4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[xChicken04x]

Hi all, I have a few more veg questions, so any help would be appreciated.

 

I planted my peas this week, but I really want to be able to eat them at Christmas, with the roast. Can I freeze them? If so, how? Do I just pop them in a freezer bag?

 

How many pods can I expect off each plant? And how many peas will be in each pod?

 

I also got my sweetcorn seedlings happily growing, when fully established, how many cobs will I expect on each plant? Should I expect cobs this year, or next? And can sweetcorn grow in big pots, or are they better in the veg patch?

 

Courgettes- same questions really, how many should I expect off each plant?

 

 

Also, I'm considering getting a cold frame/small green house. Will I be able to grow vegetables such as carrots and potatoes in it (in pots of course) during the winter?

 

Anyway, that's it for now. Thanks very much for any help.

[Christian]

I planted my peas this week, but I really want to be able to eat them at Christmas, with the roast. Can I freeze them? If so, how? Do I just pop them in a freezer bag? I blanch them quickly in boiling water and then freeze in bags

 

How many pods can I expect off each plant? And how many peas will be in each pod?

Depends on the variety, it takes a lot of plants to get a good crop. Sow a few peas every couple of weeks to get a continuous crop

 

I also got my sweetcorn seedlings happily growing, when fully established, how many cobs will I expect on each plant? Should I expect cobs this year, or next? And can sweetcorn grow in big pots, or are they better in the veg patch? One or two cobs per plant. You will get a crop this year and then they need pulling up. Plant them in a block as they are wind fertilised and pollination is better in a block. I would say better in the ground as then they are more stable and the roots won't dry out as quickly

 

Courgettes- same questions really, how many should I expect off each plant?Lots and lots, they crop really well if you feed them. Cut them off when still young, forget for a couple of days and you'll end up with marrows!

 

 

Also, I'm considering getting a cold frame/small green house. Will I be able to grow vegetables such as carrots and potatoes in it (in pots of course) during the winter?It would probably be too cold to grow carrots in the winter, but grow them now and store them in trays of damp sand, they keep for months. You can grow potatoes for harvesting on Christmas day, but best to grow now and let them dry in the sun for a day or two. They also keep for months in a frost free, dark place. Use chicken pellet paper bags to store them!

[chickenanne]

I agree with Christian entirely, except that I've managed to grow carrots in a cold frame: I used Nantes (very early Nantes) and sowed the seed in late autumn. However I think they will be a bit woody as they grow so slowly in cold, darker weather, and they have taken AGES. it was a bit of an experiment, really, I guess if you have the space you could do it but I wouldn't recommend going to any particular trouble - the results aren't worth it.

I live in Scotland so the winter weather is pretty cold and dark: you might have more success further south.

Courgettes: how many plants? Slugs like the seedlings, but assuming they all survive personally I would recommend a less-is-more approach: they take up a good bit of space and are INCREDIBLY productive. Too productive, unless you like courgette quiche, courgette curry, courgette soup.... you get the idea....

[Christian]

I had 2 courgette plants last year and they produced too many for the two of us. Luckily, the chickens like chopped up courgette!

[Cinnamon]

Don't.................the annual courgette glut is the bane of my life!

Unhappily, I cannot moderate my growth of courgettes, as they are easy,look good & I have the space, but my goodness we get heartily sick of the things after a while!

 

I have 8 of them on the go in the greenhouse - will I ever learn?

 

Last summer I roasted a heap of them along with red onions, peppers,tomatoes,herbs & so forth then froze it for a roasted veggies pasta sauce, which is really nice.

[chickenanne]

Eight of them... EIGHT??! Are you mad, woman?!

Have you tried courgette chutney? It's ok, and at least you don't need to eat it when you're still suffering the glut.

[Cinnamon]

I am going to give away at least 4 on Freecycle - I do every year.

There are lotties up the road, so always plenty of takers

 

I often get a bit of something in return too

[AJuff]

Yes but have you tried Jamie's creamy courgette pasta?? Beautiful!!

[eggypeggy]

Have to say something on the peas behalf. They'll never get as far as the freezer, peas are like sweets straight raw from the pod. yum yum. Buy frozen peas.

[Valkyrie]

Ditto to the above, but regarding peas and how many in a pod, it all depends on the variety. Some have 6 and others have 10 and lots somewhere in between. The pods can be single or in pairs (perhaps more, not sure of that). Last year I managed to grow peas to save for a bumper crop this year. Every time I try, they never last long enough to get inside the house to cook let alone freeze! That's just the humans - the other takers are pesky pidgeons and naughty little meecies!

[Christian]

Talking of meecies, I have just noticed that some of my sweetpeas seedlings have been munched Mickey and his friends no doubt