OccupiedPalestineBlues
Well-Known Member
Spring is almost on the cusp of being sprung so I thought I’d open a space for those who engage in the ‘grow to eat / labour of love’, to set free (broadcast?) their thoughts, advice, failings etc. on this tasty topic.
I’ll go first.
I had my hot peppers and green Tomatillo seeds in the propagators, and started pots of coriander and basil in pot on windowsills, in mid-January.
I put my beefsteak / big tomato, aubergines, sweet peppers and orange (sweet) Tomatillo seeds into propagators this week (early-February).
I use a 50w 600x600mm led panel to supplement and help contend with the short daylight hours.
I have broad bean and pea seeds in the root trainers in the house, (under the kitchen table) to give them a kick start.
I have overwintered Red Russian & Siberian Kale, Chives, Spinach Beet, Coriander and a couple of All Year Round Cauliflowers on the go in the polytunnel, which was laboriously and exhaustingly given it’s 3 year clean this week.
I have two beds of garlic that have been on the go since November and a bed of late garlic planted in late-January.
Also a small bed of purple sprouting broccoli (that’s starting to sprout in a purple fashion).
Beyond that the Blackcurrent bushes and Apple trees were clipped & fed in Autumn and I have some Red Current and both Pink & Green Goosberry bushes bought as bare root and planted up in pots ready to go into beds in early-April.
My first early and early potatoes are currently sat chitting on a north facing window sill - I intend to grow my spuds in buckets this year.
Failings so far this year include B-road Beans that were sown in trays in the polytunnel but sown too late so that they sat and rotted in the damp soil and, similarly, a handful of Broad Beans that were planted out in early-December but which were too young to withstand the hard frosts we had.
I also realise that I started my Green Tomatillos too damn early as they’re very leggy - I do this ‘starting stuff too early’ thing every year and every year I regret it when I end up living in a jungle of leggy plants by mid-April.
My one recommendation to others is to make your own seed compost. I make mine by rubbing basic garden compost through a 5mm steel mesh riddle and adding 40% perlite (buy it in bulk as it’s ridiculously expensive in small quantities).
Does anyone else have stuff on the go as yet, any advice to give, any varieties to recommend?
I’ll go first.
I had my hot peppers and green Tomatillo seeds in the propagators, and started pots of coriander and basil in pot on windowsills, in mid-January.
I put my beefsteak / big tomato, aubergines, sweet peppers and orange (sweet) Tomatillo seeds into propagators this week (early-February).
I use a 50w 600x600mm led panel to supplement and help contend with the short daylight hours.
I have broad bean and pea seeds in the root trainers in the house, (under the kitchen table) to give them a kick start.
I have overwintered Red Russian & Siberian Kale, Chives, Spinach Beet, Coriander and a couple of All Year Round Cauliflowers on the go in the polytunnel, which was laboriously and exhaustingly given it’s 3 year clean this week.
I have two beds of garlic that have been on the go since November and a bed of late garlic planted in late-January.
Also a small bed of purple sprouting broccoli (that’s starting to sprout in a purple fashion).
Beyond that the Blackcurrent bushes and Apple trees were clipped & fed in Autumn and I have some Red Current and both Pink & Green Goosberry bushes bought as bare root and planted up in pots ready to go into beds in early-April.
My first early and early potatoes are currently sat chitting on a north facing window sill - I intend to grow my spuds in buckets this year.
Failings so far this year include B-road Beans that were sown in trays in the polytunnel but sown too late so that they sat and rotted in the damp soil and, similarly, a handful of Broad Beans that were planted out in early-December but which were too young to withstand the hard frosts we had.
I also realise that I started my Green Tomatillos too damn early as they’re very leggy - I do this ‘starting stuff too early’ thing every year and every year I regret it when I end up living in a jungle of leggy plants by mid-April.
My one recommendation to others is to make your own seed compost. I make mine by rubbing basic garden compost through a 5mm steel mesh riddle and adding 40% perlite (buy it in bulk as it’s ridiculously expensive in small quantities).
Does anyone else have stuff on the go as yet, any advice to give, any varieties to recommend?
