DAG's Veg. Without a Veg. Plot

[DAG]

How far can you get without a veg plot....not very far!

Anyway, I will have a go and see if it is worthwhile!

Not growing any serious root veg. so this should be ok, just a few odds and ends?

Started radish (Rudi) off a week ago and as you can see almost all the 16 seeds have come thro': (will make a sowing like this each week)



Also, today I started off:

Tomatoes: Sungold and Totem (See separate thread)

Swiss Chard: Never grown this before and it is an out of date packet of seeds so will be quite interesting?

Mixed salad lettuce: Growing it in a plastic bowl this time, used a bucket in the past.

Chives: In a flower pot.

Gherkin: 30 years since I have grown them, great fun, kept meaning to grow them again and actually got round to it at last!

[kedigato]

Sounds good, DAG.

I have a silly question but I'll ask it anyway. Why do you grow the mixed salad lettuce in a plastic bowl / bucket? Do you then stand it on something to perhaps stop the snails and slugs from getting at it? I have some rocket - should I do the same? Thanks.

[DAG]

Previously I had couple of buckets under the greenhouse bench, and that worked fine but was heavy to lift about and takes a fair amount of compost.

I don't really think it needs the depth of a bucket, so I will try a bowl this time and will have more options of where to keep it in the greenhouse. To start with it sits more happily on the bench propagator, as I am starting if off earlier this year it probably needs the warmth!

These will only be small fresh pick and come again varieties of lettuce, as we prefer them in salads.

[kedigato]

Thanks, I'll sow the rocket in a shallow pot in the Wintergarten.

[windy]

Jeez, I better get cracking with mine then...haven't even washed the pots since last year yet Let the great windowsill clearance begin

[vegmandan]

I'd definately recommend growing the small round carrots "parmex" from thompson +morgan or a similar small round ball shaped type.

They only grow to about radish size so are ideal for growing in pots and will even grow in heavy clay soil as they don't require any good soil depth since they are round and not long.Heres the link,have a look

seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/473/1


Like home grown Tomatoes -I think Fresh Carrots don't bear any resemblance to the supermarket ones.

Gotta be worth a go.

[DAG]

Thanks vegmandan, nice to meet you, really impressed with your allotment!

I might try the carrots as well, thanks!

[char]

I have to get a start of growing my veg, i'm not very good but my hearts in it and i guess with time i will get better at it. The best thing i ever grew was a Pumkin! i will have to get a photo of it on here.
All these tips on here are really helpful thankyou everyonexx ;D

[windy]

My veg growings been a disaster too Char...determined it'll be better this year (eternal optimist me!!) Well it can't be worse than last Year anyway!!!

[Admin]

Well you all have to try harder The worst things you have to face are slugs/snails and the elements i doubt it will be so wet this year though..

[DAG]

Update for this week:



Took covers off of propagator, second lot of radish doing fine, 2 types of tomato just showing thro', swiss chard just showing, and mixed lettuce in plastic bowl also just showing.

[kedigato]

That's all looking good, DAG. I haven't started anything going yet.

[DAG]

Running out of space now on the propagator, so better stop sowing seeds now!

I started off: Parmex carrot (as recommended by Vegmandan) in the large plastic bowl, chili pepper, another sowing of radish for this week, and turnip in a bucket (patio variety that is supposed to only take 5 weeks to pick small and fresh), we will see?

[vegmandan]

I'd be interested to see how your Carrots get on.
I've not grown them myself (even though I recommended them)but they are supposed to be good variety.
I'd like to know because my veg plot is almost flooded in late Autumn so anything that grows within the 1st 2-3 inches of soil would be a bonus at that time of year.

I'd also be interested in how long they take to germinate,because although I tend to grow carrots pretty succesfully they still seem to take ages to germinate,just like Parsley 2,3,4 weeks.

Cheers,Dan

[windy]

Looking good Daggers You can actually see them growing!!!