Forgot to add - I’m having trouble getting hold of Growbags for tomatoes. Will probably just do them in large pots instead. I’ve got compost, leaf mould, bog standard soil etc - what sort of mix of these would work best?
Are you anywhere local to polhill garden centre? They have them, and deliver locally for free over 20 quid.
If they run out, they seem to restock fast.
Regards tomatoes, mine are looking very well developed in terms of leaves, but seem short for their 'age'. Been in for nearly a month and are about an inch tall or less, but as I say with 4 or more leaves out...
Given that I see tomato plants sprouting up everywhere wild the type of fertiliser shouldn't be as important and as expensive as we make it.
Grow bags arent a big expense but if you have soil, a bit of fertiliser they should grow. I used to get them growing up through he pebbles from seeds of previous crops of tomatoes.
So I guess we could just bury a load of old tomatoes and see where that takes us!
my radishes are taking really well, no movement on anything else apart from a tiny bit of spring onion leaf poking up. I've covered all the pots with upturned transparent buckets to give them a helping hand of a greenhouse effect
I'm going to make a composter out of a couple of pallets I have doing nothing apart from making the place look untidy
I grew my tomatoes in compost the last couple of years. The plants have looked healthy and cropped well, but I have suffered some blossom end rot. I believe this is more likely due to my watering regime than the soil though. Must say never experienced any problems when I used to grow tomatoes in open ground, but my small garden is full and I use containers now which no doubt require more attention to watering and careful placement to allow for good ventilation.
I grew my tomatoes in compost the last couple of years. The plants have looked healthy and cropped well, but I have suffered some blossom end rot. I believe this is more likely due to my watering regime than the soil though. Must say never experienced any problems when I used to grow tomatoes in open ground, but my small garden is full and I use containers now which no doubt require more attention to watering and careful placement to allow for good ventilation.
I’ve also had blossom end rot for the last few years, but only on certain varieties. Sadly by the time they’re in the grow bag I’ve lost the label that tells me which they are, but only some get it. I can usually salvage half of the fruit by cutting the rotten bit off. Had a bad year of blight a few seasons ago. Wiped out huge amounts. I think it was a really cold, wet summer.
Forgot to add - I’m having trouble getting hold of Growbags for tomatoes. Will probably just do them in large pots instead. I’ve got compost, leaf mould, bog standard soil etc - what sort of mix of these would work best?
If you have any ash left over from a bonfire/wood burner I'd mix in a bit of that
Given that I see tomato plants sprouting up everywhere wild the type of fertiliser shouldn't be as important and as expensive as we make it.
Grow bags arent a big expense but if you have soil, a bit of fertiliser they should grow. I used to get them growing up through he pebbles from seeds of previous crops of tomatoes.
So I guess we could just bury a load of old tomatoes and see where that takes us!
my radishes are taking really well, no movement on anything else apart from a tiny bit of spring onion leaf poking up. I've covered all the pots with upturned transparent buckets to give them a helping hand of a greenhouse effect
I'm going to make a composter out of a couple of pallets I have doing nothing apart from making the place look untidy
Makes me feel better, I have spinach in the ground going great guns, but not seen much else in the ground. Got three pea seedlings showing but that's it.
Have a small lean to greenhouse thing, herbs, toms and chillis going well in there (apart from their diminutive appearance.)
Spinach seems easy/low maintenance, though assume it will be slug heaven.
Forgot to add - I’m having trouble getting hold of Growbags for tomatoes. Will probably just do them in large pots instead. I’ve got compost, leaf mould, bog standard soil etc - what sort of mix of these would work best?
Are you anywhere local to polhill garden centre? They have them, and deliver locally for free over 20 quid.
If they run out, they seem to restock fast.
Regards tomatoes, mine are looking very well developed in terms of leaves, but seem short for their 'age'. Been in for nearly a month and are about an inch tall or less, but as I say with 4 or more leaves out...
I’m not too far from Polhill - will get on the website- thank you!
Forgot to add - I’m having trouble getting hold of Growbags for tomatoes. Will probably just do them in large pots instead. I’ve got compost, leaf mould, bog standard soil etc - what sort of mix of these would work best?
