2017 GROWING THREAD

+ Basil that seems to be doing OK in your (unheated?) greenhouse. I regularly have problems with my Basil constantly damping off, and this year is no exception.

 

Yep, it's unheated. Had a few frosts but it didn't affect the greenhouse.

Did you recognise your pots you gave me?

 

House Leeks? How are they doing? Is that an ex-Aldi 6 pot tray? (got loads from failed plants out of their skip and I invert the straps to use a marker pen at plant sales).

 

In case you are all loosing sleep over it. just an update , my Blue Poppy seeds are up and now 1/2 inch tall. yep, looking good.

 

Just remembered where I saw that seed packet to the LH side of that pic



It was from the Rainbow Superstore




How come I can remember stuff from over 2 years ago better than from a couple of days ago? And even when it's upside down!

 

Just got up there to have a look, no sign of them Mind you, mr 2 garages has thrown a load of branches up there so I can't see much of it

I dunno, you gave it to me

 

Sweetcorn has germinated, can't remember if it was lark, swift or incredible.. runnerbeans, dwarf yellow and green beans still not poked through yet or the courgette, pumpkins or other types of melon. Old man has dug a bit more over and put 2 bean frames in for me.

Plot opposite has got her toms and chillis in the polytunnel and they're looking sorry. Felt bit bad for her considering I took up 2 chillis and the asda melons doing fine, they're tucked up in a mini greenhouse inside it mind.

Spuds have had a slight frosting up there too, can't earth em up much more..

 

Happy days!!!

 

Sowed Marrows on 2nd, Runners on 3rd and some Squashes today. Cucumbers, French Beans, Sweet Corn and more squashes next, all requiring propagators, good job I've got 6 propagators and a 600 x 1200 heat mat.

I'm in the middle of pricking out nearly 200 Lettuce and Endives. The trouble was I appeared to be getting poor germination and kept sowing more, then lots of others showed through later on. Mustn't get overwhelmed with them and forget to sow some more for later on, good job Hens like them.

Which reminds me, does anybody like Mazur Lettuce? We find them rather tough, but grow them specifically as greenstuff for our Hens.

And when I finish pricking out all those lettuces, I've then got nearly as many flower seedlings to do (I like lots of cut flowers and being able to leave loads of flowers for the insects and butterflies).

 

3 Days after sowing my marrows and 4 are showing through. Àlthough I have lights over the propagators ready to use, as soon as I see signs of something bursting through the soil I get it under lights somewhere cooler so the plants will grow sturdier, same with pumpkins, cucumbers, etc.

 

Bin prickin stuff out, added an extra shelf to keep stuff for Shineyland on.

 

First strawberries of the year for pudding

 

I'll bring the cream then Zigs.

 

Melons are coming on

As are the Manx marvels

 

Planted out spinach and chard.
Potted on cabbages and swede. Have thought balls to clubroot and get plenty of lime in. They have 3 options: thrive, struggle or die. Swede is clubroot resistant according to pack.

Potting on toms and melons today.
Going to put beans, corn, courgette and pumpkins out next weekend.