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Calling SMB veg growers

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 5265
  • Start date Start date
Georgewhitt said:
Me too. Always get some, but they tend to be smaller than I would like.
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For me, a bit bigger than a golf ball and misshapen.

The aubergines that have done ok (two small fruits) are shop bought and my ones from seeds (which I thought were going to fail) have done nowt. Melons have produced lots of leaves and flowers, no fruit.

In general in the greenhouse I have really good tomatoes and cucumbers, it is excellent for starting all my seeds off, but I don't have much luck with anything else.
 

phil said:
Haven't grown carrots in a long time, as the ground is a bit stoney causing them to be all sorts of shape underground even if the tops were great. One time i found little white maggoty grubs on the carrots... would that have been down to carrot fly?
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Yeah, that's them.

There's a few varieties that are less susceptible, not resistant, just less susceptible but the only reason to grow carrots is the taste, they're cheap as chips in the shop so I'm not so sure what to do, maybe companion planting with something strong smelling like chives or maybe not bother with them at all.
 
High Entropy said:
Yeah, that's them.

There's a few varieties that are less susceptible, not resistant, just less susceptible but the only reason to grow carrots is the taste, they're cheap as chips in the shop so I'm not so sure what to do, maybe companion planting with something strong smelling like chives or maybe not bother with them at all.
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It's the height that carrot fly go up to.
Apparently they don't ever fly above 18" from the ground.
Had a water butt that was leakink. So I cut the bottom 2 ft off, filled it with compost, and put carrots in. Nee bother this year with carrott fly, but I didn't thin them out enough, so still got small fruit.
Like you say, 60p a bag in the shops, so may not bother again tbh.
 
Poor year on the allotment, a mixture of me rushing things, planting too early, the inconsistent mainly wet weather, that seems to have led to more infestation than normal, carrots never got going, Kale not as good as normal, tomatoes hit and miss, Potatoes, some okay, some blighted, Strawberries and Apples okay but not as plentiful as in previous years, Beetroot okay after a slow start, Leeks still in, struggling, but should be okay. Only real 100 % success story this time around was Blackberries,Gooseberries ,Onions and Peas. Not bothering with Carrots next year, as already pointed out, cheap as chips in shops, so no real value in growing them, but will grow more peas, as they were lovely off the vine.
 
PTID said:
Poor year on the allotment, a mixture of me rushing things, planting too early, the inconsistent mainly wet weather, that seems to have led to more infestation than normal, carrots never got going, Kale not as good as normal, tomatoes hit and miss, Potatoes, some okay, some blighted, Strawberries and Apples okay but not as plentiful as in previous years, Beetroot okay after a slow start, Leeks still in, struggling, but should be okay. Only real 100 % success story this time around was Blackberries,Gooseberries ,Onions and Peas. Not bothering with Carrots next year, as already pointed out, cheap as chips in shops, so no real value in growing them, but will grow more peas, as they were lovely off the vine.
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Weather this year has a lot to answer for marra.
Don't beat yourself up because I think we have all had stuff not happen this year.
My corn has been really poor. The cobs I have got are fine, but probably only about 40% of the amount of cobs I normally get.
Not doing carrotts any more. Nee point.
Salad leaves have been poor, but other successes make up for it all.
Tidy up, prepare the soil, and gan again next year marra.👍👍👍
 
Spent our summer split between two houses but done okay for an amateur of 3 years.
Tomatoes are still crap but know I didn't prune them enough.
Carrots could be better but again, my own fault of trying to grow stuff instead of spending more time prepping the soil. Too eager to grow in the weekend house.
Got some cucamelon plants which got put in the corner of a patch. They're weird things, but go well in a mojito!

Learning every year though, and will tidy up and prep properly this time.
 
rudd said:
Spent our summer split between two houses but done okay for an amateur of 3 years.
Tomatoes are still crap but know I didn't prune them enough.
Carrots could be better but again, my own fault of trying to grow stuff instead of spending more time prepping the soil. Too eager to grow in the weekend house.
Got some cucamelon plants which got put in the corner of a patch. They're weird things, but go well in a mojito!

Learning every year though, and will tidy up and prep properly this time.
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Ended up pulling my hair out many a time when I first started marra.
Just learn from mistakes, then go again.
Had an indifferent year this year too.
Don't worry mate.👍👍👍
 
I know this thread is about Veg, but please bear with me.
I was never a gardener. Hated the thought of it.
I also used to dread the winter. Dark nights, dark mornings. Used to really get me down.
About 22 years ago my Mrs is a keen flower gardener and asked me to try and grow her some Sweet Williams and Wallflowers one year for bedding.
Reluctantly gave in and said yes. Did all the pricking out, potted them on, and planted them out for her where she wanted them.
When they came out I was f***ing bursting with pride, and that has changed my life incredibley. I now see the changes of the seasons as a positive and the end of one season, is the start of the next flush of new life.
I planted a sapling no more than 18" tall about 20 years ago, in my woodland garden for Autumn colour.
A Maple. And she has done me proud again this year.
Nature is magnificent, isn't it?

