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The Potting Shed - March
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Message 1.Â
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 1st March 2010
Hello, and welcome to this March session of The Potting Shed.
Weather permitting, this is probably one of the busiest Months in the gardening calendar and given the severity of the past winter, it will be busier than ever this year.
Those of you who mentioned that they were interested in growing potatoes in containers could plant their seed anytime during the next couple of weeks, providing you can keep the containers in a frost free place.
Although it would be preferable if they had been chitted first, it isn’t imperative.
Halftidy – I notice from the previous thread that you’ve started to plant out your sweet peas. I was going to suggest you do so during the next spell of favourable weather...remember to protect them from the attention of slugs & snails and possibly birds.
Mine will remain in the cold greenhouse for a little while longer - -2C forecast locally tonight.
Link to the previous Potting Shed: -
Message 2
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Monday, 1st March 2010
I posted on the previous thread as you were doing this one - could you be an angel and just look at the request for soil preparation pleeeeeese! Are slugs a problem when the plants are quite well advanced already??? The ones I put out have fleece all around them for wind protection so I think that will stymy the birds.
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Message 3
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 1st March 2010
Well yes, until they are fairly well established. i.e. climbing their supports.
Soil: Sweet Peas will grow in most soils, although, if it is heavy, it is best dug over during the previous autumn. Lighter soils should be prepared for planting in early spring.
Generally they benefit from well cultivated soil and adding some well-rotted manure or organic compost. Take care not to overdo it though.
Although they do well in moisture retentive soil, I not sure about boggy conditions, particularly at the early stage. -
Message 4
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Monday, 1st March 2010
'll help fend off the slugs Halftidy, tho you cant beat "slug patrol"
In my old garden I swear the slubs could abseil, hand glide and pole vault... -
Message 5
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Monday, 1st March 2010
in my garden it is the moles that can do all those things - such a pity we cant eat slugs- I love free food.
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Message 6
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Monday, 1st March 2010
Morning all. Just bookmarking.
Does that mean I have to get massively busy in the garden today, now that we're back on monthly potting sheds?
My potatoes are chitting like mad - shoots now 2mm long, wow.
'Ö' -
Message 7
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 1st March 2010
I have some scrumptious mole recipes...’spit roasted mole’?
If you think about it (however annoying) moles in the garden are a good sign. They are there for one thing only, 'food'...Given their staple diet is worms and worms only live in rich, healthy soil, it's a good sign. -
Message 8
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 1st March 2010
They must like sleeping with you, Leaps!
Are those 'stage two' ones in your salad box? -
Message 9
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Monday, 1st March 2010
Morning, David. Yes, they are snoozing in the salad box in a paper bag. I've just checked on them, and in fact there are the first sign of shoots on them as well, but I imagine they'll grow a lot slower in there so they should still be in good condition for me to plant them in say mid to late May.
My planters (pop-up garden waste bags) are about 14" across, and about 30" or so deep when fully extended. Will I be all right to plant three seed potatoes in each, or is that too many? Also, I assume as they are porous I won't need to put drainage material in the bottom, is that right?
'Ö' -
Message 10
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 1st March 2010
My planters (pop-up garden waste bags) are about 14" across, and about 30" or so deep when fully extended.Â
Crikey, Leaps! '30" deep". I dread to think how much compost it would tale to fill one of those.
You could certainly use them, but with 3 tubers, they will only need to be filled to say 18" or so deep.
Did you read what I said about growing them in bags?...rolling the sides down, filling with 3" of compost in the bottom initially and so on. -
Message 11
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Monday, 1st March 2010
Aye, I did lad. I'll be doing that - just wanted to give you an idea of the size possibilities. I was hoping you could more or less keep topping it up as long as you wanted, to get more and more potatoes, but it sounds as though there's a limit.
I have tonnes of spent compost and growbag mixture from last yewar's tomatoes etc, and plenty of worm compost to liven it up. Fingers crossed.
'Ö' -
Message 12
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 1st March 2010
..fraid so, Leaps. I have to say I have reservations about your bags being so deep (and narrow) for that matter....I have in mind something like an empty growbag.
I'm going to my local Wyevale later today, I'll check out the size of their compost bags. I think probably something like a 30ltr size would do.
Hope you have, or know someone with old compost bags to spare. -
Message 13
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Monday, 1st March 2010
I'd worry a bit about using the contents of old growbags that had toms in them... What about transfer of blight?
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Message 14
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 1st March 2010
I agree, GN. As a precaution, I wouldn’t use this growbag compost if it had grown a crop that had been previously infected with blight. Although it is reckoned that the spores cannot live in the soil, as it relies on the host plant to survive.
