New to the Vine

[Silverfox]

I've been reading the vine for a few weeks now and loving everyone's stories. Honestly its better than watching Eastenders, with everything from disaster to happy ever afters.

This is my first year of growing anything and I found it fantastic to wake up every morning and wonder what delights I may have in the garden today. The only thing about being new, is not knowing much.

I have a few questions which I'm sure all the experts out there may know.

1) I think I have killed my strawberry plants. I have 3 plants and I didn't get then out of their pots quick enough. I have now planted them on in a very large pot and they seem to like it, the leaves are now coming back to life but is that it for fruit this year? will I get any more flowers? ……… oh and they have a few crawlers (think that is what they are called) will they create a new plant all on their own or do I have to do something to them?

Honest last question ……… for now

2) I want to grow some potato's (OH's idea ….. and how growing your own started). The info I have in my book isn't really that good. When do I need to start thinking about sowing them and how many seed potato's will I need for a dustbin?

[Clarea1]

Hi there silverfox - gald to see I'm not the only early bird!

I have grown potatoes in a containers before, there are called potatoes tubs and I put about 4-5 in the tub. You can grow them in just about anything, buckets, sacks, binliners (strong ones!) In a dustbin I would say about 5 possibley 6 depending on the size of you bin. You can put some in for oerwintering I think if you have the right environment but somebody else will be better able to advise you there. If you go back a few pages on this area of the forum you will find lots of answered queries about planting times for 1st, 2nd earlies, maincrop and lates etc.

[Clarea1]

Oh i forgot to say welcome to the forum. it's my first year too and I love it! It's so exciting and great to come in at the end of the day and share your succeses, queries and the odd not - so - success with likeminded grapes!

[nick the grief]

Morning Silverfox, welcome to the vine. If you get some around now & have got a greenhouse you can keep frost free you could grow some for Christmas. You'll want an early variety something like Charlotte are OK. as you're growing in containers I'd save a few from a bag from the supermarket then you can compare the taste They'll take about 10-12 weeks so work it out from there. then you can plant some more in feb march time (in fresh compost) and have them around now!!

As to your strawbs, I doubt you'll get any more flowers but you may do. Your supposed to pck the flowers off in the first year anyway to let the plants establish - more important in pots as they've got a restricted root run.

The Runner (bit faster than crawlers ) ytou can peg don into some pots of compost & they'll root in no time. Seer them next spring & nurture them along for a year & then you'll be OK.

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Silverfox welcome to the grapevine. Nicks answer says it all - there is nothing to add.

[SueA]

Hi Silverfox, love the idea of 'crawlers' as slow growing 'runners', thought you meant 'creepy crawlies' at first until I read on! Welcome to the vine.

[Silverfox]

Ha ha ….. well mine are far from running.

I'm sure its to do with being new but I am so impatient waiting for everything to grow. I look at everything 2 or even 3 times a day and plead with them to be ready. It even got so bad yesterday that I gave OH dinner with no sugar snaps cause only enough had grown for me and I wanted to taste them.

[JennieAtkinson]

Hello Silverfox - glad to hear you gave enjoyed the vine.

I have had great success from an earlier vine tip for my potatoes. Cheap growing bags from the supermarket, cut them in half and sow two potatoes in each. I have just "opened" up one of my bags (two weeks too early, but I couldn't wait) and had quite a bumper crop of potatoes (Charlotte). Very tasty but need to get a bit bigger yet. I will certainly be growing more like this next year.