So a bit of a whinge for my first growing year.

[rabbit]

I've found pea moth in the peas today, much the the dissapointment of my little boy, and mine too. The peas and the tomatoes are the only things I've grown from seed this year that look any good. My neighbour informs me she always looses tomatoes to blight and doesnt bother anymore . I bought some corn plants that are doing okay but apparently the squirrels will have those when theyre ready.

The many chillis and peppers I've planted out (nurtured since January) and all my squashes have been totally devoured by slugs. I had french marigolds and coffee grounds out, eggshells too. Did nemaslug earlier in the year (waiting for my next batch in the post) but no good. Radishes pecked to death by pidgeons and ravaged by slugs. Everything else I planted from seed, carrots, chard, root parsley, scorzanera, spinach, cabbage, beetroot, purple sprouting broccolli just never germinated (they were good seeds, from a reputable company stored well).

On the bright side we've had some lovely strawberries from plants I potted, and some rhubarb that kind of had nothing to do with me as it was here before we moved it.

I guess I should have been more vigilant about netting reegarding the pea (not that I knew about it until today!) and it is all a learning experience but my goodness it's gutting.

Thanks for letting me whinge, I'm sure you've all had those moments.

[darcyvuqua]

There is still time to sow don't get to disheartened runner beans will produce if you pop in asap also anything leafy

[rustylady]

Thanks for letting me whinge, I'm sure you've all had those moments.

We certainly have

Netting is supremely important, specially for the flying rats! Bu@@ers made a right mess of my brussels sprouts, but the middles were intact and they are now firmly netted and recovering

[rabbit]

There is still time to sow don't get to disheartened runner beans will produce if you pop in asap also anything leafy

Booohooo, my runner beans didn't germinate nor my french beans. I'm so sad. I can still try some more I guess, if I wasn't so glum!

We certainly have

Netting is supremely important, specially for the flying rats! Bu@@ers made a right mess of my brussels sprouts, but the middles were intact and they are now firmly netted and recovering

Yes, I can see that now, I planted radishes last year and they were attacked but seems to recover. the double onslaught obviously was the end. I have been a bit snobbish not wanting to cover everything, I liked the look of it all growing and lush but I see the error of my ways.

I'm so so sad about the squash though. I absolutey love squash and really though my own would be superb!

[veggiechicken]

Look on the bright side - you've had strawberries

[rustylady]

Booohooo, my runner beans didn't germinate nor my french beans. I'm so sad. I can still try some more I guess, if I wasn't so glum!

I have been a bit snobbish not wanting to cover everything, I liked the look of it all growing and lush but I see the error of my ways.

I'm so so sad about the squash though. I absolutey love squash and really though my own would be superb!

Stop being sad and start planting quick - you still have time. Get to B & Q and get some plug plants and stick them in and net them and use blue pellets (sparingly)

My beans I always chit at home (soak in cold water overnight, then rinse and place in plastic takeaway container on damp kitchen towel til they produce a shoot). Then plant each sprouted bean in a 7cm square pot and keep at home until big enough to withstand the onslaught of predators.

[veggiechicken]

Are you sowing your seeds directly into the soil? I find that's a bit hit and miss personally so start most things off in pots and trays where I can keep an eye on them.
There's still plenty of time to sow lots of things so don't write this year off yet

[darcyvuqua]

It's my first year and achieved miracles as anyone who knows what I have done will tell you I find people who actually want to grow will find a way of growing!

I have had a terrible year for certain things but have had awesome year for others!

why not ask around your site a lot of people over sow on a lot of things if you have a good standing at your site just come out with it.... you have had a sh!t year can people help you out?

I'd say 99% of real genuine gardeners will help if they can

Failing that just last week someone on my local freecycle was advertising plug plants as they had run out of room

Good luck for the remaining part of the year

[rabbit]

It's my first year and achieved miracles as anyone who knows what I have done will tell you I find people who actually want to grow will find a way of growing!

well in fairness i DO want to grow, and I've put in a lot of money and effort all year and those horrid molluscs have beaten me despite a few (non blue) counter measures. I am pleased for your success though I'm in my garden, not on an allotment but I will be able to buy some plants somwhere.

VC the squash and chillies were in pots, the peas and beans etc straight into the ground. I had no more room for pots at the time although next year I will have much more so that's something.

Right, I will stop being glum and buy some slug poison. I didnt want to but theyve driven me to it. I guess it is all part of the learning curve.

[darcyvuqua]

I find I have had a large amount of success with beer traps

Sorry about my post sounding negative but growing your own is somewhat of a game against nature some you win a lot you lose

Again good luck

[veggiechicken]

I felt like that last year, rabbit. Three sowings of courgettes and squashes that were chomped by molluscs as soon as they were planted out - and I lurrrrrve Courgettes
This year, I'm growing them in raised beds made from pallet crates and I'm more hopeful of growing at least one this year. I grow in my garden too but I look on everything that I can eat as a bonus that I wouldn't have had otherwise - and, for the record, I've only had 2 strawberries this year

[rabbit]

I find I have had a large amount of success with beer traps

Sorry about my post sounding negative but growing your own is somewhat of a game against nature some you win a lot you lose

Again good luck

No no, it was quite encouraging, like 'get your arse into gear woman you can still have the coveted squash'!
We dont drink beer so I wont be buying any for those critters unless I have some over from a BBQ or friends. I didnt know the game was quite as skewed, I was expecting peripheral loss and was even thinking it wouldnt bother me! Oh the naivete!

[Two_Sheds]

I've found pea moth in the peas today

I haven't had any maggots this year ~ this is the first year I've bothered to net the crop from the start, and I'm glad I did. I've never picked so many.

Don't be too despondent. You weren't to know what difficulties you were going to face, but next year will be better because you know what to protect now.

[salome2001]

what size mesh is best for pea moth? 7mm like brassicas or enviromesh/ veggiemesh?

[kathyd]

I know just how you feel Rabbit, it's so disheartening isn't it? Last year was my first year growing 'properly', and lots of stuff struggled especially with the slugs. I've now stocked up on ferramol based slug pellets I'm afraid.

I was like you, wanted the perfect pretty garden with everyone and everything allowed to do as it pleased. Now I'm looking for compromises! This year I've put debris netting over almost everything, at least until it got big enough to defend itself a bit. If the slugs weren't getting stuff before, the cats were lying on it, the dogs trampling it or the chickens scratching it up... I've now removed most of the netting except on the brassicas, which will stay covered all year, and the chickens are banned from the veg garden until the winter!

I try really hard to focus on the successes, but you need lots of patience and resignation - plant lots of spares of everything, and lots of different types of stuff, and then at least something should work! It's just so different from when I was at work, when everything could be planned and prepared for, and you knew that if you did X then Y would happen, and you could be reasonably sure of your results! It's a whole different mindset isn't it?