Phil the non-gardeners garden

[mrbadexample]

It was in the local farmers market here in Cardiff. I'm pretty certain it was this farm: -
https://m.facebook.com/Blaencamel-Fa...?locale2=en_GB

Looks like they are selling tomato plants again tomorrow, if they won't post a plant to you I could pick one up, assuming they will have kumato s for sale. No idea how to wrap a plant for posting but we can crossed that bridge when we get to it.

You're a star. If you could do that I would be more than happy to cover any expenses incurred. I reckon it would be fine with the roots wrapped in damp tissue, in a ziplock bag and then a jiffy bag for postage. Tomatoes are pretty tough.

[Rapscallion]

What do you like to eat?

Fruit bushes can be quite attractive and there are plenty of small fruit trees available nowadays which are on rootstocks that are suitable for pots - the ballerina types don't take up much space. Blueberries also do well in pots and are quite attractive with white flowers in spring and red autumn leaves.

Why not mix your veg with edible flowers such as nasturtiums and calendula (marigold) - both of these are good companion plants and have attractive flowers.

Hi Penellype,

I've got a shortlist of herbs i want to plant, and am also looking into what taller veg plants i could out against the fence.

But what i am trying to picture is how to layout the plants, what to plant them in etc.

Im thinking of raising some of the plants about a foot off the ground so they are more visible behind the raise beds.

[veggiechicken]

Could you put some long trough planters against the fence and grow French and runner beans and peas there. You'd need some netting/strings or canes to train them up.

[Jay-ell]

I've been looking at this to fit more in vertically,copper tape round the legs to keep slugs out,good for salad & herbs but I don't know how big it is except it says 550cm long which seems a bit long? I wonder how big the troughs are & maybe peas & dwarf cucumbers would be alright in there?
Garden Up Freestanding - Black

It'll be 550MM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwFKJVgxe68

Hi Penellype,

I've got a shortlist of herbs i want to plant, and am also looking into what taller veg plants i could out against the fence.

But what i am trying to picture is how to layout the plants, what to plant them in etc.

Im thinking of raising some of the plants about a foot off the ground so they are more visible behind the raise beds.

Those three cornered stackers aren't too bad and cad be had as individual tiers from the pound shop or W1lk0s. They look good with herbs bushing out from them (or strawberries)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWYzR0pHDOA

[Rapscallion]

OK, hopefully i can make it to the market tomorrow. Slightly annoyed that i didn’t remember to save any seeds last year....

[Rapscallion]

I think that is likely what i will do. What size trough would you recommend and how can i get some 'on the cheap'?

Would the be too small?
Wilko Trough Self Watering Green 49cm at wilko.com

[veggiechicken]

I use these Wilko Trough Planter Athens Terracotta Colour 70cm at wilko.com

- they're a bit deeper than the other ones

[Rapscallion]

Quick question - for the raised bed, do i need to add fresh compost or feed before i start adding seeds and plants?

[Rapscallion]

I use these Wilko Trough Planter Athens Terracotta Colour 70cm at wilko.com

- they're a bit deeper than the other ones

thanks. Off to pick three of those up, one for sugar snap peas and other for mange tout and another for french beans. what do I need to use for supports against a wooden fence. Netting or canes?

[veggiechicken]

Beans twist themselves around canes: peas cling to netting with their tendrils!

[Rapscallion]

Hi mrbadexample's - sorry but i didn’t make it to the market, but i checked on their twitter and they didnt mention they had any kumato's.

[Rapscallion]

Growing from seed question
Ive never grown anything from seed, so have a few questions...

I have ordered quite a few different herb seeds (probably gone over the top...). Here is an example of the instructions i have received: -

Sow basil seed from February to June, or sow throughout the year for indoor cultivation out of season. Sow seed on the surface of free draining seed compost and cover with a light sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Place in a propagator at a temperature of 15-25C (59-77F) or seal the container inside a polythene bag until after germination, which takes 14-21 days. Keep the compost slightly dry at all times, watering very lightly as seedlings emerge. When they are large enough to handle, transplant seedlings into 7.5cm (3in) pots and grow basil plants on in cooler conditions.

Heres what i have bought in wilkos

• John Innes Seed Sowing Compost 10L
• Wilko Seed Tray Economy Black 3pk
• Wilko Capillary Matting 5pk
• Wilko Seed Tray Black 15 Inserts 3pk
• Wilko Fibre Plant Pot Round 6cm 24pk
• Wilko Propagator Lid Clear 35 x 21cm

Heres what i think i need to do, is this correct, or is there anything else i need to think about?
I also have an issue in that the seeds want different temperatures, e.g. 13-16C for parsley and 20-25C for lemon balm, some instructions are very specific temperature, e.g. 20c for Dill. How can I manage to keep these seeds at different temperatures? Do i need a thermometer?