Are you anywhere local to polhill garden centre? They have them, and deliver locally for free over 20 quid.
If they run out, they seem to restock fast.
Regards tomatoes, mine are looking very well developed in terms of leaves, but seem short for their 'age'. Been in for nearly a month and are about an inch tall or less, but as I say with 4 or more leaves out...
Brilliant! Been on their website and ordered my grow bags and some other stuff. I’m local enough for them to deliver too. Thank you b much for recommending
Forgot to add - I’m having trouble getting hold of Growbags for tomatoes. Will probably just do them in large pots instead. I’ve got compost, leaf mould, bog standard soil etc - what sort of mix of these would work best?
Are you anywhere local to polhill garden centre? They have them, and deliver locally for free over 20 quid.
If they run out, they seem to restock fast.
Regards tomatoes, mine are looking very well developed in terms of leaves, but seem short for their 'age'. Been in for nearly a month and are about an inch tall or less, but as I say with 4 or more leaves out...
Brilliant! Been on their website and ordered my grow bags and some other stuff. I’m local enough for them to deliver too. Thank you b much for recommending
My pleasure! Really pleased i could get them more business, they've been great.
Spinach seems easy/low maintenance, though assume it will be slug heaven.
Swiss chard, as an alternative to spinach, is something I grow a lot of.
Very easy to grow. Doesn't tend to bolt in dry weather like spinach does and capable of standing through the winter (at least in Cornwall; I should think it would also stand through most winters in London/SE).
If you let last year's plant run to seed in the late spring, it'll seed itself and you'll have seedling swiss chard popping up here and there ...... free plants, and when they are small, if they are in the wrong place you can transplant them elsewhere.
I use the dark green leaves like spinach, and the white stems stir-fried like celery. Not to my taste to eat it raw, but I know people who do.
It's very nutritious, being a close relative of the beetroot family.
Can anyone offer some advice on the best way to deal with aphids? Is it just spraying soapy water? My lupins are being ruined by them at the moment - one of them had a high population of aphids on it last year but that was later on when it was mature - this year them seem to be getting to them early and they've gone to town over the last day or two.
Another one of the lupins started growing and then just stopped - no sign of any pests and seemingly something has got it from the roots?
Can anyone offer some advice on the best way to deal with aphids? Is it just spraying soapy water? My lupins are being ruined by them at the moment - one of them had a high population of aphids on it last year but that was later on when it was mature - this year them seem to be getting to them early and they've gone to town over the last day or two.
Another one of the lupins started growing and then just stopped - no sign of any pests and seemingly something has got it from the roots?
Any advice most appreciated.
The slugs are out with force now too!
Slug problem, get yourself some frogs, toads and hedgehogs.
I don't really like using too many chemicals in the garden as the above creatures and birds will also eat the the various chemicals in pesticides. I wouldn't have thought its healthy for them. But I do give my plants a once a year spray to keep the black fly down. A bit counter what I preach but I try to keep it to a minimum.
Dig a small hole, put a cup, glass or plastic beaker in it, about 2 inches of ale in the bottom. Slugs love it, and they drown in it. You will catch more the richer the beer you use apparently.
Once you have a few pounds of dead slugs in the ale chuck them down the bottom of the garden and a hedgehog will eat them. Very effective but I feel resentful giving up ale
So my jagged bit of plastic spear comes into play most evenings to slewer the slimy bastards
Can anyone offer some advice on the best way to deal with aphids? Is it just spraying soapy water? My lupins are being ruined by them at the moment - one of them had a high population of aphids on it last year but that was later on when it was mature - this year them seem to be getting to them early and they've gone to town over the last day or two.
Another one of the lupins started growing and then just stopped - no sign of any pests and seemingly something has got it from the roots?
Any advice most appreciated.
The slugs are out with force now too!
I spray with soapy water. It seems to make them stick to the leaves, then I wash it off later. Repeat next day etc. Last year’s lupins were totally trashed by slugs. I like the sheep’s wool pellets - use them along with nematodes. Nematodes take 4 days or so to start working. Wool pellets straight away as they form a barrier. I can’t believe the amount of damage a slug can do overnight. Bastards!
