from seed to picking

[petlor]

I know some seed packets give growing times but is there a small booklet that gives full growing times for vegetables that start in green house and then planted outside in containers and tubs. I sometimes think that some of my veggies have bolted but perhaps they need to to be in containers a lot longer.

i am new to growing from seed and these might be daft questions but if anybody can help would appreciate

[Kristen]

I wander round the garden each week and photograph any plant in flower, or any other important event (like first pick-able tomato on a truss) so I have a record I can refer back to.

Keeping a notebook in my back-pocket would be a good idea, but I never remember to do that!

Doesn't help with your question, but I recommend that you do your own recording:

Variety, Sowing date, Planting out date, First fruit date, Last fruit date

that sort of thing.

[quark1]

I'm not the greatest gardener - brown thumb may be travelling to other fingers in time!

But - with my spuds - which is something I CAN grow(!) - I have for the last couple of years written down when, quantity, container size they were planted in and refer to T&M's table to place in brackets minimum expectation of growing until spud harvest.

I have a formula of compost/chicken manure pellets depending on whether it be a flower bucket (1 seed) used for the first time this year or my horrendously expensive spuds tubs
(3 or 4 small seeds).

Then - if I remember - I try and record what yields I found and comment regarding taste/texture/versatility - the all important factors. That way, in future years I can build a best practice for 'me' going forward. After all years are different each to the other with conditions - some very wet - some very dry - some where blight arrives early. Of course where you are growing is important - if you put your general location to profile - that might help other more learned Grapes than myself assist in your enquiries.

If you are a beginner there will be plenty of friendly and experienced help here and I would advise that you invest in one good general veg growing manual - if that is you preference - and a subscription to GYO mag (commission pls - Oh I've done that line before!). I personally find that it is always nice to be able to refer to something again and again and a book/mag is my preferred choice. Easier to compare pics of good/bad plants that way as well or to identify common diseases/pests.

I would also say that any guidelines of seed to harvest are just that - and how you nurture or nature nurtures will play a vital role - I would advise that most of these times refer to 'minimum' expectations in 'ideal' conditions and an extra week or two would be advisable in most cases of growing to get best out of your efforts.

To quote Flummery - another Grape - Patience - the hardest job in the garden!

How true, how true.

[petlor]

Thanks for advice, as I am retired I have time to record, You mentioned quark 1 that growing spuds is your forte I have couple of large pots with spuds in but I think I didn't look after them enough , I would like to grow some more for later this year what would you recommend.The pots are about 1 metre dia [ old plastic refuse bin cut in two ]
All of a rush this year, starting to realise to take time

Live in bedfordshire will add to profile Thanks

[quark1]

More for later this year?

Well thats what I 'have' to do.....I've left some of my planting up rather late so I'm finishing off now! More by luck than judgement I assure you. Tsk Tsk say the other Grapes!

I'm mainly growing in containers - the idea being that should the frost come early in October I can move to my sun lounge. I'm lucky and have the space for that luxury. In flower buckets they will be easily managable to move with minimal damage of disruption to the growing spud.

You can purchase seed pots for late harvest from many sources which will be delivered around this time for exected new pots for the Xmas dinner table. Or if you have a few late planters you could always try what I'm doing. you will have to watch for frost.

You can acquire the flower buckets from a number of sources - usually free which is even better! The Co-Op have no recycling poilicy at the moment so try there - Asda are starting to recycle the plastic - but if you make friends with the flower lady on the shop floor you may be able grab a few before they hit the crusher. Other supermarkets charge at 10 for a quid - which is great. I normally put a couple of quid in Co-Op's charity box every now and then as a thank you as they want nothing. I've also promised my nice manager down there a few samples of the produce he's helped produce. Its always difficult/uncomftable to ask for summit for nothing - but usually you do them a favour by removing 'rubbish' and it saves on landfill.

For a flower bucket I put one part compost with one trowel of chicken manure pellets - mix then one more part compost on top. The 'part' in this case being a medium sized plastic flower pot (contains 5 trowel fulls). Place a single seed pot in middle then top up with 4 more measures of compost.

For the spud tub - see T&M website for description - I have one flower bucket (big measrue!) of compost with 3 trowels of pellets (plus 2 on last year) - mix then one big measure atop. Either place 3 seeds equally or 2 with one measure compost and 2 at opposite sides then top up - if seeds very small. I would normally earth up every few days once growth has begun - but this year I've been hopelessly disorganised. I filled the whole business up and hope that nature will take care of its own.

It is a question of 'if' I will be rewarded for my efforts.

The great thing about container growing - and many of us here do it - is that those who have limited space are able to grow more than they imagined possible - even where concreted patios are their back gardens!

I have just noticed that the diameter of your reclaimed pots is a full meter - that's a raised bed! Seriously - you should get some harvest from that set up.

Good luck with your efforts!