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Plot taking shape, some queries!!

• Message 1. 

  Posted by scotlandrugbyfan (U13832207) on Wednesday, 18th May 2011

  Hello
  
  I've started my vegetable plot and have some questions/ advice needed.
  
  Here's what I've done:
  
  I've got a plot 1m deep (into a stone wall) and 4.5m long.
  
  I've planted in rows and in this order:
  
  Kale (2 deep)
  beetroot (6 deep)
  swiss chard (3 deep)
  radishes (for early picking)
  swiss chard (3 deep)
  radishes (as above)
  swiss chard (3 deep)
  spinach (for baby picking)
  kale (3 deep)
  spinach (as above)
  kale (3 deep)
  broad beans (2 deep x3)
  radishes (as above)
  runner beans 5 plants
  land cress (in the shadiest part of the plot)
  
  In pots I've planted:
  
  Salad leaves (pick and grow x10)
  Kale (3 in large pot)
  Swiss chard (3 in large pot)
  potatoes (in grow bags x3)
  carrots (in deep pot)
  spinach (in large pot)
  
  This is my first attempt at growing so please be gentle! I've asked for plenty of advice but there are always conflicting views so just took it all onboard and went for it!
  
  I planted everything about 6 weeks ago.
  
  1. my kale has very large leaves but the roots near soil are quite flimsy. I heard kale was very sturdy and not sure?
  
  2. My swiss chard is blossoming. Can I start to pick off leaves or should I wait till harvest time, which says july / august?
  
  3. the broad beans are supported and have plenty of white/black flowers. Is this normal? I know I'm a long way off seeing pods yet.
  
  4. my potatoes are sprouting green shoots upwards and I have been adding compost and watering sparingly as they grow. I'm at the top of the bag now. Do they just keep growing upwards to feed the potatoes underneath?
  
  That's about it but I'm sure more questions will arise when someone replies.
  Thanks for any help/advice
  D
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by jamie01 (U14066574) on Wednesday, 18th May 2011

  Hello, I can offer some help on 3 & 4. You might not have to wait too long before beans start to appear. I started mine germinating early March and put them into the ground about 5 weeks ago and there are lots of fruit setting.
  
  I would suggest putting canes down the inside of the bags and tying twine around them to stop the haulms flopping over, and a weekly feed of tomato food dilution. Feed from below the foliage. If you've planted earlies you can harvest from when flowers start to grow.
  
  Good luck with your other queries and of course with all your crops.
  
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by figrat (U3054696) on Wednesday, 18th May 2011

  Hi there! It sounds as though you've been pretty busy.
  1. Kale - If plants have crooked stems to start with, I plant them up to the level of the first set of leaves. It has been windy here in the SW (don't know where you are) and dry. Do make sure they're well firmed into the ground, wind rock might be a problem.
  2. It sounds as though your chard is bolting. Yes you can start picking leaves off, also consider cutting off flowering stalks as this means all energy will be going into flower/ seed production. Might be worth sowing more now as a follow on.
  3. Plenty of black/ white flowers on broad beans is a Good Thing. It is recommended that you pinch out growing tip when beans start to set (I.e. materialise) to deter blackfly.
  4. Never grown spuds!
  But as a thought, you don't seem to have planted any pollinator attractive/pest deterrent flowers. Not too late!
  Hope this has been of some help, am sure more knowledgable contributors will have more to say.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by scotlandrugbyfan (U13832207) on Thursday, 26th May 2011

  Hi there
  Sorry so long to get back, busy busy.
  
  When you say "fruit setting" what do you mean?
  
  Also I' not too sure if I planted earlies? Stupid I know, another thing to remember for the learning curve next year! I planted 2 bags of new potatoes (small) and one of big, just not sure which now, again stupid!
  
  Please see my pics as link as well if helps
  
  

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by scotlandrugbyfan (U13832207) on Thursday, 26th May 2011

  Hi there
  
  My pics of plats etc are here
  
  
  
  If anyone can throw light onto my herb situation as well that would be great.
  
  I'm growing
  
  outside
  
  1pot
  oregano
  thyme
  chives
  
  single pot
  parsley
  
  single pot
  curly parsley
  
  single pot
  mint
  
  inside
  
  all single pot
  
  coriander (from seed) x2 (staggering as if flowers no good?)
  basil
  spearmint
  marjoram
  
  
  how often should I water these?
  I placed them in bigger pots to get bigger plants.
  Is this correct, they seem pretty measly to me and my neighbours bought at the same time planted in the ground are huge.
  
  Is it a case of the more soil the larger the herbs?
  
  Thanks for any replies
  happy growing!
  
  

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by jamie01 (U14066574) on Thursday, 26th May 2011

  When you say "fruit setting" what do you mean?
  ------------------------------------------------
  
  Sorry Dougens, it's when the flowers on broad beans fall away the beans grow from there. I know beans aren't actually fruits, but I look at it as the fruits of my labour.
  The same as any of the veg I grow, and tomatoes are the only fruit among that lot.

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by figrat (U3054696) on Wednesday, 1st June 2011

  Hi there
  It's not clear from your pix what size pots you are using, but it all looks healthy. One thing I would mention is that small pots = less soil/compost and generally require more maintenance. If you think that your plants are getting cramped you can always pot them on into larger containers. More soil doesn't necessarily mean bigger plants, as each plant has it's own maximum size. It's finding the right size for the plant at it's current stage of development that's challenging. For example, a mature thyme shrub might be very happy in a 12" pot but if you put a baby thyme plant in there it will not only look very silly, and be a waste of compost, but it also might turn up it's toes. A good rule of thumb is to pot things on into a container say 1 or 2" bigger than the previous one. You can sometimes tell when a plant needs potting on if you have a look at the drainage hole on the bottom of the pot and see roots poking out. If you want to plant a few different herbs into a single large container, just ensure that they have similar requirements - eg mint likes moist and semi shaded sites, while Mediterranean stuff like thyme like it hot and dry.
  Which brings us neatly onto watering. Plants in containers need us to provide care, they haven't got the opportunity to send out roots in the open soil to find moisture and nutrients. The best thing is to check them daily and water if required. If my pots have dried out I don't try and water with a can, I submerge the whole pot in a bucket or trig of water and leave it there till bubbles have stopped rising. Sometimes I make up a liquid feed solution and dunk them in that.
  From your list, Chives and mint like to be kept on the moister side. Stuff in the gh needs daily care, you will probably have to keep on successionally sowing coriander through the growing season, spearmint and marjoram will probably both be happier outside.
  Sorry for droning on, hope this is of some help, have to go and dunk some pots!
  

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Wednesday, 1st June 2011

  (1) yes it is, there is a tap root plunging down into the centre of the Earth!
  
  (2) yes, treat it as a 'cut and come again' crop but only a couple of leaves from each plant.
  
  (3) yes this is normal. You can nip off the tops, allegedly this deters the blackfly and are delicious lightly boiled.
  
  (4)and finally another yes, the green leaves are now converting the sunlight into various foods and the plant is storing this in the spuds. Should you see a bit of spud, cover it with soil as it will turn green and not edible.
  
  Cheers, Tony.

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