Helen's veggie attempts 2012

[LittleBrownFrog]

She's gorgeous, but that's a funny looking snail

[Annie]

Helen not sure about courgettes in the snail/slug part of your garden as they will go for the plants for certain, legumes usually tolerate wetter ground , especially if you can dig a bit of muck in 1st, I would have though that a not bad place for the broad beans if you are still going to plant the seeds you found. Re broad beans , picked young they dont need the outer skin peeling off before cooking, I grow The Sutton as its supposed to be a dwarf so good for small gardens but I tend to find they dont produce that many pods per plant.Broad bean pods are excellent in the compost bin. I have a recipe for catalonia soup using broad beans and coriander - already posted on the forum last year. You are trying to show me up I thought we had a deal . Stick to your guns keep it manageable and then you wont nearly kill yourself trying to cope with it- hope you have got loads of lovely bubbles some for in the bath and maybe a few for .
ps I adore Bailey xxx she brings a lump to my throat every time you post a pic but please don't stop.

[p.penn]

Since the weather changed and it got so cold again, I have come to a complete halt with my plot. More than that, I seem to have lost all enthusiasm. Mind you, digging it over and panting a few garlic was hardly a great start, was it?

Having tried beer traps, eggshells, copper etc, I have been thinking of ways to sort slugs and snails - I saw a thing in the garden centre which looks like it would work it is a spike with a metal bell on and a little cage half way up which you fill with snail/slug pellets. It protects animals and children, whilst attracting and killing the slugs. The only thing is at £9 each they are a bit pricey.

DETAILS HERE

[AL37]

So what you need is a small plastic or terracotta plant pot a short piece of bamboo and something to put the slug pellets in.

[p.penn]

Yes. That's what I thought. Maybe a couple of corks to stop the pot slipping and a cut down yogurt pot to hold the pellets? I didn't know if the metal was important.

[p.penn]

Right, well, writing about how rubbish I have been this year got me a little inspired today - well, that and the sunshine I guess! So I went through all my seeds - chucked out some ancient ones, sorted the ones that need planting and got the seed trays and propagators all washed.

I am going to start them all off on the lounge windowsill, but overwintered the chillis on it and they have whitefly. So had a big scrub up and I have now decided to chuck the chillis out. I usually grow them every year for the kids, but am not growing them again as no-one eats them as I can't prepare them as they almost stop me breathing when cut. I use bought chilli powder.

Then I went over to the garden centre and bought carrot, parsnip and butternut seeds. I am determined to try and grow squash again this year as I always fail miserably really. I really like them and as they store well are absolutely perfect for me. I also bought onion sets, but by the time I got back here the sun had gone in and my enthusiasm had passed! Ha ha ha - I hope it returns before too long!!!

So I am going to be doing a little 'virtual' gardening (or dreaming!) this evening. Mind you, the garden centre looked so fab - bursting with life and colour again after the drab winter. I am sure I will get more inspired when I am back at work there in a couple of weeks.

BTW Noticed Unwinns sell some of their veg seeds with companion seeds in too. I also looked at the slug bells....they are rather sweet.....I suppose they are to flower pots what skelters are to egg boxes.

[LittleBrownFrog]

The most successful squashes and pumpkins I've grown, were sown directly into the top of the compost bin

[p.penn]

Well, last week I sowed my parsnips and carrots in my raised bed thingys. I think I planted half of the parsnip one, so I could put swede in the other bit later, but I am such an idiot, I should have marked it and can't remember if there was a boundary or not, or where I stopped planting the carrots either. There was a little mound of seed where I think I spilled some though. I will have to wait and see what comes up. If I water them.

Other than that.....I am officially rubbish. I must sow some seeds but have absolutely no spare energy at the moment.

[Annie]

I CHALLENGE THE OFFICIAL THAT MADE THAT CLAIM
Be kind to yourself Helen, you have only just started back at the garden centre job - you are allowed to be a bit weary til you are back in the swing again. Just please remember last year and limit your plans a bit , grow that which you will use (no brussel sprouts!), oh and what was the name of the yellow toms or were they tumbling toms that you suggested last year please ?

[p.penn]

Thanks Annie. Just really tired at the moment!

Yes, both the yellow and red tumbling toms are absolutely fab. Last year I grew them in pots on the log store roof and let them tumble. I also had a couple on the outside windowsill and one in a basket. All did really well. I also rather like as T&M 'balconi' (again red and yellow varieties) which have a really odd little growing habit - almost look like they are curling up but they always do it so I assume it's normal! . They produce well though.

[Annie]

thats the one I was struggling to remember Balconi, tks Helen

[p.penn]

Ta Da!!!! Oh haven't I been good!

Decided really it was now or never, so have planted (all indoors)

Lettuce -Little Gem
6 types of tomatoes (oh dear...why???) - Balconi: red and yellow, Tumbling Tom: red and yellow, Gardener's Delight and Moneymaker.
Butternut Squash - Hunter
2 other types of Squash - Delikates and Sweet Dumpling (neither did well last year)
Courgettes -Gold rush (yellow) and Astia (Green)
Lovage
Leeks - Winter Atlanta

I also started to harvest last year's carrots in a tub. Perfect (if a little late!)

All of the pots are in propagators on my lounge windowsill, except I have popped the lettuce into the mini greenhouse to save space.

Other than some more herbs and beetroot, that will be it for me I think.

Maybe cucumbers....

[perchy]

Well done Helen, you know you want to grow cucumbers

[AL37]

Helen see if you can find some socrates cucumbers. I tried 3 years running and failed with cucumbers then a mate suggested socrates and I had a huge crop. They are an all female variety so no messing about pinching out male flowers.

[mrs boodles]

Have the socrates cucumbers got to be grown under glass or will they grow in sunny spot outside, Al.
Helen - sorry to but in on your diary.