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Post by bogmyrtle on Dec 30, 2008 18:21:34 GMT 1
One of my Christmas presents from hubby was a RHS Vegetable Planner - do you think he's trying to tell me something?
I only usually grow tomatoes, either in pots or growbags, and some runner beans - both with varying degrees of success, or not more likely.
I thought I would start by deciding what we really want to grow i.e. vegetables we eat, and try and make a couple of raised beds from pallets (which I will get from work when I go back). I don't think, having tried it, I'm the type of person who is better dotting the veg inbetween the plants.
I would welcome any ideas and advice and fingers crossed, I hope to be successful!
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Post by debbiem on Dec 30, 2008 18:35:34 GMT 1
I know you can grow a lot of veg in pots, like courgettes, peppers and aubergines, and potatoes in sacks. I didn't do that well but I think I planted the seeds too late in the year for the courgettes. Salad leaves grow well in pots too. I did try growing pumpkins in pots too - the poor things desperately wanted to grow, flowering and flowering, as did the courgettes, but with the pumpkins they just needed too much room for any kind of pot and it didn't work. I didn't end up with very much but I know that it can be done, easily and successfully....  |
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Post by alicat on Dec 31, 2008 2:50:35 GMT 1
 Hi BM, How big are you thinking of making your raised beds, and how many will you have room for ? 4 raised beds would be ideal so that you can rotate your crops efficiently. Thus avoiding pests and deseases multiplying. But to start you off look for dwarf veg that don't take up too much room. Need to go to bed now but will think some more for you. It's great fun growing your own veg - there is nothing better than going down the garden to pick food for your plate. 
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Post by bogmyrtle on Dec 31, 2008 14:06:35 GMT 1
Hi BM, How big are you thinking of making your raised beds, and how many will you have room for ? 4 raised beds would be ideal so that you can rotate your crops efficiently. Thus avoiding pests and deseases multiplying. But to start you off look for dwarf veg that don't take up too much room. Need to go to bed now but will think some more for you. It's great fun growing your own veg - there is nothing better than going down the garden to pick food for your plate. Haven't decided on the size yet but was going to start with 2. I used to grow dwarf veg years ago and have grown some things each year but want to grow more now. We have about 6 large pots I could also utilise - although a couple at least will be used for toms! |
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Post by emseypop on Jan 1, 2009 15:33:20 GMT 1
Home grown parsnips are very nice, they take a while to germinate, but you could grow, salad and radish in the meantime. I've never had much luck with carrots, but I'm trying again, in window boxes put on an old workbench, I would bother putting them in the ground again. Onions are a good crop to grow, they are versatile and they store well. You cant beat a home grown spud either I've filled your beds 4 times over, I'm no help am I  |
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Post by alicat on Jan 2, 2009 2:08:17 GMT 1
Hi BM, How big are you thinking of making your raised beds, and how many will you have room for ? 4 raised beds would be ideal so that you can rotate your crops efficiently. Thus avoiding pests and deseases multiplying. But to start you off look for dwarf veg that don't take up too much room. Need to go to bed now but will think some more for you. It's great fun growing your own veg - there is nothing better than going down the garden to pick food for your plate. Haven't decided on the size yet but was going to start with 2. I used to grow dwarf veg years ago and have grown some things each year but want to grow more now. We have about 6 large pots I could also utilise - although a couple at least will be used for toms! I know what you mean, until we had raised beds we just did a little bit of veg each year, these message boards have a lot to answer for.!!, ;D We started out with 2 raised beds, roughly 4ft by 8ft but I soon realised no matter what there size was, it wasn't enough. It's fine for the first year but the next year it's a real fiddle for crop rotation even using the method of , Above ground one year below ground the next. Its not just pests and diseases but also some plants take out nutrients from the soil and some put it back in. A book I got for Christmas was Carol Klein's – Grow your own veg ( I know she's not everyones cup a tea) but the book is really easy to read and has lots of information in it. Starting from planning where to put you veg bed, different soils, what to grow when, to a very informative index of nearly all the veg you can think of. Here's a link to the online site. www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/index.aspJust one other thing I will say that Ems mentioned is although Potatoes are very easy to grow, they are not so easy in a raised bed due to the fact you have to earth them up, they are much better grown in potato bags or old compost bags on a small scale. sorry another thing is, go for it you don't know till you try and it's so much fun ;D A.x |
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Post by bogmyrtle on Jan 2, 2009 14:40:11 GMT 1
I've got Carol Klein's book and the one by Alan Titchmarsh - no excuses for me then!
I think I am going to sit down over the weekend, decide what we want to grow (no point in growing something we don't eat - actually we eat most vegetables!), and have a good look round the garden to decide where to grow them.
