Hobbit Allotment!

[horticultural_hobbit]

Thank you, VVG, saw that

I am hoping to brave the elements tomorrow. Broadbeans brought home from work, to be transplanted tomorrow. Along with tatos.

Have been rather looking forward to it. Will have to make some paper pots. So I can sow some DFB's.

[Two_Sheds]

So I can sow some DFB's.

Not for another month, HH

[horticultural_hobbit]

Not even inside, in paper pots, on the classroom window sills? I wouldn't transplant them til end of April, early may, for fear of frost.

[rustylady]

I am hoping to brave the elements tomorrow. Broadbeans brought home from work, to be transplanted tomorrow. Along with tatos.

Hobbit, if your beans have been in the classroom you need to harden them off gradually before plonking them on the lottie.

[horticultural_hobbit]

Most likely, RL. I have a very temperamental classroom, it gets cold in there very frequently. But yes, I take your point. If it is stupidly cold, might acclimatise over the next few days and harden off

[Two_Sheds]

Not even inside, in paper pots, on the classroom window sills?

Well, I did some last year, and they survived, but they weren't as good as the ones sown later on. They need to be kept at least 10c, day and night. You'd need a thermometer to check the temp by the glass, because it gets super cold there, much colder than the general temp of the room.

Cold will check their growth, stop them in their tracks, from which they never recover.

[horticultural_hobbit]

With it looking greyer than grey outside, dare I go plug in the potatoes.

Forecast is hit and miss. Would have thought those broadies were hardy and therefore resilient. Might have to wait a few days.

[rustylady]

Would have thought those broadies were hardy and therefore resilient. Might have to wait a few days.

They are hardy HH, but like me they hate sudden changes in temperature from warm(ish) to cold, wet and windy. See if you can stand them outside during the day for a couple of days, bringing them in at night, to acclimatise them to the great outdoors.

[horticultural_hobbit]

Have sat them outside in Dad's garden. They can play outside til tea time. Some of them have grown straight. Some of them are a big wiggly. All beautiful nonetheless.

[horticultural_hobbit]

Well, I did some last year, and they survived, but they weren't as good as the ones sown later on. They need to be kept at least 10c, day and night. You'd need a thermometer to check the temp by the glass, because it gets super cold there, much colder than the general temp of the room.

Cold will check their growth, stop them in their tracks, from which they never recover.

So maybe later April, Aunty two_sheds? Same time as squashes and things

[Two_Sheds]

Yep, same as all* tender (half-hardy) things: start them a couple of weeks before your last frost date




* when I say all, I mean all the things that grow like stink: beans, corn, squashes. Not the slower movers like toms & chillies, which can be managed on a windowsill during the spring

[Hazel at the Hill]

I sow my dfb in pots in mid April and leave them in the courtyard garden where it is really sheltered. They are all ready to plant out at the Hill in mid may.

[Two_Sheds]

My teacher has planted them outside. In the sleet.

I did tell 'im.

[horticultural_hobbit]

I would have too! But nope, I shall listens to my aunts and uncles.

I shall hold my fire then. Need to make more paper pots anyway. Not much has survived my temperamental classroom. The cacti are still there, one is in pretty bloom. Chillies are on a go slow. In sunshine on a warm sill. As are toms, but they are growing past their baby leaves. Leeks getting wiry.

Will be interesting to see what the students make of squashes as well as the DFB's, runners and peas.

[horticultural_hobbit]

Haven't even thought about corn. Not sure it would make it on my patch. Other people have it-our site is windy-but I don't feel so brave .

Partly, because folks keep telling me im wasting my time grrrr.