EADD Gardening Club: Ploughing FUBAR's infertile Fields

[brimz]

my papaver somnerferum r sprouting nice, i decided to only water em from the bottom so once the seeds were in the soil they had to searcg out the water from below causing roots to grow oh so so,so, so,so happy BRIMZ check it ot my man

My Ma, s ones have flowered already! But they have been their fot=r the last 10 years , this is defo the earliest ever though.
Yeah the ones i got in pots i water from the bottom comin on nicely.
I gotta thin em out a bit 2day cos there's a few that are in clumps , i don't really want to chuck em so i may transplant em. I no they aren't the best ton transplant but i've nothing to loose so i'll give it a go.
I'll post a p[ic of my Mums later at sum time .
Good 4 you bud.

 

[Mailmonkey]

Already had a few hours down the allotment this morning, went down with a mate and our dogs, couple spliffs, bit of digging, got some peas in that we've started at home in modues, also broad beans doing well...

Planted some nice peas, Aldermans, not grown them before, but they have a long cropping season and grow to 6ft and supposedly good yields too.....

Anyway, feels good on a Sunday to be up and out in allotment at 6am in the sun, just had a nice fry up and am hitting the Columbian hard

 

[badandwicked]

If I sow seeds now is it the right time, or should it be later? Or have I missed the window?

Hi Effie, your plants sound great. I wouldn't worry about bringing anything in, especially on a patio, we're in May now so everything should be out.

When I wanted to sow flower seeds I went to somewhere that sold seeds and just looked at the packets. It'll tell you when you can sow, and whether it flowers in the 1st year or second. If its just quick annual colour you want there should be plenty you can chose from, you just may not get to enjoy the flowers for as long as if you started them earlier.

Keep doing what you're doing with the pots but they like plenty of food, especially in containers. New potatos are ready when they flower, should be 8-10weeks. You can rummage about under the soil and find one to see if it big enough without harming the plant

I've finally got everything in now, and that rain we've had is going to help no end - perfect timing. I'm bored of wasting space growing stuff that gets too big or I don't like so I've just got
sweetcorn
potatoes
onions
carrots
lettuce
rocket
beetroot
dwarf french beans.

Will post a pic later

couple spliffs,

Add a setting sun & a few cans of stella and its better than therapy.

 

[effie]

Cheers B&W! It's all coming along so well, it's the most satisfying thing I've done in a long time :D

I remember getting some good tips for flowers a while back so will read this thread again, just fancy something bright and cheerful. My mum gave me a pot of lillies which have tiny buds on them already so I've got some flowers on the way

Tbh the flowers are an optional extra really, it's the veg I'm excited about :D you've got an impressive list on the go, I'm already planning on branching out into some more unusual things next year

It's addictive, this gardening lark!

 

[brimz]

What a nice weekend it's been for all the gardening posse!!
Sunshine n rain perfect , cos we needed some rain bigtime. Everythings comin along nicely .
Courgettes , Toms, Chilli's , Just transplanted the runnner beans, N The Papaver flowering already.

 

[brimz]

Right then . Hows everyone getting on with their Crops n Flowers ?
It's been really dry which hasn't helped in some cases , but the rain over the weekend was really needed.
ATM my runner beans are doing amazing , Courgette's got a bit of lacing , so i've had to get ruthless with the slug pellets.
Papavers are doing really well .
And i jus transplanted my tomato plants , already had afew strawberrys as well.
Hows the rest of u doing?

 

[effie]

Coming on wonderfully here Brimz, just got 3 courgette plants from my parents at the weekend to add to my collection, going to pot them into bigger pots today.. tomatoes, potatoes and chillis all loving the sun/rain combo and growing really well

My herbs are doing well too except my oregano which seems to be dying, not sure why

Got a lovely flowering lemon scented thyme from my friend, and a big pot of assorted flowers from my mum, so it's looking pretty colourful out there too! My lillies have huuuge buds but no flowers yet. Pretty excited :D

Sorry to hear about your slug problems, there are definitely advantages to having a garden (or patio thing with pots anyway) on the 3rd floor!

 

[Sadie]

I'd love to see how your garden is coming along Effie. Especially as you've got some lovely new decorations from it. I'm sure you said your parents brought you over some lovely things. Also want to see how your plants are coming along.

I've become the worst procrastinator ever lately. I've still not planted my chillies. If I remember I'll try and do it sometime this week. Our front window gets the best sun this time of year. Don't want to put it off too much longer.

 

[brimz]

Coming on wonderfully here Brimz, just got 3 courgette plants from my parents at the weekend to add to my collection, going to pot them into bigger pots today.. tomatoes, potatoes and chillis all loving the sun/rain combo and growing really well

My herbs are doing well too except my oregano which seems to be dying, not sure why

Got a lovely flowering lemon scented thyme from my friend, and a big pot of assorted flowers from my mum, so it's looking pretty colourful out there too! My lillies have huuuge buds but no flowers yet. Pretty excited :D

Sorry to hear about your slug problems, there are definitely advantages to having a garden (or patio thing with pots anyway) on the 3rd floor!

I forgot about my Chili plant he's doing good as well .
It's raining atm so that should help things.
How are you doing potatoes with limited space ?

I've just joined a collective alotment and it's ace.
We got allsorts , Massive Hewrb garden , Pots , Parsnips , Cabbage , Lettuce, Broccili n pklenty of other stuff .
It's 3 times a week we all meet up n of course we get 2 eat the produce
IMO probably the beast thing i've ever been offered through Drug treatment.
It's really theraputic and statisfying.

 

[effie]

I'm growing them in big sacks like this (but my plants have grown bigger than the ones on there!)

Got 3 on the go, 5 potato plants in each

That collective allotment sounds brilliant. Gardening really is therapeutic isn't it, addictive too so good for people with addictive tendancies!