Another point to remember, blight usually only affects tomatoes or spuds from July onwards. This will be well past the time these are harvested.
Ain't life complicated??? -
Message 15
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Monday, 1st March 2010
A beautiful day, warm enough to sit outside for a while. Looked around me as I sat there.
Surprised to see the chives coming up really strongly, as they've not flourished before and I thought they might die off completely. There were about half a dozen strong shoots in one clump, so I thought I'd have a go at splitting them. Found another couple under the soil when I explored, but nothing in the rest of the pot, so I tipped the whole pot out. Amazed to find it completely pot-bound, just a mass of roots under the soil.
Anyway, I prised them apart - not easy with that mass of roots. In the end had to pull most of the roots off and just leave each 'bulb' with a few. Got 8 separate plants in the end, and planted them in a larger pot. It was the pot I grew the french beans in last year, so when I'm next out there I'll get some worm compost to top-dress them to get them some more nourishment.
Fingers crossed they'll be fine and do better now. It's so satisfying, doing things like this, isn't it?
'Ö'
ps: my 'winter chives' (aka crow garlic) are doing fine too - recommend them if you can find them in a hedgrow or meadow, as they come up so much earlier and you can have 'chives' in the late winter. -
Message 16
Posted by sagethyme (U5272261) on Monday, 1st March 2010
Aha! Came back and caught you all typing away in here.
I, on the contrary, have been emptying the oldest of the 2 compost bins on our first dry day for yonks.
Lots of lovely dark compost, some chucked on to the bits of garden within easy reach and the rest in a pile awaiting dispersal.
One gripe: those nasty little blue and orange stickers which Sainsbugs put on the veg and will not rot. -
Message 17
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Monday, 1st March 2010
A case for using your local greengrocer and/or farm shop, perhaps? Or, even better, growing your own veg! (Which has been my delight over the past couple of years.) Come on, muck in with the rest of us, you know you want to.
'Ö' -
Message 18
Posted by sagethyme (U5272261) on Monday, 1st March 2010
Mainly stickers on the oranges and other non-UK items, LB. Local shops mostly closed
Will certainly try harder with veg this year and have cleared weeds and ivy from the neglected plot at the end to have a go. -
Message 19
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Monday, 1st March 2010
those stickers, you know somewhere there is a charity that collects them I think, not sure what for, or if I dreamed the whole thing but...
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Message 20
Posted by Mandelson Mustard Probe (U14279245) on Monday, 1st March 2010
Anyone got good parsnips this year? Mine were pathetic!
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Message 21
Posted by SussexCornflower InTheFinalCountdown (U13833966) on Monday, 1st March 2010
Just checking into the March thread.
Back soon..... -
Message 22
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Tuesday, 2nd March 2010
never tried root crops MMP, I grew up gardening on clay with flint, then moved onto good ole London Clay with a postage stamp size garden
I'm told the soil where I now live is great for root crops but have yet to be brave enough to try them BUT I do have some carrot seeds and a, huge polystyrene box... -
Message 23
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Tuesday, 2nd March 2010
parsnips brill this year ditto the first crop carrots but the second lot got attacked because I forgot to fleece them against that horrid fly - hoping my new cage will sort that.
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Message 24
Posted by Joanna Townmouse (U14278698) on Tuesday, 2nd March 2010
Hello all
I have just been out it my teeny tiny garden and possibly come over a little to enthusuastic in teh sunshine. I have two sage plants (a reasonable size) planted last year. THey we looking pretty grey and ragged so I have chopped them back mercilessly. All too late I read something about not harvesting or pruning in the winter as it harms them. Any advice as to whether I have finished them off or do you think they will sprout new growth, Given the size of teh garden if something isn't working I'd rather get it out and put something in which does.
Many thanks -
Message 25
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Tuesday, 2nd March 2010
Hi, JT
Sage is usually best pruned to half its size after the growing season has finished…. August in most places.
It loses some of its flavour after 3 or 4 years, so this is a good time to take replacement cuttings.
To answer question. I don't think your recent pruning will prove to be terminal, but have to admit, it’s not something I’ve tried for myself. -
Message 26
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Tuesday, 2nd March 2010
To anyone who would be thinking of growing parsnips, I would just like to say that the old fashioned (like me) variety 'Tender and True' is still unbeatable for taste.
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Message 27
Posted by Joanna Townmouse (U14278698) on Tuesday, 2nd March 2010
Thank you David - I'm going to leave it a little while and see if I see any shoots - it should have another years lfe left in it really, If not then I'll replace it - Thank you though and I'll let you know . JT
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Message 28
Posted by Mandelson Mustard Probe (U14279245) on Tuesday, 2nd March 2010
Tender and true, got that.
