Newbie poly tunnel update with photos

[Can the Man]

Hi everybody previously I introduced myself with details of my poly tunnel built in June, too late for some of the crops i wanted to grow like tomatoes chillies and cucumber. So I decided as I had about 3 kilo of chitted Nicola 2nd early potatoes to grow them inside in the raised beds. I sowed them on 2nd July see the first picture, have watered them every evening, and sprayed them against blight about 2 weeks ago. When I sowed them I only partially filled the raised beds but when the leaves started to appear I added more soil and compost until I had the raised beds filled to the height I wanted. The potatoe plants are now about 18-24” high and stared flowering last week. See the 2nd &3rd photos.

[Can the Man]

I also set up a herb garden, so far only parsley, thyme, lemon thyme and rosemary. I then took a punt after reading some threads here to try carrots and put in 2 small drills last Wednesday, the carrots have appeared this evening. My lettuce has started to go to seed.




When the potatoes come out more carrots are going in as are winter potatoes for Christmas 👨*🌾

[Small pumpkin]

Looking like a very good spud crop. Looking forward to seeing that tunnel full of chillies & tomatoes next year

[Scarlet]

OMG! Such a neat freak looks fabulous!

My lettuce has started to go to seed

Lettuce doesn't like the heat ( save the seed and join one of the seed circles) I've got lettuce seeds drying in my GH at the mo.
Early sown lettuce (mid feb, then also March) grows really well for me undercover.

[Can the Man]

Thanks Scarlet, I’ve started some new lettuce and winter cabbage plants from seed in PT but will sow outside. I will try harvest the lettuce that is going to seed as you suggest. I don’t know the name as it was in a pot of mixed lettuce leaves I got from the GC. It has a slight peppery taste. Maybe someone can recognise it. It is the dandelion type leaves.

[veggiechicken]

I have bolted lettuce seed heads in the GH too. The sparrows are flying in through the top window, gathering a beak full of seeds and flying out the door to take the seeds to their babies, somewhere in the rooftop?
My lettuce are left to sow themselves in the GH - I like the randomness of this but I'm not sure that you would in your tidy PT, Can!

[Scarlet]

Charles Dowding "salad for all seasons" worth a read...

[veggiechicken]

Thanks Scarlet, I’ve started some new lettuce and winter cabbage plants from seed in PT but will sow outside. I will try harvest the lettuce that is going to seed as you suggest. I don’t know the name as it was in a pot of mixed lettuce leaves I got from the GC. It has a slight peppery taste. Maybe someone can recognise it. It is the dandelion type leaves.


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Could be one of the oriental mustards that often find their way into mixed leaves - like Green wave.

[Can the Man]

VC I don’t think it will be as tidy next year as I will be growing in the garden as well. I want to grow strawberries in the PT as well from my hanging shelves, will keep them in individual pots are else will get a few rain gutters.

[Scarlet]

Saving lettuce for the seed circles.....I'm not sure whether peeps would be too bothered that you don't know the exact name?

I've often sown cabbage seed in August ( Durham Early) for planting in the GH. I pick it as spring greens in the Spring. I have had white fly occasionally but may be worth a shot? Could even overwinter in large buckets and chuck outside if you are worried about whitefly?