The garden veg thread.

Pootle said:
Apparently it's red onion seed planting time, so that can be done within the next few days. Q. Would you plant the red onion seed direct or in pots/trays?
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Sow into a tray and when they get big enough transplant into individual cells or pots. I have only just this year tried sowing from seed and tbh I think sets are the way to go they go straight in the ground with no messing about. Although I think I will try seeds again but I will so late this year and over winter them.
 
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I bought some Onion sets, as just not convinced with growing them from seed. Onion sets are now starting to shoot.

Been a start to the weekend managed to get out and sow some pansys and trying some lettice in the green house..if nothing comes of it not too bothered. I also sown some Spinach for the first time.

Love March time you can get alot of things on the go.
 
The weather has certainly been more gardener friendly weather over the last few days. People are returning to their allotment plots like swallows returning after their winter migration.
I'd never thought about growing spinach but would be interested to know how you get on. It's something I'd use if it's not too fussy to grow.
 
Ned said:
The weather has certainly been more gardener friendly weather over the last few days. People are returning to their allotment plots like swallows returning after their winter migration.
I'd never thought about growing spinach but would be interested to know how you get on. It's something I'd use if it's not too fussy to grow.
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I got a pack of 100 seeds for 25p?? Never grown them but cannot be that fussy if you can sow them in Feb outside.

Shall see, not seen anything from my peas yet. If I don't see any by next weekend I will sow some indoors.
 
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We have had frost for the last 3 mornings in south Lancashire, so its too cold for sowing outside here. The lawn got its first skim mow today. Good to get the mower out, a sign of better weather. Dog still hates mower!.
I think I am going to give the onion seeds a go in pots and watch, but also buy get sets as suggested to sow them direct, any suggestions for white/brown onion sets?. I'm new to onions but have grown garlic fairly successfully for years in pots and beds.
 
Pootle said:
We have had frost for the last 3 mornings in south Lancashire, so its too cold for sowing outside here. The lawn got its first skim mow today. Good to get the mower out, a sign of better weather. Dog still hates mower!.
I think I am going to give the onion seeds a go in pots and watch, but also buy get sets as suggested to sow them direct, any suggestions for white/brown onion sets?. I'm new to onions but have grown garlic fairly successfully for years in pots and beds.
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Not really just go for something you will use, I put my onion sets in a seed tray in the greenhouse and they are starting to show shoots.

I have clouched anything I have sown outside but if nothing happens I am not fussed, its all very trial to see if I can get a head start. Happy to re-sow come middle to end of March.
 
I think I'll wait given experience going early, but good luck to you. Years ago when farmers went early and it paid off, they got the best prices at markets. Intensive farming has killed this off of course.
 
Just experimenting, half the fun.

I learnt I could get my peppers and tomatoes going to Feb without problems by giving it a go. Not wasting all my seeds on it just trialling some. With limited space I am trying to start some things earlier to maximise output but if it doesn't work fine. There is lots of things I could get going now but going to wait a week or two.
 
taun said:
Just experimenting, half the fun.

I learnt I could get my peppers and tomatoes going to Feb without problems by giving it a go. Not wasting all my seeds on it just trialling some. With limited space I am trying to start some things earlier to maximise output but if it doesn't work fine. There is lots of things I could get going now but going to wait a week or two.
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I don't blame you, there is not much else to do in spare time just now, it would be nice to walk around a zoo for example! We are going to try growing lettuce in a U shaped drain pipe in the green house over the next couple of weeks. Had lettuce success outside later in the year, so why not....? the drain pipe sits nicely on a shelf in the greenhouse. Seven new panes of glass ordered today. I know I was clumsy with a brush and cracked two last year but no idea how the other five got damaged....??
 
Another good example of getting some stuff sown early, cats had a big fight today and damaged the cucumbers I am growing the corner of the living room (far too cold outside in the shed or greenhouse and not really sorted a space upstairs out of the way. Hoping a few are ok but may have to re-sow. :(

Just every no and then the male decides to chase the female about.
 
