Didn't want to hijack Suzy's terribly important thread.
So this is my first season of veggie farming, and although im doing absolutely great with the things I can see im having a bit more difficulty with root veggies. Maybe you can help.
Spuds - early variety, growing in sacks. Im told that they're ready when the foliage dies back. Ive started to see the greenery begin to wilt but not change colour. They're well watered always so its not underwatering. Is this normal? Does this mean they're almost ready? Im guessing the time is about right.
Onions - same applies but im not seeing them wilt yet. Do I just wait till the green dies?
Garlics - Same as above again, but these have been in the ground since last October and are about 2 foot tall and very thick.
Growing well are Broad Beans (already harvested about a dozen pods and they were lush! Peas, beginning to see some swelled pods. 6 tomatoe plants gone mad, beginning to see fruit. Corgettes are small but growing well. Lettuces and radishes ive been harvesting for about a month on rotation. Raspberry and Blackberry growing well but only had a handful of fruit - 1st season so no surprise.
TIA matey
Originally posted by: jamiec Didn't want to hijack Suzy's terribly important thread.
LOL 
You would have been more than welcome!
See I've started something now!
Spuds - early variety, growing in sacks. Im told that they're ready when the foliage dies back. Ive started to see the greenery begin to wilt but not change colour. They're well watered always so its not underwatering. Is this normal? Does this mean they're almost ready? Im guessing the time is about right. Depends how early you got them in and whether you have been earthing up regularly. Just checking the UK weather you have a bit of mini-heatwave, so it may be just the leaves wilting from the heat. You can always dig up one plant and see what's happening - if they're not large enough they will make good salad spuds.
**Onions - same applies but im not seeing them wilt yet. Do I just wait till the green dies? **Again, depends on when you planted them out. Onions don't like very wet soil, so be careful not to over-water them. You can pull your onions anytime you like - depending on the size that you want. If you want to store your onions, it is best to wait for the foliage to bend-over and wilt itself. If the onions 'bolt' - send up a flower head/shoot - cut this off and use these onions first as they will not store well.
Garlics - Same as above again, but these have been in the ground since last October and are about 2 foot tall and very thick. You planted these at just about the right time :thumbsup: Again, they don't like wet soil or particularly rich soil (no food/fertilizer). You can harvest them once the leaves had turned yellow - probably sometime in the next couple of weeks if the weather stays the same.
Tomatoes and Peas - DO NOT FEED/FERTILISE until they have set fruit - otherwise all you get is lots of lovely foliage and and no/small fruit.
Originally posted by: jamiec Onions - same applies but im not seeing them wilt yet. Do I just wait till the green dies?
yes. An onion, and garlic to i believe is fully matured once the green stalks have fallen over. If a green stalk bolts and flowers the bulb is already lost (more or less) so enjoy the onion seeds.
Spuds - I dig em up when the flowers bloom. Although they're good in the ground for quite a while after that. If you have too many and have to store 'em, don't wash em, they last longer with dirt on. Also, make sure you keep piling dirt on the roots, any potatoes that get sunlight will turn green.
Onions - They're ready when that green stalk bends over and hits the ground. I pull them at that point, but I lay them on the ground for a day or so afterwards to let them dry out.
Garlic - Never grown them dude, sorry, although I imagine it would be very similar to onions...
Tomatoes - I pick the lateral buds off because they just take energy from the plant and clip the top after three or four branches (I know "branches" is not the correct term, but I can't remember the actual name... trusses?) high. I also tap the flowers with my hands to spread the pollen.
To get shit loads of courgettes, you want to plant two plants, one male and one female. I got shitloads of courgettes last year (like 50, probably more). Easily my most successful plant. Stuff and deep fry the flowers... fucking awesome!
Honestly, I am a lazy gardener, I don't use fertilizer at all (except for lime on the brassicas) and everything seems to be ok if the fucking slugs don't get at them. I don't use pesticides, there are natural remedies for most bugs (marigolds, ladybird larvae, soapy water), but I must admit I use slug pellets... I've tried grapefruits, gravel, copper and beer but nothing is as effective. If I want any strawberries at all I have to pellet the bastards.
Bees = good pollenation. Bees (in my garden anyway) like purple flowers, they go mad for the lavender and the chive flowers.
Slugs, eh? try nematodes - all natural, available in the UK here:http://www.allotment.org.uk/garden-diary/36/controlling-slugs-with-nemaslug-nematodes/
that or start breeding hedgehogs.
This is a bit embarrassing, but I made a flash garden wheel that reminds me what/when to plant as well (that's my garden guru, Owen in the middle)
I am sad.
if you have a fireplace a ring of wood ash around your plants will keep bugs away. Will also put potassium in the soil.
Originally posted by: arigato Slugs, eh? try nematodes - all natural, available in the UK here:http://www.allotment.org.uk/garden-diary/36/controlling-slugs-with-nemaslug-nematodes/
Hmmm, I'm intrigued.
Originally posted by: creepylurker if you have a fireplace a ring of wood ash around your plants will keep bugs away. Will also put potassium in the soil.
