The garden veg thread.

[Pootle]

New things on my list this year to grow it Leeks, Chard, Pumpkins & courgettes. Looking forward to seeing the them grow and hoping it gives me good results.

I'm trying chard this year too as a first, the rainbow type if possible.

I'm quite experienced with pumpkins and courgettes, if you can make sure both get plenty of sunlight throughout the day and well fertilized soil you should do well. For pumpkins to succeed really well, one plant needs plenty of space and plenty of feed too. Last year was my first for leeks and I will be doing again this year, I will think them out more as they grow. Last years didn't get above an inch in diameter, most around a cm, but really tasty.

This year its going to be:

• Green Kale (better than the black of last year)
• Runner beans at least 2 varieties, one is a purple bean that we have been growing for years and we let few go to seed and collect them once the plants have died.
• Onions, red & brown
• Parsnips - were successful last year
• Swede (a first attempt)
• Broccoli
• Rainbow Chard
• Leeks
• Sweet heart cabbage (a first attempt - if I can the seeds)
• Courgettes (yellow ideally for flavour) better crops come from green. Last year the courgettes went in the flower boarder and saved us more veg space and grew very successfully.

In the greenhouse, it will be Gigantomo beef tomatoes (the best in my opinion) grown from seed this year. Cucumbers, chilli's, spring onions and maybe an aubergine plant or two.

I'm also going to put some lime on the soil this year and dig it in, in addition to chicken muck, as I have read root veg are fond of it. Also going to grow a few spuds in buckets. Carrots have been relegated this year as last 2 years they have been smallish, with too many 'black bits and holes'.

 

[taun]

Leeks been potted on and are in the greenhouse now, looking ok. Got spinage and parsnips on the go. Starting half the onion sets off in the greenhouse.

Got a few things going on in the house, need to pot the peppers on and warming up some potting compost to start cucumbers and luffas.

 

[Pootle]

I've still got parsnips in the soil from last year! However this week will be their last. Will do a roast chicken and eat them with that. Home grown parsnips was a success.
Not even ordered my seeds yet, so defo playing catch up this year.

 

[taun]

I've still got parsnips in the soil from last year! However this week will be their last. Will do a roast chicken and eat them with that. Home grown parsnips was a success.
Not even ordered my seeds yet, so defo playing catch up this year.

I found a monster one I had not dug up but I also have some at the allotment... Got plenty for soup and roasting.

 

[Pootle]

What compost do you chaps start your seeds in?

I got a bag from Aldi and its awful, 3 inch pieces of bark, small stones, plastic. It's the worse I've seen, possibly OK (not ideal) for growing on, but not for germination.

 

[taun]

What compost do you chaps start your seeds in?

I got a bag from Aldi and its awful, 3 inch pieces of bark, small stones, plastic. It's the worse I've seen, possibly OK (not ideal) for growing on, but not for germination.

I buy any old rubbish and sieve it, gives me an ok compost for germination.

 

[taun]

Well been a busy summer, and getting lots of things to eat from the garden/allotment.

Of the new things trying this yeah the Chard was a success, will be growing again next year.
Pumpkin amazing success, already had 2 pumpkins, got another 2 coming along nicely.
Leeks all grown lovely not actually had any yet.
Nearly forgot courgettes been great too.

Luffa I have 4 gourds, so excited to peal them later in the year.

I need to find a few new things to try next near. I have doubled the allotment size so I will probably just grow more of what I already grow and just add a couple of new things to the list.

 

[Pootle]

Regarding leeks, try one now, I thought mine were doing great left them and they went very fibrous and inedible. My sprouts are looking like a Christmas dinner.
I got a top tip off a farmer, pour oily water over the brassicas and the insects leave them alone, ie well used washing up water or just water and some lard. in It works!
ie lard melted in the water, not bobbing about!

 

[taun]

Regarding leeks, try one now, I thought mine were doing great left them and they went very fibrous and inedible. My sprouts are looking like a Christmas dinner.
I got a top tip off a farmer, pour oily water over the brassicas and the insects leave them alone, ie well used washing up water or just water and some lard. in It works!
ie lard melted in the water, not bobbing about!

Interesting about insects, I don't have too much issue as I net them. Its the slugs that are the pain but have found a bit of salt in watering can over them every now and then tends to help.