Used the weekend to plant up the dahilas into pots in the greenhouse, never dig them up before for winter storage (the few I have are kept are in pots) these are from my brothers garden.

I have also potted on my tomatoe and sweet peppers seedlings. Cannot wait for the weather to warm a little.
 
According to the long term forecast it is going to get a bit warmer from Wednesday but also get wetter then for a week or so......
I am going to cut down a couple of conifers that have grown too large once the birds have done with nesting later in the year and replace them with fruit trees. I should have done this years ago, but certainly doing this year, already looking at chainsaws!
However, I am open to suggestions on fruit tree types? I think there is room for possibly three trees, certainly two to grow well. Any suggestions based on experience? I do like plums and pears, so any of these species to recommend would be nice. If only we could grow bananas here :rolleyes:
Also, for 2 years now our gooseberry and black current bushes have had poor years (despite manure), any suggestions to improve this?
 
Plum victoria do well, I have had my for 10 years. Had some lovely crops from it over the years.

Not sure which pear tree I have but had a great harvest off it. In fact I still have some cooked pears in the freezer.

Apples not sure again although I know I have a cooking apple and an eating apple.

Looking forward to the warmer weather esp working from home meaning I can possibly not have the heating on.
 
My spinach has germinated, looking at another cold spell so will keep them covered until they are well established. First row of peas are just breaking ground. Starting to look like spring with the trees springing to life, some of my tulips already in bloom.
 
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Yes, a plum tree is a really good idea, will get one of those I think.

Yesterday we planted in the greenhouse, in trays for the veg beds leeks & broccoli. In pots, basil, dill and some black Russian tomato seeds, the latter were free with a gardening magazine.

Also, replaced the greenhouse broken panes and gave it a good wash inside and out with Jeyes fluid diluted. Ironically, as I went to the garage from the greenhouse for a pair of pliers to help getting a broken pane out, I heard an odd noise on the garage shelf and its Fred (Tortoise) is awake, out of hibernation and was scratching to get out of his hibernating nest set up, so he is living in 'his' greenhouse as from yesterday.

Finally, I left 3 'sticks' of last year’s kale in the ground as it still has edible leaves on the top, in the last few weeks those sticks which were bare now have new leaves sprouting from them, very interesting, think I will keep one for observation.
 
I went to the allotment today to planted seed potatoes and harvest some sprouting broccoli. It was very busy with lots of new people building raised beds. This is a theme in allotments, new people turn up in the spring with their new tools, they build raised beds, fill them with compost, then over half of them drop out over the first winter.
 
Ned said:
I went to the allotment today to planted seed potatoes and harvest some sprouting broccoli. It was very busy with lots of new people building raised beds. This is a theme in allotments, new people turn up in the spring with their new tools, they build raised beds, fill them with compost, then over half of them drop out over the first winter.
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The shiny spade brigade with all the gear and no idea........
 
The early lettuce in the old drain pipe is up now. What's really surprised me is the broccoli planted less than a week ago has also germinated (in a tray in the greenhouse), is this usually a quick grower?
 
That's a quick germination, just shows how useful a greenhouse is. I've only grown broccoli outdoors, I wouldn't call it a quick grower, it needs planting out at the right time, leaving it pots / seed trays too long slows it down in my experience.
 
Pootle said:
The early lettuce in the old drain pipe is up now. What's really surprised me is the broccoli planted less than a week ago has also germinated (in a tray in the greenhouse), is this usually a quick grower?
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I find it may germinate quickly but it grows slowly.

I was planning to sow more peas this weekend but not sure with the weather expected to turn cold again. Got lots of potting on to do over the weekend. I sowed my sweetcorn last weekend and majority of them have germinated which is very pleasing.

My fruit trees have started to blossom, hopefully have the at least the same amount of fruit of it as last year. (Still got cooked pears and apple in the freezer to use!)

Local council are starting to do allotment viewings so fingers crossed I might get a call or an email to go see one over the next few weeks.
 
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