Cinnamon Posted May 11, 2010 Author Share Posted May 11, 2010 There is a lot to be said for buying seedlings in. I have had some of my best crops for garden centre plants.....whenever I try to pot on a Cucumber or Melon it invariably dies on me & the Tomatoes at the garden centre are so much healthier & sturdier than mine If it weren't' for the itchy fingers I get in Feb/March when I need to do something gardeny,& may not even bother planting seeds of thoses plants any more Peas & Beans,Peppers,Chillies,Sweetcorn & root veg I can grow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 Bought some more sweetcorn seeds today, so will wait and see if I receive a propogator for my birthday and try then that way. More parsnips seeds in and a few radishes. Also corn salad and rocket. I must remember to sow salad leaves little and often...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 We never sow our own tomatoes, because you end up with too many plants of the same variety, so we tour around the garden centres and buy a range of varieties as small plants and pot them up and nuture them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squidsin Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I put in a couple of tomato plants from Homebase to replace the seedlings my chickens ate - I was growing the tumbling variety as border plugs but now have gone for sturdier plants in pots! I decided to buy some petunias as well and was just deliberating on which colours when someone tapped on my arm and said 'excuse me, your baby's eating a plant.' My 10-month old Sam, who was in the baby seat in the trolley, had one of the tomato plants sticking out of his mouth - he looked so pleased with himself. Bad mummy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieR Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 Look on the bright side - at least Sam sounds like a child who will eat his greens! My son only eats lettuce if it comes in a burger delivered by Ronald MacDonald. All the tomato plants are sold out in the garden and DIY shops up here! I will have to struggle on with my own wee pathetic seed-grown specimens. There was a frost last night so had to cover lots in fleece and some of the greenhouse seedlings are not looking too happy. Saturday blazing sunshine then Monday frost! What is going ON with our weather?! Nothing planted today - will see what else has died then review the situation at the weekend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieR Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 ps Like your idea on the tomato varieties Liz - will give that a go next year. Then you learn what grows well for you and what you like don't you? Fab idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 just sowed some egyptian pea beans that tasha gave us last year. We didn't get a massive crop last year so saved all the beans to plant this year. same as these ones http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EGYPTIAN-PEA-BEAN-ANCIENT-CLIMBING-BEAN-HEAVY-CROPPER-/230448283966 http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/growing_show_vegetables_1/pea-bean.php p.s. if we get lots this year I'm happy to spread the love and send a few out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squidsin Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 I sowed leeks in a tub (going to keep them as the baby sort), courgettes and purple sprouting broccoli to go into the allotment in a month or so, and 'harbinger' tomatoes as I got a free packet so thought I might as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 I sowed leeks in a tub (going to keep them as the baby sort), courgettes and purple sprouting broccoli to go into the allotment in a month or so, and 'harbinger' tomatoes as I got a free packet so thought I might as well! i got those free harbinger ones too, I offered them on the seed swap but no-one wants them I've already planted about 6 different varieties of toms so may use them next year instead, let me know how you get on with them,. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 That's interesting - I've sowed two batches of sweetcorn indoors in a propagator now, and both times, only a couple of the seedlings have come up. I've not tried sweetcorn before, is this a common problem then? I think I am going to have to buy some tomato plants today as my chooks have eaten my seedlings! I sowed early potatoes back in late Feb - red Duke of York - and the plants are massive now! Think I might be able to harvest in June and then I'll have that bed free again. What would be good to put in there - some kind of brassica? sweet corn can be a pig to germinate it can also br prone to the seeds rotting if the compost ist to wet Red Duke should be ready to harvest after about 10-12 weeks depending on how big you want them they will also make good summer bakers if left to mature.But if it's been a dry spring they tend to be a dry potato If I'd planted them in late Feb I'd be looking at them spring bank holiday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squidsin Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 Cheers SJP - I'm away that bank holiday for a wedding but I reckon they'll be good to go when I get back. The frost has killed off a couple of my new potato plants but I've earthed up around the rest and given them some plant food and I am confident they'll