This is the last time i go on holiday!

[Duronal]

Well i'm just about coming to terms with what has happened to my garden over the last 10 days.

When i left i had no disease, no drought, and lots of crops. Before leaving I even went as far as putting in upside down water bottles, organic slug pellets and filling buckets with water to stand pots in.

On my return i've found that all my squashes, cucmbers and caugettes have powdery mildew, and 50% of my tomatoes have shrivilled due to lack of water. My runner beans have dried out on the vine, my peas are gone, the broccoli has been eaten, my seedlings munched and my prized peppers starved of water and looking wrinkly.

The only thing that has survived is the cursed bindweed and the chard. Even my redcabbages seem to have been savaged by greenfly. I'm not a happy man right now and part of me just wants to rage/explode/cry like a child. I never thought i'd become so attatched but i've lost so much and the amount of time lost is heart breaking. Can anyone recommend something that i can get going to plug the gaps and harvest later on in the year?



D.

[SarzWix]

Oh, that's awful
Did you have somebody looking after (or not...) the plot for you while you were away?

I think there are a few things still ok to sow now, and it'll soon be time to plant over-wintering onions, garlic & shallots. You could also buy in a few plants (if you still have the funds after being on holiday ) - Marshalls Seeds still have brassica plants listed; Marshalls Seeds - Vegetable Seed, Onion Sets, Seed Potatoes, Fruit Trees, Vegetable Plants.

[rustylady]

Was your stuff in containers, or in the open ground? Peppers may recover given a good watering, likewise beans. For quick cropping now, think salad crops. Lettuce, radish, possibly beetroot and early carrots.

[Duronal]

unfortunately i couldn't get anyone to water over the time i was away. I like the idea of garlic, maybe some carrots.

The MOST annoying thing was that i had started some more red cabbages, PSB, and carrots before i left. but they've had it. Do think i could get away with starting again?

[lynda66]

that's awful ...... i reckon you should see if anything recovers with a bit of TLC, and if not, i'd try sowing again ...... i'm sure most things will grow fine, and if they do you get a crop, if they don't you've lost a few seeds and a bit of time, I've just sown carrots, peas, parsnips, turnips, swede, and some more onions and leeks.

[Hans Mum]

bad luck ......have you tried your local freecycle someone might have some extras, or what about ebay or Vegetable plants available mail order from vegetableplantsdirect over 500 varieties available from heritage to modern F1 varieties for plug plants..

[Jimmy]

It really is necessary to cultivate a neighbour.
Set things up to make it easy. I have a hose with two feeds.
So all that needed is a quick visit every other day.
Sink pots next to critical plants or in growbags.
Can just aim the hose at pots.
Also suggest they can harvest what's ready.
Plus a postcard and maybe a stick of rock.

[T-lady]

Hey Duronel - sorry you've had a setback but there's still time to get productive again.

How about trying some of the Oriental veggies that want to be sown at this time of year to stop them bolting? Also get some kale going and definitely some salads - try land cress, lambs lettuce. Have a look at the Real Seed people - they have some wonderful winter lettuces. Also try the big winter and japanese radishes - I cook them like swedes etc and they are really tasty.

[heidifuss]

Hi there

So sorry to hear this.

I was also thinking of putting in some orientals - Pak choi was really successful last winter and is hardy - so could be a good replacement for the cabbages.

There is an autumn carrot - autumn king.

Also this is the time to put spinach in as it doesn't bolt so easily.

Good luck
Heidi

[Two_Sheds]

Next year, concentrate on mulching more...grass clippings and newspaper are better than nothing.
I don't water my plot much from one week to the next. I don't water the soil (which encourages shallow roots); instead I water into upturned bottles which encourage deep rooting (and much less drying out).

[Duronal]

Ok so I'm going to go with mulch as next year's alternative to bottles. Can anyone reccomend anything worth using. I like the idea of grass clippings but i'm worried about any stray seeds. Wouldn't these germinate and cause a weeding fiasco?

(saying this my beds are reclaimed lawn so i'm constantly weeding it out, i don't really fancy adding to the problem. )

What do people think to bark chippings? Surely these look great but would make sowing seed very difficult....

I guess i could use something a little more organic like well rotted horse manure but i can forsee problems with scorching.

Hmmmmmm i'll keep thinking on this one........

I've just ordered some Japenese onions, and Garlic for the bed to replace some of the dying plants, my squashes and cucumbers aren't looking too hot but i'm going to leave the decision to pull them until the very last minute.

How long do i need to leave the soil if i'm planning to top dress/ dig in some horse manure prior to planting?

thanks for all your help.

D

[Two_Sheds]

Mulching isn't complicated.
The easiest thing to do is plant your plant (not seed, a plant) in a hole, fill hole with water & scrunched/shredded newspaper, let drain. Backfill with soil. The paper acts like a sponge, keeping water in the ground. You still need to water, but less often. Water into upturned bottles, not onto the soil.

Or: plant your plant in hole as before. Lay 5 sheets of wet newspaper around the plant, like a collar. Cover newspaper with a layer of soil so it looks nice (& stops paper drying out and blowing away).

It may seem like a faff at the time, but believe me it saves you hours & hours & hours of watering.

[jaykay]

I've had the opposite problem. We've been away for two weeks but I asked my father in law to water (and pick) as necessary. Apparently there were only two dry days while we were away and it's rained every day since I've been back. I fear my crops may have drowned, or else I'll have giant courgettes etc.

Two Sheds' sugggestion for mulching with newspaper sounds good - I'm guessing this will help keep weeds away from the stems of plants as well as reducing the need for watering. I'll try this for next batch of planting. Thanks for the idea.

[Duronal]

Thankyou for the info two sheds, i think you've just found a use for my local newpaper!

With some luck everything will be fine next year.

[Two_Sheds]

Two Sheds' suggestion for mulching with newspaper sounds good - I'm guessing this will help keep weeds away from the stems of plants as well as reducing the need for watering.

Yes, it certainly helps.