[bornfree]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badcat

SO many raspberries and strawberries this year, they have gone bonkers. Everyday getting at least a bowl full (very nice mixed with porridge).

The spring onions are nearly ready (need to sow some more) and the carrots are getting bigger (ditto with sowing more of them as well). Just picked my 1st lot of broad beans (sowed them late this year) and the toms are coming along great, really shot up the last few weeks and getting some fruit already (grew 3 varieties this year but due to my min greenhouse blowing down and topploing my seedtrays all over the place I don't know which are which!)

Also my peppers (mix of hot and sweet) are getting huge! In a week am sure they have grown 4 inches, some have flowered and got a couple fruiting already.

Spuds coming along nicely and the purple sprouting broccoli and tenderstem and coming along leaps and bounds. Mind you am having to squish eggs and pick off the caterpillars to feed to the fish (I feel so bad!) And the squash plants are just about the flower.

Also the beetroot seems to be ok. peas were a complete fail. Peas really hate me.

Have to water every evening as everything is in pots but so far looks ok!

Excellent news

[c00kiemonster72]

That's a hell of a lot going on Badcat, keep up the good work

Within a week my cucumbers are taking over the greenhouse, I reckon they must be liking my homemade liquid manure feed.

[bornfree]

Quote:

Originally Posted by c00kiemonster72

That's a hell of a lot going on Badcat, keep up the good work

Within a week my cucumbers are taking over the greenhouse, I reckon they must be liking my homemade liquid manure feed.

Good news about your cucumbers

[bornfree]

I have 3 different types of pepper plants. So far counted 20 peppers. I also have a ghost chilly plant, counted 25 (god knows what I am going to do with them, they will be too hot for me). A normal chilly plant counted 30 chillies, luckily will be able to use them as they are not too hot.

[Victoria Sponge]

I have herbs growing in small pots on my balcony. Got parsley, dill, coriander, and we are looking after our neighbours' basil which is MASSIVE and has loads growing, the fragrance is amazing. I love having fresh herbs to hand, and use them for almost every meal. Wonderful!

[bornfree]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victoria Sponge

I have herbs growing in small pots on my balcony. Got parsley, dill, coriander, and we are looking after our neighbours' basil which is MASSIVE and has loads growing, the fragrance is amazing. I love having fresh herbs to hand, and use them for almost every meal. Wonderful!

I love fresh herbs So easy to grow too.

[c00kiemonster72]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bornfree

I have 3 different types of pepper plants. So far counted 20 peppers. I also have a ghost chilly plant, counted 25 (god knows what I am going to do with them, they will be too hot for me). A normal chilly plant counted 30 chillies, luckily will be able to use them as they are not too hot.

I love using hot chillies for chilli jam, as that way you get some proper heat into the mix, which with the sweetness from the sugar makes a lush flavour combination

[c00kiemonster72]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bornfree

Good news about your cucumbers

Bad news, as they really are taking over the greenhouse lol

[bornfree]

Quote:

Originally Posted by c00kiemonster72

I love using hot chillies for chilli jam, as that way you get some proper heat into the mix, which with the sweetness from the sugar makes a lush flavour combination

Sounds very nice. I could do with something like that for my Christmas nut roast.

Quote:

Originally Posted by c00kiemonster72

Bad news, as they really are taking over the greenhouse lol

Can you prune it? Or will it kill the plant?

[Leightonisme]

Does anyone know anything about growing grapes? I've three vines which will need to be trained badly next year but I'm quite worried about having it in winter. Any help?

[Teddybleads]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leightonisme

Does anyone know anything about growing grapes? I've three vines which will need to be trained badly next year but I'm quite worried about having it in winter. Any help?

I'm no expert but I usually do a big prune and training in November and then again in the spring and a few weeks before I want to crop the grapes.

[c00kiemonster72]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bornfree

Sounds very nice. I could do with something like that for my Christmas nut roast.



Can you prune it? Or will it kill the plant?

Chilli jam is very nice and is a good accompaniment with just about anything

Not sure about the pruning, I'm sure a little bit won't kill it, but pruning a small bit wouldn't be worth it considering how big they've got now

[c00kiemonster72]

The first of my cayenne chillies was ready for picking today, so I did a quick taste test to see how hot it was and was really surprised when it burnt my mouth out

They've always been very mild before

[c00kiemonster72]

Of the three different varieties of tomatoes I'm growing this year, one of them has turned out a little different to what it's meant to be.
The variety is called Egg Yolk, which is meant to have fruit the size and colour of an egg yolk. Well one of the plant is producing fruit as in the picture, which clearly are not not egg yolk in colour and the size is bigger.
They taste gorgeous though, so I'm not complaining. I've contacted the seller of them to see if they have an idea what they are as I'd like to grow them again next year

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps4403b6f2.jpg

[Lee_Atkins]

Hi I have recently started a food blog and would really appreciate it if anyone could check out and spread the word thank you so much my blog can be found on leeatkins88.blogspot.co.uk

[Porcupine]

Can anyone advise me on spring onions. Mine grew and I have picked loads for salads, but now they look kinda wilty. It isn't lack of water. The tops are lying on the floor instead of being in the air and they feel rubbery. Is it because they are over and need picking ? If so, I have hundreds (went a little OTT with the seeds when boredom set in)

[valkay]

I have grown Italian Borlotti beans for the first time this year. I have just picked a good crop, but not sure what to do with them, how do you cook them? do they need soaking overnight to remove any poison? can they be frozen? Any help thanks.

[Teddybleads]

Well I harvested to corn this weekend and now have 4.5 Kilos of sweetcorn in the freezer. Took some tomatoes but though they are all a really good size, they're taking their own sweet time to ripen.

[Leightonisme]

Does anyone have any suggestions on which I can grow through my hop vine?

[Badcat]

I now hate all the types of caterpillars eating my tenderstem broccoli.

Every bloody day I find them... little evil green gits. next year I am going to make some evil anti caterpillar spray and kill you all.... no more miss nicegal

[bornfree]

I have a very good crop of curly kale. Just did some research pleased to find out that I can keep on picking it till spring. So pleased I decided to grow it. Just put some garlic and shallots. Should I cover it?

[hooter]

just ordered me seed potatoes....roll on the Spring!!

[Sallysally]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bornfree

I have a very good crop of curly kale. Just did some research pleased to find out that I can keep on picking it till spring. So pleased I decided to grow it. Just put some garlic and shallots. Should I cover it?

I love curly kale. They are totally hardy, as are shallots and garlic. In fact, garlic needs good cold winters to do well! So no need to cover.

I am trying a new thing this year. I found the seeds in northern Portugal in 2012, and they grow them there over winter. So I am hoping that they last as well as the kale I traditionally grow over-winter.
This variety is called couve. It is a leggy plant and you just cut off leaves as you need them, so incredibly economic. I have had several meals off them (indeed, I am making soup with them today!) and they have a lovely taste - really cabbagy, if you know what I mean!

[bornfree]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sallysally

I love curly kale. They are totally hardy, as are shallots and garlic. In fact, garlic needs good cold winters to do well! So no need to cover.

I am trying a new thing this year. I found the seeds in northern Portugal in 2012, and they grow them there over winter. So I am hoping that they last as well as the kale I traditionally grow over-winter.
This variety is called couve. It is a leggy plant and you just cut off leaves as you need them, so incredibly economic. I have had several meals off them (indeed, I am making soup with them today!) and they have a lovely taste - really cabbagy, if you know what I mean!

Kale is lovely in stir fries too.

[bornfree]

Has anyone thought about what they are growing this year. I will be growing runner beans again as I had a very good crop. Onions and garlic doing well.