Vegetable Growing 2024

Also had slow courgettes this year, sowed some more a couple of weeks ago which have just come up. The rest will probably germinate now and I'll be swimming in courgettes.

 

The same down here, erratic temperatures mean they have been slow. also the melons.

 

My courgettes have been a no-show despite giving them a few days in the airing cupboard (not actually that warm) then a south windowsill (rubbish weather in April). I actually bought a few small plants yesterday as I am doubting that my seeds will germinate at all now. I might have a few of last year’s seeds though so maybe I’ll sow a couple just to see…

 

Looks too good to eat.
Grown from mixed seeds

 

Sown 60 modules of climbing french beans, 15 modules dwarf, 15 modules runner beans.

 

With yesterday's rain, the conical snails have demolished a courgette plant, 2 young cucumber plants, 3 butternut plants, another runner bean even 2 hot pepper plants. They have in fact been sawn off at the stem and the 4 young leaves of the plant dropped to the side. I put granules out yesterday and must have scooped up about 50 of these little blighters!

I sowed cucumbers, butternut and courgette last week. The ones up are at the 2 leaf stage, but quite frankly, I feel quite deflated!!

I presume it's the snail crew!

 

I have a slug problem in the GH @Tui34, I have looked under rims and pots but can't find the culprit. my neighbour laughed because I put a notice up "limaces interdite"!

 

I have been known to hang pots of cucurbit seedlings in clear polythene bags from S hooks on the greenhouse eaves. As long as they're not already lurking in the compost, they find it difficult to negotiate the climb and entry into the bag!!

 

These pesky little blighters are apparently only pertaining to the Mediterranean area and they live in the soil!! They've munched all the granules I have put out - but they keep coming!

 

You have my sympathy, one of my plot neighbours was making the same point the other day. He lost a whole batch of lettuce. So far mine are OK, I have used copious amounts of pellets this year. Slugs inside the greenhouse are a real issue, never used to get them, I think the eggs must be in the peat free compost.

 

I sowed my chilli seeds about 8 week ago. 2 have just come through. I knew they could be slow to germinate but that is having a laugh!

 

The Slugs & Snails are out again today having a party

 

The first crop of radishes.



Here they were a few minutes ago.



I agree with the above about the slugs and snails - they have been rampant this year.

The speckle marks on the cherrybelle radishes means that they will be peeled and thoroughly cooked in a stew before eating. The leaves will be saved for stir-fries.

 

Harvesting my garlic early.

Here it was a few moments ago.



Harvested early to use as garlic greens because I needed the space to plant tomatoes.

 

That observation is interesting. Can you devise a means of proving this, (seeing your previous occupation ) for it might explain a lot.
Incidentally, it is not illegal to use metaldehyde in enclosed structures ,such as greenhouses, polytunnels or cold frames, were you able to source some.