Egluntyne Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 If you cook them as soon as you have picked them, when they are young, they are lovely. Take the tough little jackets off them....they are bitter. The big old ones are pretty horrible and can have a slightly....erm....musical effect on your constitution. Give them another try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I'll be trying to grow anything that likes a lot of water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I'll list all my plans later as I need to make a list of what I've bought. I bought loads of veggie seeds from here http://www.theseedstation.co.uk his p&p is just 45p for as many as you order - so the more you order the cheaper the p&p is per unit! I've bought from him a few times and they are grea seeds - cheaper than the garden centre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Los Tres Pollos Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 I like broad beans but OH not so keen though she will eat them when very young. However we've found a way to serve them that is more palatable to her. After cooking mash the beans with some cream (creme fraiche for the healther option) and a little freshly ground black pepper. The chefy way to do it is to take off the skins but we don't usaually bother unless the beans are old and skins tough (can clog the masher). For those not so keen on them try it, it makes them a lot more acceptable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 I forgot to plant my broad beans in November. Is it too late to remedy the situation? I think you can plant them until Feb Egluntine, they just won't be as big and bushy as the ones planted last year. We got quite a good crop from a Feb planting last year, although they were nothing compared to our allotment neighbour's who planted in Nov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 I'm planting - garlic (in already) onions carrots runner beans borlotta beans sweetcorn pumpkins spinach courgettes swiss chard curly kale cucumber tomatoes lettuce radish beetroot potatoes chillis herbs sweetpeas marigolds cornflowers dwarf sunflowers That lot should keep me busy! Need a greenhouse now.....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 I've just been to the library to get a book on growing veg and herbs. I'm really starting from scratch as I know nothing . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 I'm hoping for a better year on the allotment - last year not much did well apart from shallots and runner beans (and red orache, which I liked but OH didn't). I have a 1/3 plot divided into six smallish beds, with permanent paths between to reduce digging: 1) Early potatoes followed by winter brassicas (kale, purple sprouting broccoli) 2) Onion family (garlic, shallots and leeks) 3) Summer/autumn brassicas (red cabbage, romanesco cauli) 4) Peas and beans (broad and runner) 5) "Three sisters": sweetcorn, squash and climbing French beans 6) Baby roots (carrots, beetroot, turnips, etc) followed by chard Tomatoes, courgettes, salad leaves and herbs I grow in the garden - I'm hoping to keep them rather more chicken-free this year! I'm also growing some cherry toms in the conservatory in hanging baskets (where the cats can't use the compost as a litter tray!), just in case we have another wet summer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 I love the hanging basket tomatoes especially Tumbler they produce masses of tomatoes from a very small space and they ripen early too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 (edited) I love being in the garden watching my hens. When I'm digging I have to make sure they aren't under my feet! Eek! I don't want any chicken accidents! So far I have planted, Garlic, Onions, shallots, Broad beans, beetroot, spring onions, rocket, lamb's lettuce and a row of mixed lettuce. I planted strawberry plants last year which seem to be thriving, and a raspberry cane, some rhubarb and some asparagus. I have half a seed tray each of cauliflower, cabbage, sprouts and leeks. I can't wait for the weather to pick up so that I can sow lots more seeds! It's not a very big garden either! I'll just keep trying, if I put enough things in something has to work! Edited April 9, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 I'll just keep trying, if I put enough things in something has to work! Sounds like a good plan to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 I hope the weather picks up soon too. I am getting really impatient for spring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I've just been to the library to get a book on growing veg and herbs. I'm really starting from scratch as I know nothing . I was given Delia Smith's Kitchen garden book for my birthday and armed with that I am planting; peas, broad beans (OH likes them), corgette, lettuce, runner beans, onions, potatoes, raspberries, redcurrants, apple trees, a pear tree and carrots. I'm very excited by growing my own veg. I think I'm a bit too excited and my friends are looking sideways at me (just like they did when I got the hens!). I just wish I'd taken more notice of what my dad did when he grew stuff. Too late to ask now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 I have got that book. its really good. We have been up the road to get some horse poo today to put on our patch. I am going to leave it alone now untill next weekend when I am going to plant my shallots, then first early spuds. We have got the first of the radishes up outside. On my window sills I have already got Tomato plants of 2 varietys Courgettes Aubergines Peppers Chillis My green house is FULL of strawberry plants and broccoli and cabbage sprouted in paper pots We are also are planting runner and french beans, mange tout, lettuice, rocket, spinach, and cucumbers when the time is right. I also do giant peas which I mail ordered from victoriana some years ago. These grow to 6 foot and produce an amazing amout of peas. We collect and save some peas at the end of the season to replant them next year. I can highly recomend them. Happy growing!