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Message 29
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Tuesday, 2nd March 2010
When it comes to buying seed, it pays to compare prices, the number of seeds in the packet and your particular requirements.
For instance, the parsnip 'Tender and True' sold by Thompson & Morgan, sells at £1.89 per packet of 550 seeds.
Suttons on the other hand sell the same variety for £3.99 per packet of 1200 seeds.
What has to be remembered, is the fact that all parsnip seed needs to be sown fresh....last year's seed will have a very patchy germination rate.
Yer pays yer money and takes your choice, of course. -
Message 30
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Tuesday, 2nd March 2010
well, Joanna Townmouse, if its sort of sprouts but looks ragged, the sprouts'll work as cuttings.
Sage is a bit of a thug, or so I have found and does take over, so its best grown in a reasonable size pot, minimises thuggish tendencies and maximises flavour
tender and true parsnip variety noted -
Message 31
Posted by sagethyme (U5272261) on Tuesday, 2nd March 2010
Sage is a bit of a thugÂ
Huh. Sending round the boys to see to that Guzzi....
(Yes you are right, we took some cuttings from our large sage bush last year, and may replace it this spring with its children) -
Message 32
Posted by Rwth of the Cornovii (U2570790) on Tuesday, 2nd March 2010
Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:49 GMT, in reply to Leaping Badger in message 9
David
I have some Anya potatoes I only bought this week- in Sainsburys. Can I get away with planting them next week in a strawberry tub with fresh compost? I'll save the other strawberry tub for - well strawberries in due course. Not sure when I can get those. April onwards? or are they coming available now?
Forgive the simplistic questions, I'm always out of kilter, but a bit of daily pottering might pay dividends. -
Message 33
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Wednesday, 3rd March 2010
Hi, Rwth
I've never grown 'Anya', but find the pedigree of them interesting.
They are a cross between Desiree & Pink Fir Apple, so should make for an interesting, waxy, type salad potato.
I see no reason why they can't be planted in your strawberry tub as you suggest.
The only reservation I have is the fact that it is a maincrop potato and is therefore more suitable for growing in open ground than in containers.
I usually recommend growing early varieties of potato in containers, because a) they take less time to grow, and b) they produce less top growth.
Strawberry plants should be available towards the end of this month. -
Message 34
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Wednesday, 3rd March 2010
This is a useful little tip I devised myself for sowing parsnip seed...it can be applied to other seed such as beetroot etc.
When sowing the seed, instead of sowing thinly (as advised on the packet) in drills, sow a little pinch of seed (three or four) every three inches apart. When thinning out just remove the weakest on and keep the strongest....this will make thinning out much less of a chore.
Another tip - Parsnips are notoriously slow to germinate and are often overrun by weeds before they are ready to be thinned-out, making it difficult to identify them.
Try sowing radish when you take out your drill, before you sow your parsnips. Radish being very quick growing will mark the row for you. -
Message 35
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Wednesday, 3rd March 2010
yikes! *runs away quickly* hides behind rosemary plant
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Message 36
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Wednesday, 3rd March 2010
The pics I have in my photobucket account are many and varied.
I just spotted this one I took of some new potatoes I grew in a bucket last year...they were the variety Rocket.
[IMG]/IMG] -
Message 37
Posted by LemonTree (U14305071) on Wednesday, 3rd March 2010
Definitely going to take the plunge and have a go at growing the spuds this year .. I went out a did a recce yesterday, but forgot to take my list with me and was overwhelmed by all the different types on offer .. I found some good offers, but need to check on varieties and will go back in a couple of days. Thanks for spurring me on to do it, been wanting to for years now .. it's good fun when there's a few people having a go together
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Message 38
Posted by Mandelson Mustard Probe (U14279245) on Wednesday, 3rd March 2010
When I tried spuds I tried all the good for organic growing ones, but found that they all seemed more disease prone than good old fashioned 'King Edwards'
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Message 39
Posted by Rwth of the Cornovii (U2570790) on Wednesday, 3rd March 2010
Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:52 GMT, in reply to Mendelson Mustard Probe in message 38
A very lovely nutty potato. Probably my all time favourite. I like Pentland Javelin as well. Lady Eve Balfour tastes wonderful too. -
Message 40
Posted by LemonTree (U14305071) on Thursday, 4th March 2010
OK, I'm all set .. got all my info together .. and decided that tomorrow will be designated as potato buying day! Wish me luck
Spent a pleasant couple of hours earlier today sowing some seed of perennials .. I don't think it's the time suggested in the books, but I've always done them at the beginning of the year and seems to work out ok, some even flower in the first year. Slight problem in that I have very little space to plant them out, but will give any spares out to friends, etc. I just joined a local gardening club on FB and they swap seeds, plants, etc, so might be able to rehome them with other members of the group bit later in the year. -
Message 41
Posted by SussexCornflower InTheFinalCountdown (U13833966) on Thursday, 4th March 2010
Well done Lemon Tree. Have fun tomorrow!
