Fruit and veg growing, how’s it going this year?

re plants in pots. I almost always use a moisture meter, it is not good for plants to have soggy roots.

Whiff I have 72 of those pretty little strawberry plants, I started with 3 toscana, they survive outside well in winter and drought. Next spring I had 4 or 5 plants from each original toscana. I now have a mix of 3 varieties. Each spring I take them out and divide, I keep some compost and add a bit more new compost. They are now all absolutely covered in flowers and will fruit almost into winter. Strawberries do not like soggy roots. They are very tough plants and survive well in hard frosts. I may well try my spares as ground cover next year, might or might not work

I do try and renew my pot soil instead of getting rid. I use charge, which is worm frass (poo) and this year, in two deeper troughs, I used cardboard and half made rough compost from my compost bins. Up to half way, when it had sunk down after a few weeks, I topped up with john innes 1 and 2. Lettuces in one right now, also in another later, with begonias stuffed in, end of may. Lettuces do not like baking hot sun

I put a couple of short rows of seed down yeterday, fordhook giant and perpetual spinach, just waiting for a bit of rain today

I also sowed some purple sprouting in a small pot, still outside as it will germinate slower, I don`t want them up too quickly, same with more lettuce

My potato haulm is big and very green, so much cover that I am not earthing. I shall cut the tops down for composting in june/july and leave the tubers in as long as possible, I may freeze some but may not need to as the soil will protect the tubers right into winter. Cutting the haulm will preserve against any blight. Before I do any cutting, I will have a furtle, to see how big the tubers are

There is not much more sowing for me now, dwarf beans and carrots will probably do it for this year. Phacelia perhaps, depends if I get an empty bed. I chop that down before covering with weed preventer fabric, for winter

One of my favourite words furtle karmalady, just realised reading this thread I should be watering blueberries from the water butt, rookie mistake, now corrected. Mice have eaten my French beans planted in pots, I’ll try again indoors.

Oh dear still too cold in Newcastle area. My cherry tree has lots blossom so hopefully will get a good crop. Another problem is that we have had rats the council put down stuff but I’m concerned they may be back at nights and pee on my herbs. I normally grow potatoes in buckets and strawberries. This year I’m worried that the rats will be polluting them too.

I have a few things coming on in the small Polytunnel, but we will get frosts here until mid May, as usual. So planting out will begin after that, our vegetable garden faces North, so no point in starting any earlier.

we ate our first lettuce yesterday

jaxjacky, I gave up on garlic where I now live. It is either mice or sloworms. I used to get a beautiful crop at the last home

I have been checking last frost dates, my tomatoes have been in and out of the house on every day above 9 degrees and the flowers are forming. They are outdoor tomatoes. a few will go into grobags in halos and a few in the soil. Doh, last year I resolved not to grow so many but I can`t help it. I have subbed a blight resistant cherry with sungold which I will be eating earlier. I love that they grow into such sturdy plants from a tiny seed

ok so from today they will be out all the time with me keeping a watchful eye on temperatures and they will go out permanently with feet in soil, in three weeks. As always I cut the tops off when they have 4 sprays, that is enough for outdoors

Ethel, that is an awful rat problem, trouble is the wee as they dribble wee everywhere. I don`t know if this is sufficient but I would say yes, I use veggiewash for all my fruit and veg, I mean we cannot stop birds pooping either.

I am proud of my potatoes, I made sure to give the bed a good dose of hm compost plus potato fertiliser. The canopy is very glossy, dense and green. The shallots are also starting to separate, early june at this rate. All I need do is separate once the leaves tell me, then I lay out on my wire shelving racks in the garage, after that I tie in bunches for drying to finish and just tie on the edges of the shelves. I find them very much more reliable than onions, which can bolt easier. I have never had a bolting shallot

I have found a space that will thankfully do fine for my one courgette. I wish I had room for butternut squash but I have to cut my cloth accordingly. I think I may well put that courgette out in 2 weeks, on a small mound with a moat around it, for water. I have some cloches with vents

I don't think I'm going to be able to grow anything this year.
I don't feel well enough for even a couple of pots on the window ledge.

Oh MissA I do hope that as the weather improves your health does too. ?

I wonder, do you have any community growing projects nearby? Many towns and villages now have community gardens and orchards where local people can enjoy the fruits (literally) of other people’s labours.

Already had a crop of the mixed salad leaves and have today set some more seeds. The Tumbler tomato that was on my kitchen windowsill was becoming far too big and was already setting flowers, so that's planted up and hanging in the greenhouse until the danger of frosts has passed. The other 2 tomatoes are already in growbags in the greenhouse. The yellow bell pepper was only put into the greenhouse a couple of days ago and looks as though its doubled its size already. Considering that the greenhouse was just a supermarket cheapie for around £40 or so; it's been very sucessful.
For the first time, I've grown first early potatoes in sacks and they've been earthed up a couple of times already and have varying amounts of foliage; I reckon they'll be ready for lifting early June.
I have to get a fruit net to sling over the blackcurrant bush; I'm determined that the birds aren't having them all again this year.

