Helen's veggie attempts 2012

[p.penn]

Look. Fishpond. You are as bad as Dom.

Please boys, stop taking this thread

[Annie]

They are very bad boys Helen (funny though) and at least your diary thread has the most posts for this time of year - at 1st glance people will be very impressed you have so much to say about your plot already
I tried growing onions in what I call the bakers baskets - the supermarket stacky ones, no red ones did any good butsome of the white were a reasonable size. I tried doing the start them off in egg boxes idea but personally think that a waste of time, IF I grow any this year it will be straight into wherever it is I am going to grow them. The thing is I use quite a lot of onions each week and considering they aren't that costly to buy, I feel I would have to give over the whole of my raised bed to make it worthwhile , so not sure what to do.
Pity we are 400+ miles apart I think we would do better sharing than overdoing it like last year.

[LittleBrownFrog]

I think it makes sense to try to grow a few things that are more 'luxury' items iyswim - things that are more expensive to buy in the shops, or taste measurably better in the home-grown version. For me, tomatoes because of the bigger variety and flavour, salad because you can't beat absolutely fresh salad, and watercress will be my non-negotiables this year.

[p.penn]

Well, at last my thoughts are beginning to take a vague wander in the direction of this year's veggies - largely, I must confess, to the enthusiasm of others on thei site!

I gave my chilli plants from last year a good water yesterday - they are looking ok actually - shooting from the main stem again, and it is nothing less than miraculous that they survived the winter on my lounge windowsill. Indoor plants and me just don't do well!!

I am also thinking herbs. I like growing basil and coriander on the windowsill, and they both really did quite well last year. Coriander was a little frustrating in that it bolted a little too soon, but hey.

I have some broad beans to sow - never grown them, or even cooked them before. When do I plant them, what do I do with them and how high will they grow?

Some of my garlic is still in from last year and needs slpitting, but the clay is so heavy I can't dig them up.

So, basically my 'new improved plan' will be, white onions, garlic, tomatoes, beetroot, chillis (why??). Oh yes and a few salad leaves and spring onions. Oh and courgettes. I am determined to make it all a bit more manageable this year.

[vegalot]

I have some broad beans to sow - never grown them, or even cooked them before. When do I plant them, what do I do with them and how high will they grow?

I have just set mine off, put into modules on the window ledge. As for height, it depends if they are bush ones or upright, I grew the upright ones last year and they reached around 4' high.

I placed stakes at both ends of the row and ran string for support between them, this year I have plenty of 'pea sticks' , which are just branches of thin twigs around 3'-4' high and I will make a sort of hedge out of them to give support to my beans and peas.

Where they are to be planted, I have dug a trench around 8" deep, placed a couple of inches of horse manure (last years) then put the soil back ready for planting.

[p.penn]

Thank you vegalot. You sound a bit more organsed than me.

I have another question actually, as I have just been out into the garden attempting to clear the junk up! I grew my (nursery bought) blaccurrants and redcurrants in tubs last year and they did rather well I thought. The only thing is, ahem , I didn't do anything to them at the end of the year.

I thing perhaps I should have done, but they are in bud now and I don't want to lose this year's crop, so what is the best thing pruningwise to do with them now? Also, should I top dress them with feed/compost? If so when? Oooh, I do hope someone can help.

[Homemade]

Coriander was a little frustrating in that it bolted a little too soon, but hey.

I always had this problem too. Last year I tried a new T&m variety called Calypso which you can keep cutting and it grows back and doesn't bolt. It was great I grew it in a large pot and cut it right down 3 times and froze the leaves.

[LittleBrownFrog]

ooh - thanks for that tip Homemade - I've had the same problem with coriander

[p.penn]

Ta Da!!! Finally got a grip today and started on the veg patch.

My last year's garlic lost it's tops and didn't do very well, but it has sprouted. I remembered someone here transplanting them so I lifted, separated and re-planted some of it. I also have some new IOW garlic to plant that a friend brought me but I have lost it for the moment.



I then dug over the whole patch - I can't move now as it is such heavy clay and it was really, really hard work. Sometimes I feel my age.






I haven't done much to the flower side of the garden yet, although I have removed most of the old pots and junk.



I know they are not veg, but I just wanted to show you the lovely daffs I rescued from the skip at work last year.



I have also got pots of english bluebells which I have just placed loosely into the hanging basket for some spring cheer.

I am going to have a bit of a sort out of my seeds tonight - but I am determined to be more selective about what I grow this year and to only grow what will get eaten.

I have also decided I am going to use my two raised planters that I got last year as 'stew beds'. I am going to grow carrots in one and parsnips in the other (maybe even parsnips and swede) as they don't need too fertile soil I think.

Oooooh....it has begun.......

[LittleBrownFrog]

yay! there's something about these early spring days that gets you out & doing

[perchy]

Well done Helen, you really have done well

[p.penn]

Thank you! I am very pleased to have got so much done. My goodness I ache all over though.

[perchy]

Have a rest day tomorrow Helen

[p.penn]

So, this is the current plan for the main patch. I noticed today the strip where I dug the garlic up from (which will be toms and maybe courgettes this year) was much wetter and cludgier than the rest of the patch. I assume as it's a little shadier during the winter. I am hoping the courgettes will like the extra moisture, although snails and slugs are a real problem - found well over 100 yesterday on the flower bit and have barely started clearing.



I am also working on training the first ever canine vegetable gardener/snail catcher. As you can see, she is progressing well.

[lizziedoggarden]

Bailey is just gorgeous Helen