make it. Today I planted some squash plants (bought ones from garden centre ) to replace the squash seedlings that the frost also demolished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 just sowed some egyptian pea beans that tasha gave us last year. We didn't get a massive crop last year so saved all the beans to plant this year. same as these ones http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EGYPTIAN-PEA-BEAN-ANCIENT-CLIMBING-BEAN-HEAVY-CROPPER-/230448283966 http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/growing_show_vegetables_1/pea-bean.php p.s. if we get lots this year I'm happy to spread the love and send a few out... I've grown pea beans for about 5 years never Know it to be a heavy cropper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 Bought some organic cucumber (dwarf), courgettes and some very interesting globe courgette plants today - won't be going out yet as too chilly But planted some garlic chives which have lovely white flowers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 Over the weekend we have planted some more peas in pots, and some more french beans. I also did some spring onions at the allotment. The warmer weather is bringing up the seeds. I found a new baby pumpkin plant on the kitchen window ledge this morning, and I have loads of basil seedling coming up, even my coriander and parsley which I planted in a raised bed about 4 weeks ago has started coming up and I had nearly given up on those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Today I planted out 105 sweetcorn plants - and this year I won't be covering them with fleece should the weather turn windy as I did last year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Blimey, I thought we had a lot with 36 and 12 mini sweet corn. Do you freeze them? I have sown more radishes and pricked out loads of lettuce and basil seedlings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 Well I did get a propogator for my birthday so have planted some more sweetcorn in it and hopefully, they will catch up. Typical now the weather has warmed up! Shame you didn't have any spare Lesley. I could have 'popped' over Also planted more peas, swede and repotted the toms again - last time before they go out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 I did have 5 spare that had to go in another bed with the garlic........ Blimey, I thought we had a lot with 36 and 12 mini sweet corn. Do you freeze them? Yes we do, although we eat a lot as they become ready as well.....and I make relish with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 ..and Lesley's sweetcorn relish is delish! Planted out the pea seedlings yesterday, need to put the courgettes out. My winter squash that I put in the propogator on Wednesday is up already Need to find space for 6 plants now Parsnips are up as are the carrots. Will plant more carrots today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted May 22, 2010 Author Share Posted May 22, 2010 I am carrotting today too,plus getting another Courgette out,potting on the Squash & doing a big old weed of all the beds. Even weeding is a pleasure in weather like this Just been for a morning wander in my dressing gown to see that I have Pea pods on my very early patio peas,& a good few baby cucumbers too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcatz Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 I fenced off my veg patch yesterday with chicken wire and bamboo canes. Planted french beans, sugar snap peas, and some potatoes. I'll plant some tomato plants that I grew from seed and carrot seeds today. I'm so pleased with my fence and gate also made out of chicken wire and bamboo canes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henriette Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 I keep on forgetting this thread - I have really enjoyed all the posts and I now feel quite behind about all my planting and sowing. However, I have sown a third crop of peas, second of carrots, second of rocket and am about to sow some runner beans. Have also sown french beans in pots for transplanting later and courgettes. Finally, have sown a second large pot of peas for pea sprouts (first one almost ready for sampling). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted May 23, 2010 Author Share Posted May 23, 2010 I have sown a crop of windowsill peas for pea shoots,just with my leftover pea seeds today,as well as more herbs for the windowsill too. I have also realised that I have forgotten to do an Aubergine,so am hoping to find one at the farmers market this week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 I planted out 16 courgette type plants ( does anyone have that book - I may be needing it ) 15 of one type of kale, about 20 of another type of Kale and me and kev planted out about a million cabbages (ok, so maybe there was about 30 ) cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcatz Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 lol, Couperwife. Today I sowed more peas - dwarf and normal, a couple more climbing french beans, about ten potatoes, a few cabbages, row of carrots, sunflowers, a couple of hollyhocks in random places, another butternut squash, kos lettuce in an old drawer, mixed salad leaves in a pot, rocket. loads and my back hurts and I need a shower, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
