Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Darn it, I've just come from there . Never mind, I'm bound to be back again soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 The B^£%$@*@^ *@ rabbit has eaten all my radish markers, raspberry canes, some strawberry leaves, onions and all my direct sown salad leaves AGAIN!! I spent this week stapling chicken wire to all the fences to try and stop it. Didn't want to have to cover every bed in chicken wire, but looks like I will have to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 What a bummer, Christian . All that hard work . ~~~~~~~~~~ I have a question for you experts ... I'm about to sow my first seeds ( ) - indoors as there's still a chance of frost . I've got 25 courgette seeds - should I just sow them all at once, or do a few per week over a few weeks? Or should I keep half for next year? How many courgettes does one plant generally produce - the kids don't like them so we don't want too many . Can you tell I'm a complete beginner ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Sow 2 per pot, max of 2 pots if I were you You can pull out the weaker seedling if both germinate, or re pot them both. You will get masses of courgettes if you keep picking them young. I had 2 plants last year and had 80+ at least. Forget to pick them for a day or so and they become marrows! Sow them on their side, as there is less chance of them rotting. Grated courgette in salads or grated and mixed with potato/egg - makes nice fritters! Good luck ANH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 ANH you can make courgette cake - similar to carrot cake - moist and yummy! Then you get sick to death of courgettes done whichever way humanly possible. Poor Christian. Years ago when I was a teenager, there was a teeny baby wild bunny that often visited our garden and mum said how sweet it was. Until it munched her asparagus and then the exclamation was somewhat similar to yours! I think it either got run over or was scoffed by a fox - but then perhaps someone ate it (wasn't us)! I seem to be having problems with my butternut squashes not germinating. Pesky seeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 I seem to be having problems with my butternut squashes not germinating. Pesky seeds. Me too - they are my only non-germinater this year. I don't know what on earth has gone wrong..................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Yes - they are the only failure so far (apart from ancient seeds and I was expecting that to happen). They are new seed too. I wonder if I should have another bash and soak them on kitchen paper to see if that softens the husk. I don't think I would try the scratching method just yet in case it damages the inside. Perhaps I'll stick some under Cheyenne to hatch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Today - 2 rows of carrots, 2 rows of pak choi, 1 row of Beetroot & my peas went out too. I am awaiting my free Gardeners World seeds to give the Squashes another go,Koojie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 The B^£%$@*@^ *@ rabbit has eaten all my radish markers, raspberry canes, some strawberry leaves, onions and all my direct sown salad leaves AGAIN!! I spent this week stapling chicken wire to all the fences to try and stop it. Didn't want to have to cover every bed in chicken wire, but looks like I will have to. Oh dear . I shouldn't laugh but, been there and got the T-shirt. The wild rabbits and squirrels got my first crop of everything last year. OH built be what looks like a WIR but it has all the raised beds in so it keeps all the little darlings out. It all worked out for the best because at the end of last summer we got the girls, so my vege's were already protected when they went out to free range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackgold Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 I am going to buy one from the garden centre. It only costs about the same as a packet of seeds and one plant is enough for me...Love sue xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 I seem to be having problems with my butternut squashes not germinating. Pesky seeds. Me too - they are my only non-germinater this year. I don't know what on earth has gone wrong..................... I just sowed about 2 weeks ago seeds fresh from one I had just used - I did not dry them and I see to-day that one of them is just up and going!! Maybe just lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 I think I'll try that next year! You lucky thing! When we had the allotment we tried with the butternuts - they grew everywhere but not one squash did we get from the vines. We did however manage to grow tons of custard ones (I like the little flying saucers) and Sweet Dumplings - very nice. This year thought about the butternuts instead of courgettes just for a change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 I've only sown mine today as I forgot them - I'm trying the variety called Cobnut this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 I got round to sowing the first of my vegetable seeds today. The first for over 18 months, I have missed growing vegetables. Today I sowed Runner Bean, Enorma and The Best of All Dwarf French Bean, Kinghorn Wax and The Prince Also potted on some Vegetable plants I bought from Hombase Tomatoes, 3 types, can't remember the names Pea, Onward. 24 plants in the tray I bought, cost £1.99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 In my ickle plot I have sown Potatoes Red onions White onions Beetroot Carrots Parsips and in pots Broad beans Peas Sweetcorn cucumber Spring onions chives sweetpeas cat grass I already have strawberry plants all over the garden in hanging baskets and pots. And my blackcurrant bush has got really big so fingers are crossed for some currants this year (it was only planted last year) as were 4 raspberry canes but only 3 have come up this year. Oh, and my sister has sewn toms from seed so she is giving me some plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Tomatoes, basil, parsley, thyme, sweet peppers, chilli, butternut squash, cucumber, courgettes, calendula maragold, mixed leaves - kinds - 1 lot ready almost to pick and another sown and through for the next lot. Perpetual spinach from last year too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 OH has fixed up another shelf in the greenhouse - NO ROOM! All my seedlings go on there and the rest is devoted to potted on plants - and still no room - I've even taken over the garden table to harden off plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Sowed some sweetcorn, more courgettes and some basil today. Also a few nasturtiums to act as a deterrent for the black fly. Hoping to keep my broad beans safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Well I was hoping to do more carrots and sweetcorn, but found I didn't have enough sweetcorn kernels, so will have to pop down the garden centre tomorrow. I saw the clouds come over and thought pooh to the ironing - get some plants in the garden. So I started bunging tomatoes in the ground and the sun came out blazing - I've come in for a break, but there are now 12 plants in (some Moneymakers and most of the Scarlet King) and there's still more to go! I also chased away one fat bird eyeing up my beetroot and caulis - Piggy Sioux again - anything but the ruddy pellets that the pigeons and blackbirds can't get enough of! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Today I have sowed Runner Bean, Best of all and Enorma Courgette, All green Bush Leek, Autumn Giant The Courgette and Leek are seeds from 2007 and the packets were open, fingers crossed they germinate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Sweetcorn - at last! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchens Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 I've done: some italian salad potatoes a herb garden with all the main contenders purple carrots onions (normal and red) garlic salad - various cut and come again Sweetcorn dwarf french beans toms courgette (normal and yellow) butternut squash couple of pumpkins (for halloween) Ohh now i've made a list I am very impressed with myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 I'm so proud . I have a baby courgette on the way (and two more imminent) . Have patience with me, I've not grown anything from seed for a loooooong time . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 Well done Kitchens and ANH I'm really pleased to have got on top of seed sowing this year - I had to buy a lot of plants the last two years. I still find it exciting when it all germinates......except for parsnips of course - mine still haven't emerged....I think I've drowned them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 Planted more carrot seeds yesterday - thanks to the rabbit another row of peas - rabbit again - or mice more beetroot - again rabbit and another few nasturtiums - enemy unknown, but give you 3 guesses Do you see a pattern unfolding? On a positive note, I have 8 courgette plants for the two of us. Do you think that will do?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
