackle the big bed which needs tidying and sectioning (and dh planted his shallots where I walk through to the raspberries) and I need to move the tree onions before they get too settled as they are where the lawn is going.

Now if only I could do more than watering without feeling ill

Poshtottie, congratulations ! JodieO have you heard if you have one yet? We have been lucky enough to get a half plot and also a 7x 5m temporary one for the summer.

Obviously I'm very new to this but have found it easiest to do a little at a time. Wilkinson's sell cheapih weed suppressing membrane which is currently covering thf bit that hasn't been dug yet where there is still a lot of couch grass. I'm not digging it this year but am going to grow pumpkins through the membrane.

I would be a little bit cautious with the rotivator unless you have established there's no couch grass or you end up with tons of the wretched stuff. Our little plot was rotivated before we got it and there is a lot more growing compared to other one which wasn't.

Have only just put my spuds in which Bert, my plot neighbour aka king of the allotment reassures me is fine and nothing deals with couch like taters apparently. Sadly yesterday whilst wondering round both plots there was a lot of decimated spuds, beans, sweetcorn, tomatoes and courgettes where the frost had done them over.

I am too hooked by this grow your own. Last year I managed to get so many tomatoes we made our own ketchup!! I have been avidly watching the edible garden and have picked up many tips lick putting some grass cuttings around your poatoes. This year I ahve two raised beds and a greehouse but think I've got carried away with planting seeds. We have beens, peas, beetroot, cale, chard, peppers, tomatoes, courgettes, radishes salad leaves and tomatoes all happily growning in the greenhouse and I have also plants potatoes, garlic, onions, carrotts, strawberries and raspberries as well as a rubard root but that won't give me any food until next year

Hello! Can i join too please! Have to do this mostly on phone so sorry for rubbish spacing etc This year so far we have toms aubergine chillis herbs in greenhouse and and on windowsills. Outside spuds, leaves etc. Have beans and courgettes to go out from greenhouse when frost free, prob august at this rate. Also seed for peas, beetroot etc that i'll sow direct as soon as have space/chance. Leeks and kale seedlings waiting their turn too.
Nymph love your snail experiment! They are so dirty. See them eating dog poo and their comrades dead bodies. Don't trust them!
Betty, i'm in yorks too,right on the west north border. Still mighty parky!

My DC love snails. They pick them up, place them where they can get a good look at them, wait for them to come out of their shells, poke sticks at them so they froth ( they have a competition to see who can get the frothiest one ) and then, when bored, stamp on them.

This summer I plan to keep them up and send them out on twilight expeditions round the garden with head torches.