My Garden patch thats needs revitalizing

[Jay-ell]

Her in doors must be happy then

[Tarragon2017]

We can but hope

[Tarragon2017]

Multi purpose compost ?

IS this good enough for veg or would you have to have ot create your own mix ?

[Forage420]

Depends on what situation, whether it's an allotment sized area or a few pots. I think in both occasions it's good to use but like everything better made yourself.

There is a guy called Charles Dowding who has a lot to say about no dig method and composting. He lives in the countryside though. I'm an urban gardener and have found the only way to get in suitable amounts of compost is to buy it and have it delivered.

[Potstubsdustbins]

The straight and for once only answer is yes. The two basic functions of any growing medium is to (a) support the root system and (b) to store and release nutrients to the plants.

Now for the caveat whilst ground can be prepared so as to feed the plant sometimes for the whole growing season the nutrients in MPC usually last about 6 weeks. I use a 5 week bench mark in my containers then use ancillary feeding specific to the type of plant and the age of the plant, is it flowering/fruiting etc.

MPC of course can next season be revitalised with a base fertiliser and used again.

[veggiechicken]

IS this good enough for veg or would you have to have ot create your own mix ?

This has been answered at http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ml#post1529096 #82

So I'm merging this new thread with that one.

[Tarragon2017]

General Questions continued

Question1----- would this method of chitting work for all veg and herbs ----- place seeds on a wet paper towel folded in a container. Spray the seeds and close the container and wait until they sprout.

Question 2--- Do put a layer of terractora broken pots or stones at the bottom of each of your pots ? Just enough to cover the base or just enough to cover the drainge holes?

Question 3----Some of my leaves from my Oregano has turned black at the base does that mean its old or is something wrong , I must say the plant still smells lovely.

Question 4 -- IF the carrot crown pushes through do you cover with extra soil to prevent biterness.

Thanks

[veggiechicken]

Once again, I've merged your threads. You don't need to start another thread each time you have a question.
If you keep them all together it helps people understand why you're asking!

[Tarragon2017]

Ok I look forward to assistance to my questions

[veggiechicken]

Q1. I only chit seeds on paper to see if they're viable. Others may disagree.
Q2. I don't put stones in pots. Maybe a bit of terracotta over the drainage hole if its a large hole but make sure the water can drain out.
Q3. As long as the rest of the stem has green leaves, the black ones will be old ones. There'll be some dead stems from last year that should be cut off.
Q4. I don't have enough success with carrots to worry about covering the tops!

[Bex2012]

Question1----- would this method of chitting work for all veg and herbs ----- place seeds on a wet paper towel folded in a container. Spray the seeds and close the container and wait until they sprout.

Question 2--- Do put a layer of terractora broken pots or stones at the bottom of each of your pots ? Just enough to cover the base or just enough to cover the drainge holes?

Question 3----Some of my leaves from my Oregano has turned black at the base does that mean its old or is something wrong , I must say the plant still smells lovely.

Question 4 -- IF the carrot crown pushes through do you cover with extra soil to prevent biterness.

Thanks

Cant answer the oregano question, as mine comes out of a jar...

1) No not all seeds needs to be chitted, only seeds that are notoriously hard to get going like parsnips, or those that are particularly old (more of a test of viability than anything else). All you need to do is get a pot with soil, compost etc in, damp it down, stick your seed in and put it somewhere warm until it germinates. Really, that is all there is to it.

2) Very few of my pots have broken terracotta pots or stones in the bottom (my pots dont break, and im certainly not smashing any up just to cover a few drainage holes). The only pots that have stones in the bottom are my very tall pots, to make them more stable. In fact I think they may even have a mix of stones and the polystyrene cubes that bedding plants come in.

4) Carrots always push their shoulders out of the ground. I have never covered mine with more soil, and they never go bitter. The shoulders may go a bit green/dark, but i just cut that bit off when I trim the leaves off.

Can I recommend these books? They cover the essentials

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Allotment-M...llotment+books

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Allotment-H...llotment+books

[Tarragon2017]

Thanks for all your help , I must say this is the friendliest and less fussy gardening fourm I have been 2. All thats left for me to do now is to wait for the nice weather and buy some things I need , Hope for a great summer. I will no doubt have many questions but at least I can take photos to illustrate my point

[Potstubsdustbins]

Don't wait to buy something you need, buy something you may just enjoy. May I recommend the vegetable and herb expert by Dr D G Hessayon that ladies a mine of information and it good well give you ideas.

[Jay-ell]

Question1----- would this method of chitting work for all veg and herbs ----- place seeds on a wet paper towel folded in a container. Spray the seeds and close the container and wait until they sprout.
.

I've only ever chitted one set of seeds - some sweetcorn which I originally bought three allotments ago so was unsure about it's viability

Question 2--- Do put a layer of terractora broken pots or stones at the bottom of each of your pots ? Just enough to cover the base or just enough to cover the drainge holes?

I don't put crocks in my pots. I this this was used with soil based potting mixtures to stop the soil washing out but isn't needed with modern potting mixes

Question 3----Some of my leaves from my Oregano has turned black at the base does that mean its old or is something wrong , I must say the plant still smells lovely.

Could be age the stems or from a touch of frost. The plant should be fine.

Question 4 -- IF the carrot crown pushes through do you cover with extra soil to prevent biterness.

Thanks

No. I usually start counting down the days till it a flyeaten mess(not much success with carrots)

Please just add all your questions to this thread rather than spawning others. It helps everyone give you answers

[Tarragon2017]

Do you use pots with one drainage hole or do you prefer several