Vegetable Growing 2024

I noticed that Monty says squash/gourd family need heat to germinate (20 degrees he mentioned!) - do you think that’s correct? I’ve put my courgette sowings in the airing cupboard anyway as a no show on a south-facing windowsill (it’s prob only 15 at best tbh).

 

Yes, most cucurbits require some heat to germinate, otherwise the seed can rot.

 

Have you planted your cucurbit seeds on their sides @AuntyRach and not too deep, they seem to germinate better like that. Mine are doing well but fleeced over at the moment in the GH as the temperature has dropped considerably!

 

Yes they are on their side @floralies so fingers crossed. I put a thermometer in the airing cupboard and it’s only ambient 16 degrees and up to 20 ish when water tank full. At least that shows my tank is well insulated suppose.

 

At last planted out the peabean seedlings. Seeds collected in 2022 and germination brilliant. The main support system are the coppiced hazels from our orchard and the climbing supports (as the peabeans are climbers) taken from a bamboo that died back last year after flowering.

 

Taken advantage of dry soil and sown all the main root crops, rain forecast, but only showers hopefully.

 

Planted out the leek seedlings. Brilliant germination. 2 and a half rows.

 

Today I planted a row of lettuces along the edge of the potato patch and I prepared the next strip and planted 5 cabbages, 2 curly kale and 3 chard. I made a seed bed and sowed early purple sprouting broccoli. There are only 2 of us so I don't need masses.

 

That’s a smashing veg bed @Busy-Lizzie.

 

Thank you @AuntyRach

 

@Busy-Lizzie , very twee, but I love it!

 

I am way way behind with my veg growing as have been extremely busy doing other garden related things.
I normally lime brassica beds in the winter but failed miserably. Only just thought about it yesterday! I am planning on planting out my Calebrasse , Broccoli to you and me, seedlings and no doubt as per dreadful Cauliflowers over the next few days as miraculously it is not raining so the soil is drying up. The seedlings I grew from seed sown in January so need planting out. Would I be best to forego the lime or apply now but not too much? My soil is pretty acidic and where I am intending to plant has never been limed before, as the area has been used previously for growing potatoes.

 

Generally lime is applied for future neutralisation , rather than for the immediate crop. Its not directly soluble, needing months/years to breakdown , depending on particle size. My old gardener nemesis, Wilf, would reach for the nitro-chalk, but its not fashionable these days.

 

A short video about this seasons growing

 

Audio a little quiet Bernie, sorry.