Freakish Vegetables

[LucyQ]

Hi

I am a gardener of only 12 months (a baby) Last year I decdied to grow my own: Carrotts, Potatoes, peppers, apples (miniture trees) and tomotoes.

My 1st year yeild consisted of:

1 brown apple
6 Peppers that looked like thy had been in a serios accident
and that was it. So dishartened - last go this year. I bought a Chillie plany last weekend and alread that is half dead, and I don't know why.

I do live in Yorkshire on a very high windy hill, on top of an old quarry - South facing garden - It always rains.

Help

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Lucy, firstly please don't be disheartened!!

Where did you actually plant the veggies - in the garden soil or in containers? Did the carrot seeds germinate, was there any green foliage? With the potato plants when you dug them up were there little tiny peanut sized spuds on the end of the roots? Are you keeping the chilli plant inside the house and just what does it look like - are the leaves going yellow? Actually if you could post a photo of the plant that would really help.

[LucyQ]

photo will follow when (if) the rain stops.

Peppers were in a grow bag - south facing protected by a wall from the wind

and my spuds were little peanuts .. yes

The chillie plant is a chilli pepper masquerade

Thanks

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Lucy, well the reason why you got little peanuts as spuds was because you dug them up far too early. They wanted a much longer growing time. First early and second early potato varieties need about 13 weeks from planting to harvesting and main crop potato varieties need about 23 weeks from planting to harvesting. So next year you will be able to grow 'proper' sized spuds!!

You did very well to grow six peppers if the plants were outside. My peppers are also rubbish when I plant them outside - I can only grow them in the greenhouse!

[LucyQ]

Hi attached is a couple of pics .. and YES it STILL raining!!

Pic 1 is the sheltered wall where I planted them in growbags, pic 2 is the other side of the wall... open land which is where the wind, rain and snow comes.

Would a greenhouse help??? I had a look at the weekend, they are quite an investement. As I would need a metal one, due to the high winds and plastic one would soon blow away!

Thanks

[tomatoKing]

Hey there. I have also just had my 1st crop of peppers .. with out even trying.. I know that make you feel a little bad as you tried so hard .. but my secret was to plant up, then I forgot they were there until yesterday .. (behind a set of garden chairs) and they were perfect .... soz .. but some times the best results come total neglect:O)

With ref to green houses get yourself down to Wickes this bank holiday and look at some of the offers they have!! OR my top tip is get to Homebase or similar find the one you want and get onto ebay - Thats what I did. The manufacturers usually sell direct to the public via Amazon and ebay.
Greenhouses from here

and I got a metal garden shed from asgard secure steel storage - 20% off rrp
My final tip is .. (now this IS mean) compost, grass seeds from B and M a discount place that has sprung up all over the country - All top band stuff for pennies.
Miracle grow 99p - Compost 99p a bag - pots 50p - Hozelock bits - 60% off big store prices for most items. I discovered this only last month - I piled the trolley to bursting .. the bill was 17 quid... would have cost 50 plus on the high street!

I hope that helps PM me if you want some more cheeky cheap tips :O)

[LucyQ]

Thanks for the tips TK. There is a B and M not too far - I thought they just sold plastic rubbish not gardening stuff. I'll check this afternoon and let you know how I got on.