Dig a small hole, put a cup, glass or plastic beaker in it, about 2 inches of ale in the bottom. Slugs love it, and they drown in it. You will catch more the richer the beer you use apparently.
Once you have a few pounds of dead slugs in the ale chuck them down the bottom of the garden and a hedgehog will eat them. Very effective but I feel resentful giving up ale
So my jagged bit of plastic spear comes into play most evenings to slewer the slimy bastards
Buy a case of strong real ale.
Drink it.
Who cares what the slugs fu*c*Kn🐌 eat. Buy a bunch of flowers tomorrow for the wife.
Maybe.
Buy more beer. 🍺
Drink more beer. 🍺🍺
Study brewing beer whilst planning how to change shed into a man room.
Dig a small hole, put a cup, glass or plastic beaker in it, about 2 inches of ale in the bottom. Slugs love it, and they drown in it. You will catch more the richer the beer you use apparently.
Once you have a few pounds of dead slugs in the ale chuck them down the bottom of the garden and a hedgehog will eat them. Very effective but I feel resentful giving up ale
So my jagged bit of plastic spear comes into play most evenings to slewer the slimy bastards
Buy a case of strong real ale.
Drink it.
Who cares what the slugs fu*c*Kn🐌 eat. Buy a bunch of flowers tomorrow for the wife.
Maybe.
Buy more beer. 🍺
Drink more beer. 🍺🍺
Study brewing beer whilst planning how to change shed into a man room.
Brew more beer.
Drink more beer.
Nip out about 10pm and brain the little bastards.
You got that from Alan Titchmarsh’s autobiography didn’t you.
Dig a small hole, put a cup, glass or plastic beaker in it, about 2 inches of ale in the bottom. Slugs love it, and they drown in it. You will catch more the richer the beer you use apparently.
Once you have a few pounds of dead slugs in the ale chuck them down the bottom of the garden and a hedgehog will eat them. Very effective but I feel resentful giving up ale
So my jagged bit of plastic spear comes into play most evenings to slewer the slimy bastards
Buy a case of strong real ale.
Drink it.
Who cares what the slugs fu*c*Kn🐌 eat. Buy a bunch of flowers tomorrow for the wife.
Maybe.
Buy more beer. 🍺
Drink more beer. 🍺🍺
Study brewing beer whilst planning how to change shed into a man room.
Brew more beer.
Drink more beer.
Nip out about 10pm and brain the little bastards.
You got that from Alan Titchmarsh’s autobiography didn’t you.
Sowed runner beans in bog rolls yesterday. Today I need to get the greenhouse sorted ready for the tomatoes in grow bags. Toms are still very small which is a bit worrying. Only one cucumber seedling left now due to slugs in greenhouse. I've had a frog living in there over the winter so I hoped he'd hoover slugs up. He just seems to laze in the sun in my dehlia pots and doesn't want to go out.
Sowed runner beans in bog rolls yesterday. Today I need to get the greenhouse sorted ready for the tomatoes in grow bags. Toms are still very small which is a bit worrying. Only one cucumber seedling left now due to slugs in greenhouse. I've had a frog living in there over the winter so I hoped he'd hoover slugs up. He just seems to laze in the sun in my dehlia pots and doesn't want to go out.
An amphibian showing great discipline during the lock down - if only everyone was doing the same.
Here’s the little bugger with his head poking out from the left under one of last year’s grow bags. I’ve left it in all bloody year. I thought he’d moved to the Dahlia pots on a permanent basis so was going to chuck it out - but here he is!
Have been sowing seeds of sprouts, cauliflowers, cabbages, kale etc. Got some goodish seedlings now - maybe an inch or two high. I've never had success with these before due to various critters eating them. I know you should stick a net over - not sure I've got any. Any other tips?
