What Problems Do You Have Growing **********

[veggiechicken]

We need a huge, communal plot, somewhere in the middle...Birmingham maybe? where we can all grow what we're good at but harvest what we LIKE

How about a VVP (Virtual Veg Parcel)?
We grow the one thing we're good at and swap it with someone else. Don't send it all to me though, I have enough problems storing seeds

[mothhawk]

My big issue is root veg, all top and no bottom. Just about everything - carrots, radishes, beetroot - except, oddly enough, parsnips, which when I can spare room to grow them make lovely big long roots. I suspect it's lack of sun in my case, though it obviously doesn't bother the parsnips.

[Bigmallly]

all top and no bottom.

It's one thing or the other with you girls...............

[Cadalot]

On the sweetcorn front, I think it was Cadalot who mentioned covering his sweetcorn once pollinated with old socks. I think his idea was to deter badgers (I didn't enquire whether the socks were newly washed or not). Might pop socks or old ends of tights work against earwigs?
.

Not me snoops, I did cover them with pop bottles with the bottom cut off like little condoms to keep them safe from the squirrels and magpies that took a liking to them the previous year. I also removed the fox barrier as Basil and his mates like to play on my plot and don't really care what they push over but the squires used the little fence as a perch to sit on whist they filled their stomachs with my corn.

[planetologist]

I don't grow peas anymore. The mice get a lot of the strawberries, I've put them closer to the house this year; fingers crossed. Tomatoes and aubergines will have to wait until I've put up the greenhouse. I only sow radishes after midsummer, that seems to be problem free. Spring sown radishes is too miss, miss, hit and miss.
Carrots, parsnips, brassicas and beetroot all are fine for me. The carrots and brassicas only with netting. I have fairly heavy soil.

[Scoot]

Beetroot for me. Tried growing it every year in the garden and in pots and get hardly any crop from them. Tiny little scrawny things 95% of the time

[SaraJH]

This thread is scaring the life out of me! This is my first year attempting to grow anything and most things on my list to grow are appearing here lol

[Bigmallly]

Don't worry Sara, you will have your own failings as well as successes. A lot of it is down to having ideal growing conditions which most of us don't have.

[Penellype]

This thread is scaring the life out of me! This is my first year attempting to grow anything and most things on my list to grow are appearing here lol

Don't worry about it, just give things a try and you will find out what does well in your garden and then you can work on ways to improve the things that don't.

[Cadalot]

This thread is scaring the life out of me! This is my first year attempting to grow anything and most things on my list to grow are appearing here lol

I had real problems with Parsnips until given fresh seed from a fellow plot holder and planted later when the soil was warmer, never had a problem with beetroots either directly or sown in vending machine cups in the greenhouse to get them past the slug munching tender stage. Just have fun having a try, as worst you try again in a couple of weeks.

[SaraJH]

Don't worry Sara, you will have your own failings as well as successes. A lot of it is down to having ideal growing conditions which most of us don't have.

Don't worry about it, just give things a try and you will find out what does well in your garden and then you can work on ways to improve the things that don't.

Thanks both, this year will be a lot hit and miss I am sure, it's all about the learning curve each year. Something to eat will be a bonus!

[jackarmy]

Problems growing ........?

Old mate, old . ;(

[Bal]

Cauliflowers for me and swede. Never had a problem with spring onions or beetroot. Haven't tried sprouts yet or celeriac.

[Guest]

Thanks both, this year will be a lot hit and miss I am sure, it's all about the learning curve each year. Something to eat will be a bonus!

When you grow your own you tend to develop a love/ appreciation for the small, ugly and partially eaten

[maverick451]

I have a problem growing fruit

Ive spent a small fortune last few years on bushes and mini trees but last year bar strawberries which were ok I got about 10 raspberries, 5 gooseberries oh and a single apple!