Thanks Ali and emsey - you are both great helps (even if I need to take over the whole garden for veg!)
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Post by maggyd on Jan 17, 2009 20:53:31 GMT 1
I ought a packet of mixed lettuce leaves, what is the best compost Im just going to put them in a large pot on the patio ! its a bit early to find grow bags isnt it? I thought I would put the pot in the cold greenhouse is it too soon do you think?
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Post by bogmyrtle on Feb 25, 2009 10:46:32 GMT 1
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Post by maggyd on Feb 25, 2009 16:13:46 GMT 1
They are really handy B.M. very neat and you will et a lot of seed tays in there as well I wonder if Biggs has seen this! |
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Post by bogmyrtle on Feb 27, 2009 12:19:39 GMT 1
They are really handy B.M. very neat and you will et a lot of seed tays in there as well I wonder if Biggs has seen this! It has just arrived! It says on the box that with the fleece cover (which is included) it will go down to a tempertaure of -8 - we'll see. Doesn't say anything about gale force winds - they'll probably be forecast for next week now. Just have to fill it up (well, when I have put it up) |
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Post by maggyd on Feb 27, 2009 16:04:53 GMT 1
You,ll have to weigh it down with bricks B.M. untill you get something in it or lay it down  Im starting to get a wee bit panicky!! Ive got two 5" pots with lots of little leek seedlings through!!!!!!!!!  WHERE they are going I dont know!! |
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Post by bogmyrtle on Feb 27, 2009 16:07:33 GMT 1
You,ll have to weigh it down with bricks B.M. untill you get something in it or lay it down Im starting to get a wee bit panicky!! Ive got two 5" pots with lots of little leek seedlings through!!!!!!!!! WHERE they are going I dont know!! You've just reminded me - I am popping out to the yard, there's a pile of bricks outside the office. You are a star, thanks, back in a minute! |
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Post by bogmyrtle on Feb 27, 2009 16:15:06 GMT 1
You,ll have to weigh it down with bricks B.M. untill you get something in it or lay it down Im starting to get a wee bit panicky!! Ive got two 5" pots with lots of little leek seedlings through!!!!!!!!! WHERE they are going I dont know!! Thanks Maggyd. Can't help with room for your leeks though, sorry! How much room do they take up? |
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Post by maggyd on Feb 27, 2009 17:17:41 GMT 1
You,ll have to weigh it down with bricks B.M. untill you get something in it or lay it down Im starting to get a wee bit panicky!! Ive got two 5" pots with lots of little leek seedlings through!!!!!!!!! WHERE they are going I dont know!! Thanks Maggyd. Can't help with room for your leeks though, sorry! How much room do they take up? I dont know Ive never grown them before!! I only want thin ones though, so I suppose I could plant them closer!! only thing is Im going to have to make a box or something to put them in, you have seen my garden it is full with nowhere really for a veg bed Im thinking Teddy could be a problem  but if I can put them up out of his leg reach!! no he,d still jump up!! maybe on the top of the garage?? lol |
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Post by bogmyrtle on Feb 27, 2009 17:28:06 GMT 1
Hi-rise gardening then? |
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Post by maggyd on Feb 27, 2009 17:41:02 GMT 1
Im getting desperate now have you ever started something and wished that you hadnt? |
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Post by bogmyrtle on Feb 27, 2009 17:42:56 GMT 1
Im getting desperate now have you ever started something and wished that you hadnt? We've all done that ;D I'm not much help because I've never grown them! |
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Post by maggyd on Feb 27, 2009 17:44:30 GMT 1
Well I love the so Ill find somewhere!! even if its in someone else,s garden |
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Post by bogmyrtle on Feb 27, 2009 17:46:10 GMT 1
Well I love the so Ill find somewhere!! even if its in someone else,s garden That's a good idea - could you use a patch in your son's? |
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Post by maggyd on Mar 2, 2009 17:41:48 GMT 1
Already told my D.I.L. she has some leeks but Ive got my eye on removing my Pieris and a Lavender that should give me about 5' the Pieris I pruned as it was leggy and so it looks as if it has had it!! and the lavender Well I have loads of that! all I need is some wood to make a frame and try to keep teddy and the cats off. |
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Post by bogmyrtle on Mar 5, 2009 20:39:01 GMT 1
Already told my D.I.L. she has some leeks but Ive got my eye on removing my Pieris and a Lavender that should give me about 5' the Pieris I pruned as it was leggy and so it looks as if it has had it!! and the lavender Well I have loads of that! all I need is some wood to make a frame and try to keep teddy and the cats off. See, you've found space already! |
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but if I can put them up out of his leg reach!! no he,d still jump up!! maybe on the top of the garage?? lol