I’ve grown about 100 tomato plants this year and have been supplying my street’s WhatsApp group members. They’ve also taken chilli plants and varies beans and peas. I’ve been given a compost bin and some veg in return 👍. It’s been amazing getting to know loads of people on my street who I’ve never even seen before. Any Addicks living near Clapham Common are welcome to come and pick up a tomato plant if they want one.
Each year my allotment has been a bit of a disaster, mainly because we’re normally we’re away in spring and summer so can’t water, but this years it’s completely different, and I’ve loved being there.
I built 13 raised beds in October/November, which has also made a big difference. Feel very, very lucky to have it. This year I’m having another go at growing fennel and asparagus - never had any success at all in the past.
Jimmy Seed and his marrow. He had a veg plot in the back garden in Bromley, but never took much interest in it.
Any tips for discouraging blackbirds from throwing the chip bark in our borders everywhere? A couple happily make a mess every 5 minutes. I then spend 20 minutes tidying it all back up whilst they tweet their laughter at me from a nearby tree, waiting for me to disappear and then do it all over again. I'm beginning to hate the little bastards.
Comments
If they run out, they seem to restock fast.
Regards tomatoes, mine are looking very well developed in terms of leaves, but seem short for their 'age'. Been in for nearly a month and are about an inch tall or less, but as I say with 4 or more leaves out...
Grow bags arent a big expense but if you have soil, a bit of fertiliser they should grow. I used to get them growing up through he pebbles from seeds of previous crops of tomatoes.
So I guess we could just bury a load of old tomatoes and see where that takes us!
my radishes are taking really well, no movement on anything else apart from a tiny bit of spring onion leaf poking up. I've covered all the pots with upturned transparent buckets to give them a helping hand of a greenhouse effect
I'm going to make a composter out of a couple of pallets I have doing nothing apart from making the place look untidy
Had a bad year of blight a few seasons ago. Wiped out huge amounts. I think it was a really cold, wet summer.
Have a small lean to greenhouse thing, herbs, toms and chillis going well in there (apart from their diminutive appearance.)
Spinach seems easy/low maintenance, though assume it will be slug heaven.
Very easy to grow. Doesn't tend to bolt in dry weather like spinach does and capable of standing through the winter (at least in Cornwall; I should think it would also stand through most winters in London/SE).
If you let last year's plant run to seed in the late spring, it'll seed itself and you'll have seedling swiss chard popping up here and there ...... free plants, and when they are small, if they are in the wrong place you can transplant them elsewhere.
I use the dark green leaves like spinach, and the white stems stir-fried like celery.
Not to my taste to eat it raw, but I know people who do.
It's very nutritious, being a close relative of the beetroot family.
Another one of the lupins started growing and then just stopped - no sign of any pests and seemingly something has got it from the roots?
Any advice most appreciated.
The slugs are out with force now too!
I don't really like using too many chemicals in the garden as the above creatures and birds will also eat the the various chemicals in pesticides. I wouldn't have thought its healthy for them. But I do give my plants a once a year spray to keep the black fly down. A bit counter what I preach but I try to keep it to a minimum.
Once you have a few pounds of dead slugs in the ale chuck them down the bottom of the garden and a hedgehog will eat them. Very effective but I feel resentful giving up ale
So my jagged bit of plastic spear comes into play most evenings to slewer the slimy bastards
Last year’s lupins were totally trashed by slugs. I like the sheep’s wool pellets - use them along with nematodes. Nematodes take 4 days or so to start working. Wool pellets straight away as they form a barrier. I can’t believe the amount of damage a slug can do overnight. Bastards!
Drink it.
Who cares what the slugs fu*c*Kn🐌 eat. Buy a bunch of flowers tomorrow for the wife.
Maybe.
Buy more beer. 🍺
Drink more beer. 🍺🍺
Study brewing beer whilst planning how to change shed into a man room.
Brew more beer.
Drink more beer.
Nip out about 10pm and brain the little bastards.
An amphibian showing great discipline during the lock down - if only everyone was doing the same.
Any Addicks living near Clapham Common are welcome to come and pick up a tomato plant if they want one.
This year I’m having another go at growing fennel and asparagus - never had any success at all in the past.