I think a couple of my perennials have been done in by the snow and frost - they were new last summer as well. I will leave them and see what happens.
I too am going to do container potatoes this year (first time). I hope to buy them at the weekend.
If it stays dry, I am going to cut my lawn at the weekend too. -
Message 42
Posted by LemonTree (U14305071) on Thursday, 4th March 2010
Yes, I think a couple of my perennials have gone too, Cornflower .. I was giving the border a bit of a dig over yesterday and a few roots of something came up a bit too easily for my liking .. not sure quite what they were yet .. won't really find out until the other start coming up and I can see what's missing.
Ooh, good luck with your spuds at the weekend too then! (and the lawn!) -
Message 43
Posted by Penstemon (U4429639) on Thursday, 4th March 2010
Well its like a 'bus mans holiday' here. The kids and I are planning our back garden for this year. Its the size of a handkerchief and we have decided that what space we have will be devoted to veggies and sweet peas (my DD's favourite).
We are going to the GC on Saturday to buy our seeds
In the meantime I am planning to replant a large border for one of my customers and its great fun -
Message 44
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Thursday, 4th March 2010
Sounds fun. It's the return of Gardeners' World tomorrow night; I understand it includes an item about growing sweet peas...though I wouldn't recommend anyone to take much notice of Toby Buckland.
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Message 45
Posted by Penstemon (U4429639) on Thursday, 4th March 2010
I couldn't agree more David. Toby Buckland is not a good presenter IMO. bring back Monty Don (swoon, thud)
Have you ever grown baby carrots in pots? DS wants to grow carrots but our ground is so 'solid' it would not really be practical, even spuds struggle so I grow them in large tubs. What do you reckon, worth a go?
Never had any trouble with sweet peas, grown them for years.. lovely things -
Message 46
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Thursday, 4th March 2010
Sorry...I'm not the best person to ask about growing anything in pots. I have a large/ish garden, which (with years of TLC) will grow almost anything.
I suppose if I were to try carrots in containers, it would have to be those silly little stump rooted thingies. -
Message 47
Posted by sagethyme (U5272261) on Thursday, 4th March 2010
bring back Monty Don (swoon, thud)Â
He is putting himself all over the TV schedules, helping naive people to create farms and become thatchers and blacksmiths.
Going off at a tangent, but isn't it interesting that we all want to get our hands dirty doing real work again? -
Message 48
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Thursday, 4th March 2010
I've been getting down & dirty for years!
Should be a good night of Ö÷²¥´óÐã2 tomorrow. GW followed by Mastercrafts, the latter about making stained glass. -
Message 49
Posted by SussexCornflower InTheFinalCountdown (U13833966) on Thursday, 4th March 2010
Thanks for the reminder about GW - pressed the button to record it.
Sausages, I think you are supposed to grow the short-rooted varieties of carrot in stony soil or tubs. According to the book in front of me: Champion Scarlet Horn or Chantenay Red Cored are good. -
Message 50
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Thursday, 4th March 2010
Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:25 GMT, in reply to Sausagesrus in message 45
Maybe it's the archaeologist I am, or the fact that one side is descended from farmers since the C14th and the other side was miners back to 1860s but Ag.Lab. before that, but I do like a man who gets down and dirty!!
Have you ever grown baby carrots in pots? DS wants to grow carrots but our ground is so 'solid' it would not really be practical, even spuds struggle so I grow them in large tubs. What do you reckon, worth a go?Â
We grew some in a pot last year and they were wonderful - we then forgot them, left them sitting all autumn and finally had them on Christmas Day!!
They began with a CH-... anyway they are stump-rooted ones. Well-draining fine soil (I added some sand) in a broad basin about 6" deep, and to thin them or take them, we brought the bowl indoors and didn't take it back out til evening, when we put it between two big pots of mint which we ruffled up well to confound carrot fly, which seemed to work!
I hoed the rest of the rhubarb bed today and put out the rest of the Olbas-dripped tea-bags. they are still working, as the area that's had them pretty closely spaced has been left alone for weeks now. It's very... refreshing... walking along that path sometimes on a still day!
I want to get going on things but it's still below zero every night, so am restraining myself.
Lesson Learnt: don't trim rosemary back neatly in winter as it will die in the hard frosts. One 5-year-old large bush fine, the one I trimmed back has died.
laura
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