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 They sound interesting peas. Do you know what sort they are? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 They are availible from www.victoriananursery.co.uk and they are called collossal climbing. Excellent cropping compared to the normal sized peas. They are £4.95 a bag plus postage but we bought ours about 4 years ago and kept hem going by saving some peas and drying them out for seed for next time. I havent seen them anywhere else for sale. Well worth the effort to get them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 Thanks for that, have been online and ordered some! They'll grow well up the tall fence near the apple trees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrishY Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I just wish I'd taken more notice of what my dad did when he grew stuff. Too late to ask now. That's EXACTLY what I said to my mum about a week ago. I've got planted out potatoes peas shallots fruit canes sunflowers some butternut squash, and 1 pepper YAY in a propergator(sp) and french beans on a windowsill waiting to plant on/out. I've got a plastic greenhouse which has garlic and sprouts seedlings in and also bedding plants. eek just remembered i have asparagus and rhubarb in packets waiting to plant out - just wish it would stop raining Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 All ready out: Broad beans Onions (two types) Garlic Still to go out: Peas Runner beans French beans Tomatoes (from Phil's Dad) Courgettes (ditto) Broccoli (ditto) I don't have much room, so most of these grow on the patio out of reach of the chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I have garlic (lots and lots!) already out, early carrots under cloches just starting to show, broad beans hardening off (didn't want to plant them just yet, since frosts are forecast this week), and chitted potatoes ready to go in on Good Friday, as is traditional Also, just thinned out my leek, welsh onion and celeriac seedlings, and I have four varieties of tomato just germinated; chillies are already potted on. Peas and runner beans just sown (I usually start them off indoors then sow outdoors alongside the young plants for a second crop), but the next batch of indoor sowing will have to wait until the potatoes have gone in as I'm out of space on the shelves in my conservatory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Early peas are up and in mini greenhouse alongside early carrots just showing. Waiting on my first broad beans to show Garlic is in (bit late) Shallots and all my onion sets are ready to go this Peppers and chillis inside the house germinating (hopefully) Earlies and seconds chitting away merrily ready for this weekend Have now taken on a 5 pole allotment which has been fallow for about 2 years and am in process of digging over.. only spent 4 hours in total there, going to be a long slog I feel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 we have peas in the garden and at the allotnent. I planted about a third of our onions through weed control matting on the allotment on Saturday morning before the rain came I have cut out little squares and planted then in the holes, hopefully I will be able to reuse this for a few years. We used a cheap black matting last year and it fell apart by harvest time but it did cut down on weeding and kept them moist in out sandy soil although last year that was not so needed and we had a great crop of big onions which are still going and hopefully we will not run out before the first shallots are ready. My free radish seedlings are growing well and in the same raised bed we have spinach coming up too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 This year I'm going for staples. Got a few seedlings that came up in the propagator this morning of beef tomatoes, normal ones and some yellow ones got some aubergines in there too. Already have the potato's chitting in the utility room and garlic and onion sets waiting to go in. If it ever gets dry out in the garden there'll be peas, carrots, sweetcorn and goodness knows what else Lets just hope it's a better year weather-wise A xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 yesterday, planted some french beans, raddish, aubergine, onions, yellow marigolds, mini carnations, geraniums, beetroot & lettuce. Still need to get my tomato seeds! I also bought a plastic tunnel seed shelter from Lidl for £3 something! It's fab! 5m long. It's going over my bed, to keep the chooks off the seeds..al flowers will go in pots & baskets this year, so I can move them out of reach of the chooks! Just got to keep the ants & slugs away this year! Hope something grows this year...weather was terrible last yesr! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 This year I'm going for staples. What kind of plant do you need to grow those? Lets just hope it's a better year weather-wise Amen to that, brother! I'm growing some Tumbling Tom in hanging baskets in the conservatory (out of reach of the cats!), just in case... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