I’m considering growing a couple of melon varieties. Has anyone had any success with growing them outdoors?

Not outdoors grannyactivist I had one in the greenhouse last year, it took over and procedure only two, I’m not bothering this year.

Just picked and ate my first strawberry.

MissAdventure

I don't think I'm going to be able to grow anything this year.
I don't feel well enough for even a couple of pots on the window ledge.

I’m so sorry to read that.

I do hope that your health improves.

I've just planted everything today. Two tomatoes in the wee greenhouse, peas in a container, carrots, beetroot in pots, strawberries, shallots and lettuce in baskets and nasturtiums and lavender in raised beds. All well watered in. I'm done for the day!

Where are you WWM2? Down on the SW coast my strawberry plants are in full flower, but I think it’ll be a week before I start to pick.

Jaxjacky I’m sort of hoping that the weather will be warm enough here to plant melons outdoors, but I know it’s a risk. I grew cucumelons in the greenhouse a few years back and they certainly took over - and were also a very boring fruit. I have a mini kiwi fruit just ready to blossom in my garden and I’m hopeful we’ll maybe get a few fruits from that, although if they’re only grape size I’m not sure what use they will be for eating.

grannyactivist I grew galia melon in the greenhouse a couple of summers ago and although it thrived to the point that it overtook the whole greenhouse, I only cropped marble sized fruits - and not many of them. I can't say I'd bother again tbh. Nor would I bother with cucamelon again; I couldn't find anyone who liked them!

I've never managed to grow peppers successfully.

grannyactivist

Where are you WWM2? Down on the SW coast my strawberry plants are in full flower, but I think it’ll be a week before I start to pick.

Jaxjacky I’m sort of hoping that the weather will be warm enough here to plant melons outdoors, but I know it’s a risk. I grew cucumelons in the greenhouse a few years back and they certainly took over - and were also a very boring fruit. I have a mini kiwi fruit just ready to blossom in my garden and I’m hopeful we’ll maybe get a few fruits from that, although if they’re only grape size I’m not sure what use they will be for eating.

South coast on the South Downs. That was from a pot I’d put into the greenhouse.

The outdoor ones - some in flower, some set fruit and others just getting going. I’ve got lots of varieties but can’t remember their names.

I manage to grow peppers but it's not really worth it. They take up greenhouse space and really don't give a good enough crop. This year we are trying a smaller variety. I can't remember the name but it's what they sell in supermarkets as lunch box peppers. We have three different tomatoes in the main greenhouse along with the mini peppers and chilies. The cucumbers are in the little greenhouse, We have tried cucamelons but composted most of them.

In the autumn I planted the garlic which is looking good. Also for the first time we tried autumn planted shallots and onion sets. The shallots are fine but I'm not sure about the onions. There is lots of green but they have thick stems and the bulbs look small. Still plenty of growing time so I'll just see what happens. DH has grown more from seed so hopefully we will have plenty.

The DGC planted sweetcorn, french beans and scarlet runners in pots and they will be planted out soon. The brassicas are in pots too. Last year they mainly fed the cabbage white caterpillars so we have bought some very fine netting and will construct a cage around them. The purple sprouting did survive and cropped well.

Mamardoit i gave up growing the onions over winter, normally Japanese onions, not a good crop taking up space, the spring planted were much better. I found debris netting the most reasonably priced for cabbage white protection.

Monty Don is going to talk about growing veg. in this Friday (I think).
I miss growing veg so much, We used to have a big garden, but since moving just 3 by 3 metres. Already planted with healthy and hardy flowers/ shrubs, You can't have everything.

Ah - that explains the strawberries fruiting so early WWM2.

When we first had our allotment we grew mostly vegetables, but over time I’ve persuaded TWM to grow more and more fruit as it’s so much more expensive to buy in the shops; we do still grow small amounts of things like potatoes and onions, but in the summer we can buy them by the sackful and they’re as cheap as chips. One of the benefits of growing lots of fruit is that it freezes really well, but can also be used/preserved in many more ways than I can think of to keep vegetables.

We’re getting some lovely rocket already.

Your right about the fruit grannyactivist I can't believe how much supermarkets charge for blackberries and raspberries. That's what we concentrate on because they are lovely fresh but also freeze very well.
I used to grow strawberries too but there is a lovely pyo farm near DD and we love taking the DGC there. The strawberries are raised off the ground so they are very easy to pick. Not cheap but there's a cafe and play equipment so DGC are happy.

You're!