Single hen

[xChicken04x]

Hi Guys,

This year I'm determined to 'grow my own' as I really want more experience of eating my own produce. I made a feeble attempt to grow some veg in 2007, but the squirrels just dug it all up because I *holds hands up* didn't protect it properly (although, in my defence I was very unwell at the time.)

 

I'm now much stronger this year so feel able to start again.

 

I planted my first potatoes today, from chittied potatoes, from the garden centre. But since I don't really have the right area to plant them in the ground, I put them in large pots. I'm not sure how they will turn out, but I know it's been done before, so I'm hopeful. I also put chicken wire over to protect them from the squirrels.

 

I have a few questions though, regarding some fruit canes I brought from Homebase. They where only £1.99 so I thought I would try them out. This is my first time growing fruit so I'm very much an novice...

 

I bought one blueberry bush and one raspberry cane. Is this all I need for them to produce fruit, or will I need more? Will I get fruit this year, or next? How big do the pots need to be for them? How often should I water them? Do they need any extra supliments, if so, what?

 

Also, a few years back, I bought a strawberry plant. I was on the 'clearance' shelf and looked in desperate need of a drink. So I took it home, gave it some care and attention and planted it. Every year it produces a few strawberries, only about 5/6 but they only reach about the size of a penny, then shrivel and die. Does anyone know why this happens? They also have a strange spongy texture to them, not like a regular strawberry.

 

Also, I going to have a go at growing onions, any tips? I can't plant them in the ground, so will they be Ok in large pots?

 

And last but not least...I grew tomatoes last year, but they got blight and died, so we didn't get any tomatoes. How can I avoid this happening again?

 

 

I'm sure I'll think of a few more questions, but if anyone could help me with these ones, I would very much appreciate it.

 

Many thanks.

[Valkyrie]

The blueberry plant depends on the type, there are self pollinating bushes, but it is likely that you might need another. They would be better off in a tub because they like acid soil, so you would need ericaceous compost - the one for heathers/azaleas/rhododendrons (unless these plants grow well in your area in which case they might be happy in the ground).

Raspberries - not sure about in tubs, but they do make more canes from the roots. You might find you won't get much off one cane this year, but you can always use it to make more. They like fertiliser - especially like a dressing of potash, or soot.

Grow onions in pots by all means - 2 to 3 inches apart in medium pots (put them around the edge and one in the middle) that will give you small to medium onions. Most veg can be grown in pots or containers, although it might not be wise to grow very tall things like Jerusalem artichokes because they can get very top-heavy. You can however grow runner beans if your pot is large enough - you can put some canes in at the edges and tie them in at the top. Or lots of large pots with one cane - as long as you can anchor them in so they don't fall over in a breeze.

Toms - outside I plant them so that the first set of leaves are just underneath soil level. We had blight at the allotment, cut off the damaged stem and new shoots came up and were stronger than before - they didn't produce much before the season ended, but it was better than none at all. You can spray them (the same for spuds) using Bordeaux mixture. I don't spray anything here though. Also you can grow toms in hanging baskets too. One variety is called "Tumbler" but any "bush" variety can be grown that way too - apparently.

I'm afraid I don't know too much about strawberries apart from the fact that blackbirds scoff them when they are green! And the chickens eat the leaves too!

Happy growing!

[Guest]

are they wild strawberries? we have some and they are tiny but very flavourful.

 

[Happy chickens!]

Hi Chicken04 - don't know which bit of Cheshire you are in, but if you can get to the wirral side of Cheshire I am sorting out my raspberry patch and will gladly give you (or any other omleteers in the area!) some canes. I inherited this patch on my allotment and they fruit fantastically - one smallish crop in early summer, then a massive crop in the Autumn. They should do fine in pots provided you give them plenty of water and feed them!

[Old Speckled Hen]

are they wild strawberries? we have some and they are tiny but very flavourful.

 

 

 

They certainly look like wild strawberries

 

 

I have some in my garden and they are plentiful in the hedgerows here.

