Few questions please

[robfosters]

1. Is it definitely too early to put cucumbers out or do they stand a fair chance of making it seeing what the weather is like at the moment. I have a mini greenhouse. Could they go in that?

2. How long do spring onions take to germinate? Mine seem to be taking ages?

3. When you earth up potatoes, should you chuck in a small handful of fertilizer, or should you just put it in when you first plant them?

[Hazel at the Hill]

1. Is it definitely too early to put cucumbers out or do they stand a fair chance of making it seeing what the weather is like at the moment. I have a mini greenhouse. Could they go in that?

If they have been inside the house/conservatory they will need hardening off even if you are putting thme in a mini greenhous - a few days of outside in the day, back in the house at night will do it. I wouldn't risk planting out until mid May at the earliest, and then only after doing the in/out hokey cokey thing to harden them off properly.

2. How long do spring onions take to germinate? Mine seem to be taking ages?

Mine take ten day to 2 wks to show themselves

3. When you earth up potatoes, should you chuck in a small handful of fertilizer, or should you just put it in when you first plant them?

I wouldn;t bother, assuming that the ground has been well 'fed' with manure or compost - maybe feed them when they start to flower with a root encouraging feed (Vitax or similar)

[gojiberry]

I am fairly well south but won't be putting cucumbers out till end May early June. Same with French beans, not out till early June.
Don't grow spring onions, I usually put in extra shallots and use them for salad onions.
Potatoes are hungry feeders so a bit of extra fertiliser never hurts.

Ian

[Germinater]

Had my cucumbers out for last month in mini green house and out in garden for last week but if starts to get cold a night again I will put it back in greenhouse.
Spring onions took about a fortnight to come up ..
Can't help to much with spuds cos not grown many but I grow mine in tubs and us bags of compost witch have a degree of fertiliser in It any how..so I wouldn't do that to mine but maybe some one with better exspireance will correct me.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Like most others my cumbers will not be over nighting in the GH till at least mid May. You only need one cool night to check the growth.

Spring onion usually a fortnight but some times longer Guardsman seem to take a little longer than some others I grow.

I grow my spuds in bins so it is a little different to growing in the ground. If you have prepared your ground well they should be alright, however as someone as already pointed out a extra feed will do no harm only good.

If you are growing in any kind of container then yes you must feed them the best compost you can buy will only keep them going for 6-8 weeks. I like to use miracle grow at this time of year then change to tomato feed as the tubers start to mature.

Colin

[Two_Sheds]

Last year my spring onions sat in the ground for 9 months and never got any bigger.

This year I'm following Zazen's sterling advice and starting them in modules: they're doing really well already

[robfosters]

Cheers for the advice.

Two sheds, that sounds a great idea. Can I do that with other stuff as well like little gems?

As for the potato fertiliser, I have Organic potato fertiliser (pellets). Would a small handful every earthing up be OK? I also have some tomorite. Maybe a weekly feed with this?

[Hazel at the Hill]

As for the potato fertiliser, I have Organic potato fertiliser (pellets). Would a small handful every earthing up be OK? I also have some tomorite. Maybe a weekly feed with this?

Speaking from no particular area of expertise (but when did ignorance ever stop me expressing an opinion?), I'd say that a feed every earthing up (which I'm guessing will be every couple of wks?) or weekly feed is a bit above and beyond (and someone clever will be across in a mo to tell you if tomorite (good for fruiting stuff) is the best thing for spuds).

I guess that feeding depends on what your ground is like - if it's in 'good heart' the spuds will need less extra feeding than if you are growing in dust/sand/ash/exhausted soil.

[robfosters]

Should have said. I'm growing my spuds in barrels and using MP compost as the growing medium. I know the compost only holds enough nutrients for 6-8 weeks.

[Two_Sheds]

Can I do that with other stuff as well like little gems?

yes, I do everything except carrots & parsnips in modules

[Potstubsdustbins]

Rob,

As you are growing in containers tomorite which is high in potash would be good once the tubers start to mature.

In fact if you do a little googleing you will find out that tomato food is good for lots of different plants and not just for fruit.

Colin