• Fill a fibre plant pot with the seed compost, put on a seed (just one?) and then cover with a bit more compost as directed.
• Do this for all the plants i think i will need, planting extras so i can choose the best seedlings.
• Put the fibre plant pots in seed insert, put insert on top of capillary matting in a seed tray and cover with the propagator lid.
• Put the propagator(s) in my Wilkos walk-in greenhouse
• Water daily
• I am thinking of using these Self watering Half Round Wall Basket for the herbs on my garage wall (SW facing. Putting about 3 to 6 different plants in each basket.

[Rapscallion]

and one more question
what varieties care recommended (and i can get hold of in the UK) of sugar snap peas and mange tout.

Id also like to grow a bean of some kind, what is tasty, easy and a good cropper?

PS
these will be grown in a planting trough against a SW facing fence here in cardiff.

[Zelenina]

First of all you don't need the fibre pots AND the inserts. Just one or the other. The inserts are probably the best to start off with.

Fibre pots are supposed to be particularly good for bigger seeds of things that don't like their roots disturbed e.g. corn. I bought some a few years ago but I haven't used them yet. I've heard they can be a bit tricky to get the watering right with.

You can sow one seed per cell if you want, or for small ones you can scatter a few seeds in each and then gently separate them for transplanting later. Or just pinch off all the seedlings except the best one. but not everyone is able to be that ruthless

And I don't think you need the capillary matting. I've never used it in a propagator. The lid stops things drying out. But maybe someone else will come along who does use it like that. I'm sure you can find another good use for it later, maybe for the young plants in the greenhouse.

The only one of those herbs I would bother sowing in a propagator is basil. You could get a few different kinds if you like a variety. I've got some nice batches of seedlings of Thai, Genovese, Greek Ball and Purple. The best way to get the right germination temperature for it is to put it in a warm place in your house that's about 20C until they germinate. Once they've germinated they can come out of the propagator and go into a cooler place with plenty of light.

Parsley is a slow germinator and should do fine sown outdoors. Dill self seeds in my garden and comes up when the temperature is right, but you could try some in the propagator, and the lemon balm too, along with the basil. They should all do OK around 20C. The temperature in the green house will probably be too variable.

Every kind of plant has an optimum germination temperature, but generally they'll still germinate a few degrees above or below that but maybe a bit slower, so you don't need to worry about getting it exactly right.

The only problem I can see with sowing different kinds of plants at once is that some might germinate faster and need to come out of the propagator before others are up. But I guess you could take the early ones out of the cells and put the rest of them back in the propagator, or sow them in turns. Basil is quite a fast germinator in my experience. Much faster than 14-21 days. So I'd give that a go first.

Also I don't keep my compost slightly dry but start by giving it a good wetting, because things seem to germinate better that way. But probably lots of people would disagree with me.

Not sure about those corner basket thingies. They might be OK for smaller kinds of herbs. I find basil does better in a big pot or flower bucket because it likes plenty of room for its roots. Lemon balm makes a big plant so it would probably be better in a large pot too.

[Zelenina]

That was a longer post than I intended, and I forgot about the peas. They come in various heights from about 18 inches to 6 or 8 feet, so it will help if you tell us how high you want yours to grow. My climate isn't great for peas, but this year I'm trying three kinds of mangetouts. First Oregon Sugar Pod, which are quite a short variety, because they are supposed to be very disease resistant. I've also got some Bijou and Golden Sweet which are tall, because they are interesting heritage varieties, but probably less disease resistant so they might not do well for me. I haven't planted any sugar snaps but I like the look of one called Jessy because it's also disease resistant. Sugar Bon is also supposed to be a good one.

Beans - there are so many different ones. Do you want tall ones or short ones? French or runners? Flat or round pods? Green, purple, yellow or mottled pods? Just to eat the pods or for dry beans? Blue Lake is the first climbing French bean I grew. They are good and reliable for a beginner and readily available, and their pods are green despite their name. They are also good for drying.

But runner beans tend to be easier to grow in the UK, especially if you're in a place that gets more rain than sunshine. Scarlet Emperor, Enorma, Prizewinner, Painted Lady are some of the old popular varieties that should do fine for you.