 

 

Not only are they good to eat they make a wonderful COLD jam, which intensifies their flavour.

The scent and taste is heavenly.

[redhotchick]

The best piece of advice I can give you is to grow things that you like to eat!

Two things that I like to eat and are fairly easy to grow are courgettes and salad leaves, especially mizuna and rocket. I plant mixed lettuce, the seed is very cheap to buy. It was lovely last year to be able to pick fresh leaves everyday throughout the summer. Fingers crossed for success this year!

[chickenanne]

... as for the tomato blight, the best way not to get it is to have a sunny dry summer. So, it's very simple avoid: all you need to do is arrange for a good summer. You can spray with bordeaux mixture, but personally I don't like to use chemicals. It helps if you look after them well, but to some extent in cold wet summers blight is very difficult to avoid. I think you just chalk the bad years up to experience and move on.

Courgettes I second, although unless you have a strange love for them, or a huge familly, or a stall on your local market, then three plants will be plenty.

Onions are easy to grow but personally I think they're rubbish: if you grow from sets all that happens is... they get bigger. They don't taste differnt fresh and they aren't expensive to buy. Lots of people love growing them, but that's because they're wrong

Herbs are very pleasing, particularly in pots. Look pretty, smell great, easy to grow, and relatively expensive to buy in the shops.

[Christian]

I agree about onions - they are so cheap to buy and take up space, but I grow them with my carrots to deter carrot root fly

[xChicken04x]

Hi all, thank you SO much for your replies.

 

I'm so glad we got to the bottom of the strawberry problem, yes, it looks like they are wild strawberries judging by the pics, kindly posted by Poet . And, yes, they smell beautiful too. I've never eaten them though because I've always waited for them to get bigger, thinking they are just regular strawberries...

 

I'm afraid though, I have been bitten by the fruit/veg growing bug. In the last couple of days I've bought three gardening magazines, six BIG pots, asparagus seeds, two packs of carrot seeds, more spuds, another blueberry bush, another raspberry cane, 2 blackberry canes and, accidentally nine strawberry plants . I picked up one packed of strawberry seeds, then saw some bargain strawberry canes and picked up two of them, then when I got them home, I realised you get 4 in one 'cane.' So, we'll have plenty of strawberries!

Also, an elderly friend heard I'd taken up gardening (gossip spreads quickly doesn't it?!) and since he doesn't know anyone who likes growing veg, he was delighted to share some hints and tips with me . He then brought round three black current canes from his own plants, which made my day.

 

Hi Happy chickens! Thank you for your very kind offer, yes, I'm on the Wirral too! If I hadn't bought more raspberry canes today, before reading this, I would have accepted your offer! I think I have enough now though...But thank you so much for the offer.

As a matter of interest, do you have any raspberry-growing tips?

 

I understand what your all saying about the onions....I just want to try 'easy' to grow veg for now to get me used to it. I also like the idea of eating as much home grown produce as possible.

 

 

Anyway, thanks again for all of your help.

[chickenanne]

Tsk, another pool deluded onion growing person ... I despair....

[Matthew]

I love growing my own onions....

 

 

... especially shallots which then turn into home made pickled onions with the addition of a home grown chilli to spice them up

 

.. wonderful

 

 

I shall now put my fingers in my ears and go La la la la la la to any replies

[Happy chickens!]

Hi xChicken04x now you know to check the forum before you do anything!!!!

 

My raspberries thrive on benign negect as everything in my house/garden has to (kids and chickens included!!!). I mulch in the spring to keep the weeds down - newspaper and grass clippings usually - after feeding them, either fish blood and bone or seaweed meal, depending on my best friend who swings between vegan/vegetarian! They don't mind a bit of shade, but fruits are sweeter in the sun, and they need watering regularly if it's dry when they are setting fruit. I only ever cut back 1/3 of the patch in one year, as it always seems to take a while for them to recover.

 

Hope that helps!

 

If you are the wirral end - how near to me are you? - I'm in Neston.