Newbie with some questions

[davetee]

Hi All

I'm just about to start growing...using storage boxes I bought. I have some herbs I'd like to grow...do I need any kind of fertiliser for them ? Also what can I grow outside and could the rest be grown in one of those plastic walk-in greenhouses ?

Thyme, Sweet Marjoram, Sweet Basil, Dill, Garlic Chives, Basil, Sage, Sorrel, Rocket

Thanks

[jemma_charlie]

Thyme, Dill, Garlic Chives, Sage, Rocket, I have all of these outside in the garden or in pots
Basil, this is in my kitchen I think it can go outdside in a month or so I vaguely remember....

as for the others someone else will be along to advise

[davetee]

Thanks...Jemma. Being outside are there any pests I need to look out for ?

[jemma_charlie]

slugs mainly on the sage and rocket other than that the rest I have no problems with.
The chives I have divided and they outline my veg patch and this seems to keep some of the slugs off my lettuce so I don't think they like them.
The rocket only seems to be a bit nibbled so they may not be too keen on that but the sage gets gobbled very quickly so i have to cover it occationally so it can recover.

Could just be Kenilworth slugs though

Hope that helps

[Mac]

Hi, newbie here too. What's the best way to grow rocket? I bought some seeds and put them in a pot of compost. They came up into spindly things but then just sort of stopped doing anything! Have moved some individuals into a seed tray where they are putting on about 1mm a week if that! The pack said easy to grow!

[davetee]

Thanks Jemma

[Two_Sheds]

Sorrel is a perennial, and is fairly big - it looks like dock when it flowers (they're related). Well worth growing for it's sharp lemony flavour.

All young plants are prey to slugs, but shrug off attacks as they get larger and tougher.

[davetee]

I'll be keeping my herb container well off the ground so hopefully as far as slugs are concerned it will be Mission Impossible

[Lottieval]

Hi, newbie here too. What's the best way to grow rocket? I bought some seeds and put them in a pot of compost. They came up into spindly things but then just sort of stopped doing anything! Have moved some individuals into a seed tray where they are putting on about 1mm a week if that! The pack said easy to grow!

Hi Mac, welcome to the vine. Are your rocket seedlings under cover? you did the right thing in pricking them out into individual cells, this will check growth for a day or two but then they should start to move a bit. I notice you are a bit northerly so your temperature may not be great yet, tisn't here mind at the moment, if you haven't got a greenhouse try to give them some cover, cheap plastic propagator top or a warm window sill in good light, this should start them growing again.Good luck.

[davetee]

I planted my rocket in some seed trays 2 days ago and put them in the airing cupboard - they've sprouted already so I've moved them to a windowsill....how fast is that

[Madasafish]

I plant rocket directly into the garden.. I do not think it does well under greenhouse heat. Despite the rain it germinated in a week.. - and we are 250metres above sea level..and COLD>

[Mac]

Thanks for the advice. I've moved some from the greenhouse (not the greatest but inherited when bought the house at Christmas!!) back into the house to see how they get on. Have plonked some into the garden also to see what happens. Pretty much trying most things!

[Mchanen]

Hi Mac,

I tried growing some Rocket but it seemed to wilt when i put it in direct sunlight (Living room windowsill)

It was origionally in the hall way where it got light but it wasn't direct and seemed to do OK there before i moved it and my other herbs are doing really well there too.

Also i'm not sure if it was me watering it from above while it was still at the seedling stage that killed it off (called dampening off) so i water all my herbs from below and i've had no other problems!

[Mac]

Hi Mchanen

thanks for the tips. I'm mist spraying most things as my uncle (guru!!) said something about this being the gentlest way of getting enough but not too much water into things. Am using this first year as a "test and try" year so trying to grow as much as I can in as many ways as I can. Just need to make sure I keep notes!

[Mchanen]

I'm keeping notes too- helps me keep track of what i'm growing else i'll forget

Also quite helpful to read back over it so i know when about things should be ready to harvest, and if anything goes wrong i can try and work out where i went wrong.