I'm not convinced. I've tried putting rings around the plants with copper and gravel, but the slugs just come up from underneath. Plus wood ash (like the gravel) will get washed away in a day in the English rain...
Thanks all! Some helpful advice.
Techno - forgot about the resident farmer here now!
Im not convinced with the onions, they had fallen over within a week of planting them. I should note this is my second attempt at onions, the first being overwinter variety plaanted at the same time as my garlics which perished in the very snowy conditions around Feb (even under fleece).
I do have 2 corgette plants - not sure if they're male & female but both are flowering and therefore growing fruit.
Somethings eating my lettuces even under clotches. Fuckers.
Originally posted by: jamiec Thanks all! Some helpful advice.
Techno - forgot about the resident farmer here now!
Duh!
Im not convinced with the onions, they had fallen over within a week of planting them. I should note this is my second attempt at onions, the first being overwinter variety plaanted at the same time as my garlics which perished in the very snowy conditions around Feb (even under fleece).
I did the over winter ones two seasons ago and they worked brilliantly, although last winter was a real fucker, I don't think much would've survived Feb. Luckily I did spring ones last year.
Do you plant bulbs or grow from seed? If you plant bulbs, how far into the soil do you plant them? They shouldn't be planted very deep, the bulbs need to be able to spread, I dig a litte trench around each one with my finger after they take root.
Somethings eating my lettuces even under clotches. Fuckers.
Slugs, most definitely. If you don't want to pellet them, put a beer trap out to test that theory. It will be full the next day, I guarantee it. Easily the biggest challenge for any English gardener.
BigErn - Nematodes (as Ari said) are one of the best natural slug control - you can get them from Wiggly Wrigglers
Jamie - your onions should be ok (assuming no other pests have got to them) - again you could always gently lift one to see where it's at. For storing, onions are best left till the leaves have wilted but you can lift them and use them earlier if you wish.
Courgettes - keep a good eye on them, in the right conditions they can grow really fast and turn from a nice firm courgettes into a inferior-marrows (they are effectively the same things courgettes and marrows). It's best to crop them when they are about 10-12cm long
Lettuces - check them every morning and evening for snails/slugs, pick them off and squish/drown/dispose of. It's the small slugs that do most of the damage. Or get the nematodes in.
Why have I never heard of these nematode things before?! I am definitely trying them next year. Thanks boys.
I've stopped growing lettuces completely, they're too high maintenance and really cheap in the supermarket.
I actually have a garlic question.
It is just me, or does buying those "5 in 1" packages of garlic just seem like an unecessary gamble? I mean yes, they're cheap, but the last few that I've bought are either rotten or bug infested. And there's no way to tell without ripping through the fishnet packaging they come in and peeling the outer skin back to check.
Originally posted by: Big Ern This is a bit embarrassing, but I made a flash garden wheel that reminds me what/when to plant as well (that's my garden guru, Owen in the middle)
I am sad.
tomahto? is this your idea of a humorous joke at our expense?
come over here, steal our jobs and take the piss out of our language.
votes BNP
If you click on the Canadian flag, the Canadian terms come up! zucchini/courgette, rocket/arugula... you see?
It's not bashing Brits, it's just really really sad.
well it amused me young man.
Originally posted by: Big Ern
Do you plant bulbs or grow from seed? If you plant bulbs, how far into the soil do you plant them? They shouldn't be planted very deep, the bulbs need to be able to spread, I dig a litte trench around each one with my finger after they take root.
Bulbs, and I replanted them in mid spring - maybe late April time. I dont think im planting them deep enough... the packet said to leave the tops exposed (as in the little pointed bud thingy).
The cats have dug a few up and done the unmentionable.. on numerous occasions.... but ive always cleared that and resurected what they've damaged. 9 of 12 have been untouched and are now growing well.
Originally posted by: arigato that or start breeding hedgehogs.
Hmmm, I'm intrigued.
Er Big Ern, the wheel looks good now can we discuss meat farming... so far the local cats have a lot of interest in my Frogs goldfish.. but maybe I need small space dwelling animals that are worth a bite. I am thinking Rodants; might be worth a curry.. any suggestions. I am not sure eating hedgehogs is illegal.. I saw one the other day.
If it were legal, I would shoot every fucking cat within a 10 mile radius of my veg patch and then I would shoot their owners. in the face. [FACT]
But until I rule the world, I'll have to be happy with spraying them with the hose... which is surprisingly satisfying. One day I'm going to install motion detecting underground sprinklers.
Swampy - thanks dude, I'm glad someone found it amusing. It was an attempt to drive gardener traffic to my blog... it failed miserably.
Ern - buy (or maybe borrow from the RSPCA/Cat charity) a cat/rabbit/fox trap. Trap the cats and then drive 50 miles or so away and release them next to a very busy road.
Having lost two cats to a busy road (and had to deal with two distraught kids and a distraught wife) I have to weigh in at this point...how about this (or some other cat repellent device/spray) instead?
Ern - I thought the wheel was pretty cool, it's given me a few mins of fun watching it spin. I didn't read any of the wisdom though, we haven't got much of a garden.