And thanks Sadie, it is looking purdy got some outdoor lights and things at the weekend but not put them out yet..

 

[Jblazingphoenix100]

I wanna start a herb garden - get an allotment somewhere, but I have plenty of knowledge about growing ganja, tomatoes, strawberries, and grafting and cloning plants..I wanna learn more but don't have a space to do it anymore. Maybe I will help more with my family's gardens until i have one again.

 

[watsons torment]

4 year wait for an allotment round here and i've been on the list for 2, very tempted to start laying down bear traps and land mines to speed up the process of me getting one

 

[Sadie]

And thanks Sadie, it is looking purdy got some outdoor lights and things at the weekend but not put them out yet..

Aw, Sounds so lovely. Like a really chilled place to relax. If you get them up send me photo. I'd love to see how it looks all lit up, as well as a day time photo see how everythings coming along.

I sound a bit demanding today

I wanna start a herb garden - get an allotment somewhere,

I might put my name down for an allotment sometime soon as we'll be moving at some point in the next year or two. Don't know what kind of garden I'll end up with. If I get a lovely garden I can just take my name off the list.

I've got an area at the bottom of my back garden that would be perfect for growing but I think Its too late in the year for sowing most veg. Think I might clear it out and get it ready to plant in the spring. Even if we end up moving earlier than expected it'll be something nice for who ever moves in.


I really fancy starting a herb garden as well. We cook pretty much everything from scratch and fresh herbs taste so much better than dried.




I've got a daft question for those who grow their own herbs. Do you plant them from seeds or plant them pre-grown.

I'm curious because every time I've tried to plant the pre-grown ones they die on me. Don't know if that's because of me or the crap they sell at the supermarkets.

 

[brimz]

I've got a daft question for those who grow their own herbs. Do you plant them from seeds or plant them pre-grown.

I prefer 2 go from seed , but thsts 4 xtra satisfaction and it seems 2 have worked better 4 me

You get good uns n bad with the pre grown ones jus luck , irekon.
Best to look 4 the healthiest looking ones in the Garden Centre

 

[Jblazingphoenix100]

I've got an area at the bottom of my back garden that would be perfect for growing but I think Its too late in the year for sowing most veg. Think I might clear it out and get it ready to plant in the spring. Even if we end up moving earlier than expected it'll be something nice for who ever moves in.


I really fancy starting a herb garden as well. We cook pretty much everything from scratch and fresh herbs taste so much better than dried.




I've got a daft question for those who grow their own herbs. Do you plant them from seeds or plant them pre-grown.

I'm curious because every time I've tried to plant the pre-grown ones they die on me. Don't know if that's because of me or the crap they sell at the supermarkets.

I would try and grow from seeds - but occasionally i have been known to get pre grown herbs and just pick the most vigorous of the bunch - never from supermarkets though.

I want a herb garden because I have decided to be more self sufficient medicinally - herbal remedies are slowly but surely starting to be outlawed under pressure from the big Pharma corporations, and I would like to be able to get better with ethnobotanicals and shit like that, so I can also provide friends and family (maybe even community) with herbal medicines.

Sadie, Get your bottom of your garden READY! Look up "lunar planting (or sowing) calendar" on Ecosia or see if you can find one to buy - then you'll know just how much you can start growing now

 

[Sadie]

Thanks for the heads up guys.

Jblazing, I'll look into it, cheers

 

[badandwicked]

I've got a daft question for those who grow their own herbs. Do you plant them from seeds or plant them pre-grown.

If its a leafy annual herb like basil corriander or parsley grow your own from seed each spring and before winter store them by make herb butter oil, or freeze them.

If its a woody perennial herb like sage, oregano or mint they grow slowly so buy a small plant and pick before flowering and dry They get huge though so plan ahead when designing your herb garden.

I think you're wise to spend this season planning and preparing for next season, it'll be here before we know it. You can still get peppers tomato plants and stuff in garden centres to put in pots this year. Or buy herbs & perennial plants you want small (and therefore cheap) now and over winter them ready for spring.

 

[jancrow]

If you're freezing tender herbs you can stop them getting freezer burn by wrapping them in tinfoil. Although tbh this hasn't ever really worked for me.

 

[tambourine-man]

I'm bored of wasting space growing stuff that gets too big or I don't like so I've just got:

sweetcorn

How do you find they develop over the season? Whenever we've attempted them, they get to about 4ft high and then gradually whither. Having said that, I suspect I planted them too late.

Also, what size cobs do you get off them?

 

[badandwicked]

How do you find they develop over the season? Whenever we've attempted them, they get to about 4ft high and then gradually whither. Having said that, I suspect I planted them too late.

Also, what size cobs do you get off them?

The only year i was successful was 3 years ago I started them really early, 2 per spot and thinned to the biggest. Watered lots, fertilized lots (home compost and chicken shit) and then later in the summer it was rainy. I think i did 12 in a grid layout, and they were amazing. They grew to supermarket size, 2 per plant.

The next year I did the same as you, and left it too late and it was a total disappointment. A long growing season is clearly necessary but spring never waits when I ask it to..

Last year i sowed them in pots to transplant but didn't water them and they died.

This year I used B&Q's own seed and only 5/12 are up but maybe slugs got the rest. They don't look to be doing great so either I got lucky the 1st year, or they need more care or it was better seed but the memory of how good they tasted with butter & black pepper leaves me trying I'll report back, I hope I have enough to pollenate each other.

Crazy amount of raspberries this year, I heard on the radio it was a bumper crop this year. So early, I'd better net them before the bastard birds get them. Strawberries coming out of my ears too but can't be bothered to make jam, they'll be over soon. It'll be a weird summer with all the fruit & veg & flowers over so soon.