Help!!!

[sickntired]

I'm a total newbie to growing my own and need help! I think I planted my asparagus too early cos nothing's happening, I've been told I planted my peas at the wrong time and that the frost will kill them, my potatoes show no signs of growing and to be honest I feel totally useless and lacking in confidence!
(I do, however, have my onions peeking above the soil!)

[Alison]

Hiya Sickntired (like the name, we all feel like that sometimes!!!). Can't help with the asparagus as I don't grow it but others may be able to help. Re the peas, when did you plant them and what type are they. Some peas (eg Meteor) can be overwintered and I tried some for the first time last winter from an autumn sowing. Can't say I've been that impressed and the ones I planted in the spring have now overtaken them but you may be OK.

Don't do potatoes either as I'm very short of space. Do you know what type they are and if they're earlies, main crop etc. This would give people an idea of what they should be doing at the moment.

Good on with the onions though.

[sickntired]

Help!

I can't remember the name of the peas but the packet said plant in Spring. The spuds are earlies and maincrop, I earthed them up because the plots next to me had, but whether it's enough I haven't got a clue!

[Waffler]

When did you plant the potatoes? It may be that they just haven't shown above the surface yet.
If you've only recently been told frosts will kill your peas, then chances are there's hope. You don't say where you are located; down south there's less chance (though not 'no chance') of hard frost now. Depending on how and where you've planted them, you could always cover them over with cloches or fleeces if the forecast is for frost. Anyway, if the packet says 'spring' I'd have thought it should be ok, it is, after all, spring now.
Can't help you with the asparagus either I'm afraid.

Don't beat yourself up about it; we're all learning, and when you're just starting out, you encounter the steepest learning curve of them all !
Still, at least your onions are coming through!

[Alison]

The thing about seed packets is that they only really give general advice, it depends on where you live, how exposed your plot is and global warming(!) what you can get away with. There's loads of people on this forum planting way earlier than the text books say. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but so long as you learn from it, celebrate the positives and don't let the negatives get you down then it's all good.

If your peas come through then good but you may find it easier in future to start them off in a cold frame / greenhouse and then plant out stronger plants at known spacings. Re the spuds, you only need to earth up to stop light getting to the spuds, am not sure if you can over earth up but somebody will come along soon to let you know.

[Nicos]

Welcome to the Vine sickntired!!
I think you may be suffering from a bit of impatience???
I have only put my spuds in today - yours may be slow because the soil is cold??
I expect to pick my first asparagus tomorrow ( and thats 2 weeks earlier than 'normal'!)
My peas are going in tomorrow, and they are 'tuff 'seedlings!!.
I sow late because we grow on peat and the water table is really high and everthing would rot if put in earlier!
Everthing will be fine...just enjoy fiddling about!!!

[sickntired]

I live in towards the southeast of London so I may be ok. I know about the copping of asparagus, I just think I may have planted them a bit too deep but I was only following the instructions. The spuds were planted 3 weeks ago i think.
I think I'm panicking aren't I?! It's just the more I read the more I think I've gone wrong.

[Two_Sheds]

I think I'm panicking aren't I?! It's just the more I read the more I think I've gone wrong.

That's because everybody's gardening is different: diff. methods, diff soil, diff climate, diff plants, diff varieties of plant and so on...
Don't worry too much. My asparagus is just poking out now...I put it in a 8 inch hole, covered with 2 inch of soil. I shall now earth it up an inch at a time until the hole is filled.

[sickntired]

Thanks everyone, you're a real help. I'm going to the allotment tomorrow so will let you know whats happening.
Thanks again, I like this site!!

[veggieginger]

sicknote I am a newbie too. Mr VG has been moaning and graoning that the potatos hadn't come up, but over the past week the are up and growing everytime we look at them

We are in the southeast and have had peas out in the garden for the past 2 weeks due to no room left in house!! They have been fine and growing up the nets put in for them. We are in a very sheltered position though so I can't comment on your peas.

Good luck, this is a great site isn't it

[Flummery]

Hi Sickntired - welcome to the vine. You'd be surprised at how many different ways there are of doing things. Nature's tough - you usually get away with things! My first spud only peeped through yesterday. I earth up at the time I plant too - because otherwise I forget where the rows are! My peas are out now and doing fine. Panic not! Enjoy your gardening.

[Alice]

Welcome to the Vine Sickntired - and yes - you're panicking. Have patience. Everything will be OK. Your potatoes will come up in their own time. I planted my pea plants out today and I'm confident they will be fine. I don't know about the asparagus but if you followed the instructions it should be OK.
Enjoy your gardening and keep short notes for yourself - what date you planted things and how they got on. Note any problems you had and what worked really well. This will help you next year. You think you will remember, but you won't. Do let us know how you get on.

[mrskp]

see, we all do things differently. I'm a stones throw from Alice and my peas went in quite a few weeks ago (i'm new to peas and haven't got a scooby what i'm doing either) but i have blooms and even have one pod !

it's all a matter of trial and error and seeing what works for you. this is a long term project, some years you win, some you don't. ANYTHING at all is a bonus with me !

but most of all ENJOY !

[Nicos]

Ha ! yes- and when it does grow, wait to see which form of wildlife will tuck into it!!!!!

[Splinter]

Hi all,

I totally agree with previous postings and there are so many variations in getting a successful crop.

I view my plot to get away from the everyday stress and strains of life, if something works great keep doing it, if not try something else. Sometimes it can feel that its all going a bit wrong, then all of a sudden nature suprises you.

Keep the faith!!!!

Splinter