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

I never have any luck with parsnips. Planted two packets of seeds in 2020 and only two grew to any size. Last year was a bit better but still only had about a dozen parsnips. Are they tricky to germinate or is it just me?

We had two rainy days this week and the spring onions and radish have appeared. Sadly so have the weeds. DH has been out with the hoe.

I put my chitted parsnip seeds in yesterday and watering continues, we’ve had no rain for some weeks.

I have taken a chance with my tomato plants too, all out, the weather looks set to be warm for quite a while and I do have fleece and string so can make protective wigwams. I got some good cane supports this year, good for growbags, I can tie fleece on the stakes.

Parsley seedlings are also out. I don`t have much more, just purple sprouting brocolli and some more beetroot modules. The beetroots are going to have to wait until the shallots come out or will just have to take their chance amongst the flowers

There are not going to be many apples this year. Howgate wonder has enough flowers, the apples are enormous, for cooking. Christmas pippin, only 2 sets of buds and no buds on the very young pigs snout.

I think it was me giving them a good feed of nitrochalk. It was on purpose, they have only been in the ground since nov 2019 and last year the christmas pippin produced far too much fruit. I picked more than half off. The pigsnout was only a stick in 2019, next year for first fruits. The pippin looks fab right now, healthy, green and glossy. It would have looked like a tired hag if I had not boosted it. Potash feed later this year and no more nitrochalk

karmalady

Is anyone living in the south (somerset?) putting dwarf bean seeds in yet? Warm and sunny again

We have, but under a fleece. Not up yet.

Thats settled me oops, the weather is set fair and warm for days ahead. I am going to put them in now, maybe even a courgette under a cloche

I’m probably on the same level (in the country) as you and I planted mine this week.
By the time they come up danger of frosts should be minimal, but the ground is like dust until I water it in the evenings.

Is anyone living in the south (somerset?) putting dwarf bean seeds in yet? Warm and sunny again

This popped up on FB today and I couldn’t resist sharing it; sorry I can’t credit it properly, but there was no name attached.

Mamardoit

I grew autumn sown onion sets last year for the first time and they were very good. This year's sets are like yours at the moment, good healthy green foliage but not bulbing up yet, but I don't expect them to as it's only early May. I think I harvested them in early July last year.

Onions are my most successful crop. Everything else is enjoyed by the local wildlife... I even my carrots pulled up and eaten by rats last autumn despite having a big fruit cage all around the veg plot. They'd chewed a hole in the netting to get in. I'm about to reinforce it with 13mm mesh chicken wire, see if the b*ggers can chew through that

You're!

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.

We’re getting some lovely rocket already.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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've never managed to grow peppers successfully.

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!

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.

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!

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.

Just picked and ate my first strawberry.

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

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