View media item 11707
 
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Georgewhitt said:
I know this thread is about Veg, but please bear with me.
I was never a gardener. Hated the thought of it.
I also used to dread the winter. Dark nights, dark mornings. Used to really get me down.
About 22 years ago my Mrs is a keen flower gardener and asked me to try and grow her some Sweet Williams and Wallflowers one year for bedding.
Reluctantly gave in and said yes. Did all the pricking out, potted them on, and planted them out for her where she wanted them.
When they came out I was f***ing bursting with pride, and that has changed my life incredibley. I now see the changes of the seasons as a positive and the end of one season, is the start of the next flush of new life.
I planted a sapling no more than 18" tall about 20 years ago, in my woodland garden for Autumn colour.
A Maple. And she has done me proud again this year.
Nature is magnificent, isn't it?

View media item 11707
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A lasting legacy.

I’ve grown some oak saplings from some acorns I gathered walking through the woods last year out in Brittany.

Going to plant them out in the garden over there with this thought in mind …

Logon or register to see this image
 
Georgewhitt said:
Planted half a dozen Oaks around the same time as the Maple, and one made it. About 20' now, and a lovely shape. Just such a rewarding thing to do.
Love doing the veg, and greenhouse, and now grow most of the flowers we want, and shrubs from seed, but a tree is a proper reward. Love it.
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I’ve collected a dozen or so acorns with my son last month with a view to plant them in our garden and to the rear of our caravan which I will likely see grow for much longer than the ones at my house.

I also collected a dozen Korean pine cones when in Seoul back in September. I plan to plant these in decent sized pots then prune/ shape them so they only grow to a few feet in height and I’m able to take them with me if/ when I move house.
 
Georgewhitt said:
I know this thread is about Veg, but please bear with me.
I was never a gardener. Hated the thought of it.
I also used to dread the winter. Dark nights, dark mornings. Used to really get me down.
About 22 years ago my Mrs is a keen flower gardener and asked me to try and grow her some Sweet Williams and Wallflowers one year for bedding.
Reluctantly gave in and said yes. Did all the pricking out, potted them on, and planted them out for her where she wanted them.
When they came out I was f***ing bursting with pride, and that has changed my life incredibley. I now see the changes of the seasons as a positive and the end of one season, is the start of the next flush of new life.
I planted a sapling no more than 18" tall about 20 years ago, in my woodland garden for Autumn colour.
A Maple. And she has done me proud again this year.
Nature is magnificent, isn't it?

View media item 11707
Click to expand...
Looks lovely. Where I work runs a food union with an allotment. Basically a colllection of people that give their time to grow stuff and share the skill with others. Food is shared and also supplies a plant based cafe. It’s incredible to see the difference such a simple thing makes to peoples wellbeing.
 
Hair Flick said:
A lasting legacy.

I’ve grown some oak saplings from some acorns I gathered walking through the woods last year out in Brittany.

Going to plant them out in the garden over there with this thought in mind …

Logon or register to see this image
Click to expand...

I have two Giant redwoods and a rowan all about 3 year old, grew them from seed as a challenge. The redwoods were particularly difficult the two survivors are from about 100 seed attempts.

They need to be in the ground but I havnt got a clue where to put them. I asked the rainton meadows national trust team and they just ignored me.

You would think the redwoods would be desirable if you had a designated park, would be a novelty. They are not invasive and I think might have be UK trees at one point before the last iceage and every forest wants traditional UK trees like rowan as part of their diversity.
 
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Looks like I will have an allotment next month, it’s in good nick as the old fella giving it up is only doing so as his arthritis is getting bad. Got to negotiate a price for the shed and greenhouse on the plot. What jobs should I be looking at doing and what’s the easiest stuff to grow?
 
Wilfy said:
Looks like I will have an allotment next month, it’s in good nick as the old fella giving it up is only doing so as his arthritis is getting bad. Got to negotiate a price for the shed and greenhouse on the plot. What jobs should I be looking at doing and what’s the easiest stuff to grow?
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Get the soil turned owa and get some goodness in to it.
Decide what you want to grow before you put manure on it though. If you want to grow onions, dont put maure on that bit. Onions will bolt if soil is too rich.
You done any growing b4?
 
Indoor plastic greenhouse experiment totally over now - since I've just moved it to the south-facing patio against a brick wall. Will that act as a cold frame for starting things off in spring?


(issue inside was fungus gnats galore)
 
Wilfy said:
Looks like I will have an allotment next month, it’s in good nick as the old fella giving it up is only doing so as his arthritis is getting bad. Got to negotiate a price for the shed and greenhouse on the plot. What jobs should I be looking at doing and what’s the easiest stuff to grow?
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Dandelions.

Seriously though it all depends on your location, aspect etc.
I've never been able to grow brassicas because wood pigeons have them all.
Had good success with all types of beans, potatoes, sweetcorn, carrots (but in raised beds with high sides). Have usually been able to grow leeks but the year before last they all bolted. Peas I never feel the yield is worth it compared to beans. Courgettes and other squash are easy but for later in the year. If you've a greenhouse tomatoes will obviously be a must. Other greenhouse crops like peppers, aubergines and cucumbers I've struggled with.
 
Wilfy said:
Looks like I will have an allotment next month, it’s in good nick as the old fella giving it up is only doing so as his arthritis is getting bad. Got to negotiate a price for the shed and greenhouse on the plot. What jobs should I be looking at doing and what’s the easiest stuff to grow?
Click to expand...
Might be more work but I’d go for things that are relatively expensive to buy or interesting heritage varieties as well as some staples that you just like otherwise it’s quite a lot of work for not particularly cheap veg! Obviously it’s got other benefits too in terms of health and flavour.
Plan what you want and then prepare for those things specifically.
 
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