I'm back!

[tommyq1976]

Morning all,

Well, the time has come to start up the gardening again!

I was late starting last year and so only had a limited amount of success but I think I'm in with a fair chance of getting some good results this time round

So here's what I've got done today...

1. Planted out some Carrots in a big blue tub.
2. Planted Brussels Sprouts, Radishes and Onions in the cold store.
3. Planted some Moneymaker Tomatoes in little pots for the window ledge.

I'm dead pleased to see that the thyme and chives I had in one of my hanging baskets have survived the winter and have resurrected All I need now is the strawberry plant to re-kindle and that'll be a total success of a basket!

I was also looking for a little advice on when to plant peppers/chillies - I've got seeds from some organic supermarket peppers and chillies at home and wondered when's the best time to start them off... I presume indoors would be best, then a move to the cold store when they're a bit bigger.

Thanks all.
Tom

[JustGrowVeg]

Good start Tom!! well ahead of me!!
Yes you're right about chillies and peppers, they like to be started off in the warm! Best place is in an airing cupboard or on top of a boiler (they like a temp around 21). When they're big enough they can be moved out to a greenhouse or such a like, ensuring it's not too cold as they don't like the cold very much!
Hope this helps!

[growingmyown]

Hi Tom,

I did carrots in a flexi tub last year and they werent very successful. I started them off in late March though so Im thinking it was far too late if yours are already in. I live in Bristol and apparently our last frost is late March so should I plant my carrot seeds today? Are they not affected by the frost?

Ive started off toms, cues, peppers and lettuces inside so far and plan to grow aubergines, courgettes, runner beans and possibly a pumpkin. All in pots, any advice would be fab.

[JustGrowVeg]

Originally Posted by growingmyown

Hi Tom,

I did carrots in a flexi tub last year and they werent very successful. I started them off in late March though so Im thinking it was far too late if yours are already in. I live in Bristol and apparently our last frost is late March so should I plant my carrot seeds today? Are they not affected by the frost?

Ive started off toms, cues, peppers and lettuces inside so far and plan to grow aubergines, courgettes, runner beans and possibly a pumpkin. All in pots, any advice would be fab.

Did you use compost in the tub? Because carrots aren't very keen on freshly manured ground so this could be your problem, if there was a high manure content. Also sowing them too thick could be an issue!
Carrots aren't normally sown until march under cover, but it's what works best for you! Some people have good results with earlier sowings.

As for the others that you intend on growing pots, pumpkins could be a task! I struggled last year, because pumpkins are trailing and like to set more roots as they trail (also they are very greedy when it comes to feed!).

Aubergines like to be kept warm as they're a primarily a Mediterranean plant, so a greenhouse is good for them.

As for all the other veg you intend to grow they should do well just make sure that they are water well in dry spells or get good water retaining compost!

[WelshBoa]

Originally Posted by JustGrowVeg

Good start Tom!! well ahead of me!!
Yes you're right about chillies and peppers, they like to be started off in the warm! Best place is in an airing cupboard or on top of a boiler (they like a temp around 21). When they're big enough they can be moved out to a greenhouse or such a like, ensuring it's not too cold as they don't like the cold very much!
Hope this helps!

How long could you feasibly keep them in an airing cupboard for example if there is no natural sunlight? Just until they germinate? Or longer?

Thanks

[JustGrowVeg]

Originally Posted by WelshBoa

How long could you feasibly keep them in an airing cupboard for example if there is no natural sunlight? Just until they germinate? Or longer?

Thanks

Just until they germinate! Any longer and they go really leggy and makes they awkward to pot on! But as soon as they germinated (just as they start to break the soil), move them to a sunny windowsill and they will be fine

Another tip while they are germinating, that I've found useful, is to put cling film over the top of the pots to keep moisture in so you don't have to water everyday and disturb the seeds!

[Husker]

Hi Tom. Great start and well done. We've had some warm weather here so the snow is pretty much gone, but it will be about six weeks before I can put anything out in the garden . I'm starting to get itchy digging fingures .