The "Grow Your Own" Thread
- Thread starter Hereford Wolf
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Parkins left foot
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Some shots of the 'potato field' & broad beans which appear to be coming on well
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The less said about the runner beans - the better!
The less said about the runner beans - the better!
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Forever Jesus Sanjuan
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Couldn't agree more! I dislike them so much I can't understand how a sane man like you would plant them in the first place.
So Long Architect
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Because sometimes they're the only buggering thing that will grow!
Pick them small, boil them up, cover them in butter and cheese - lovely.
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Forever Jesus Sanjuan
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When I was growing up on the Chase, our next door neighbour grew absolute mountains of runner beans. So many in fact that his wife used to have to pickle them as they couldn't eat them all. (They only had four kids).
He'd kindly pass some over the hedge. Stringy and tough even after a good boiling, probably due to having been grown for size. I reckon the house keeping would barely have stretched to a small knob of butter. Cheese was out of the question. The only thing that I disliked more at the time was school dinner beetroot.
Even if runner beans were the only thing to grow, I don't think I could face the thought of eating them.
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Forever Jesus Sanjuan
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Your Broad Beans already look quite a size Parkin's. Are you going for size too?
Parkins left foot
'Quirk's Gay Game Winner'
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Not especially, but been away for a few days & they weren't that big when I left!
Anyway as the saying goes 'size matters'
Runner beans are nice in a stir fry and I made some runner bean chutney once. But they don't belong anywhere near a nice Sunday dinner .
lemonjelly
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Relieved to say that of my 30 chilli plants it appears that only 6 didn't make it.
lemonjelly
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Well, with the heat this weekend, really glad I had a big garden tidy last weekend!
Moved 9 tomatoes into the biggest pots. That'll be their last move. Spotted my first tomato flower! Moved a few more up into bigger pots which had become available, but I'll still have to repot a fair few into the biggest pots.
Cucumbers planted out.
Hanging baskets are kicking in, & one of the flower tubs has burst into flower. The other had 1 flower bud on friday. It hasn't opened yet, but on sunday noticed a wealth of other buds appearing.
A couple of other chillis appear to have perished, but in the main, they're all surviving.
Had to water twice on sunday. Morning & night. I'm actually (with hindsight) relieved the tennis was on, as I'd have stayed out in that sun all day otherwise, & the tennis was probably a good distraction & kept me out of too much sun!
In the heat, a couple of tomato plants grew at least a couple of inches from the time I repotted them at 11am.
Moved 9 tomatoes into the biggest pots. That'll be their last move. Spotted my first tomato flower! Moved a few more up into bigger pots which had become available, but I'll still have to repot a fair few into the biggest pots.
Cucumbers planted out.
Hanging baskets are kicking in, & one of the flower tubs has burst into flower. The other had 1 flower bud on friday. It hasn't opened yet, but on sunday noticed a wealth of other buds appearing.
A couple of other chillis appear to have perished, but in the main, they're all surviving.
Had to water twice on sunday. Morning & night. I'm actually (with hindsight) relieved the tennis was on, as I'd have stayed out in that sun all day otherwise, & the tennis was probably a good distraction & kept me out of too much sun!
In the heat, a couple of tomato plants grew at least a couple of inches from the time I repotted them at 11am.
Newbridge Wolf
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Due to matters outside of my control I've been able to spend a bit of time in the garden this past week. I've managed to clear out a couple of Leylandii that were blocking off so much light to my garden, I've just finished cutting back an overhanging neighbours tree - I'm going to have a big bonfire this November!
Had my first Strawberry of the year yesterday, it was that good that I went and repotted all the plugs I'd planted as seeds and left. Toms are coming on with plenty of flowers but no fruit yet. The rest of the patch is ok, still gutted about the potatoes, managed to rescue a few so should get a few in anycase.
I solved the mystery of the Sugarsnap peas coming off the canes, my 2 year old loves them and helps himself, although he's a little heavy handed to say the least!
Had my first Strawberry of the year yesterday, it was that good that I went and repotted all the plugs I'd planted as seeds and left. Toms are coming on with plenty of flowers but no fruit yet. The rest of the patch is ok, still gutted about the potatoes, managed to rescue a few so should get a few in anycase.
I solved the mystery of the Sugarsnap peas coming off the canes, my 2 year old loves them and helps himself, although he's a little heavy handed to say the least!
Parkins left foot
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Had some of the first broad beans within the last few days.
Pods may have looked large, but the beans were just the right size & very succulent.
Satisfying to cook something you have picked only 2 minutes before.
Pods may have looked large, but the beans were just the right size & very succulent.
Satisfying to cook something you have picked only 2 minutes before.
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Forever Jesus Sanjuan
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That's good to hear, glad you enjoyed them.
Saw a good recipe on one of Jimmy Oliver's TV programmes that would go well with your broad beans.
Finely grate a little onion into a flattish bowl
Crush a small clove of garlic and add to the onion
Take two juicy tomatoes, cut in half, scoop out the seeds and throw them away. Then grate the tomatoes (but not the skins) into the dish.
Add a good squeeze of lemon (half a lemon would be about right).
Add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Stir it all up.
Boil and drain the beans then pour them into the dressing. The heat from the beans will cook the onion and garlic.
Wolf them down as fast as you can. (Is there any other way for us Wolves fans to eat?)
lemonjelly
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The good weather is bringing on the beetroot & the onions I've planted look the best crop I've ever had.
Repotted a few more tomatoes into bigger pots today.
Repotted all the chilli plants too. A couple of chillis have grown an extra inch in 2 days.
I also have cucumber flowers forming!
When (time-wise) is peoples recommendations for harvesting beetroot and onions?
Repotted a few more tomatoes into bigger pots today.
Repotted all the chilli plants too. A couple of chillis have grown an extra inch in 2 days.
I also have cucumber flowers forming!
When (time-wise) is peoples recommendations for harvesting beetroot and onions?
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May I recommend this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300933374911
The perfect accompaniment for any serious gardener.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300933374911
The perfect accompaniment for any serious gardener.
Hereford Wolf
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Advice Please.
My Rocket Potatoes in a bag haven't flowered (at which time I would normally go digging for potatoey gems), but the leaves are beginning to wilt.
They are watered regularly - are they ready to harvest?
My Rocket Potatoes in a bag haven't flowered (at which time I would normally go digging for potatoey gems), but the leaves are beginning to wilt.
They are watered regularly - are they ready to harvest?
b3h
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That, was more than worth my random venture into the growing thread.
From Distant Shores
Forever Jesus Sanjuan
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The first ever buds have appeared on our rambutan tree and are starting to open. There's a long way between buds and fruit on the table though and there are a lot of squirrels around here.
lemonjelly
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Hereford I think you need to have allowed 15 weeks before harvesting spuds.
At least I returned from the hols to find everything alive. Need to have a proper look in daylight, as wandering round the garden in the dark meant I could just about tell stuff wasn't dead!
At least I returned from the hols to find everything alive. Need to have a proper look in daylight, as wandering round the garden in the dark meant I could just about tell stuff wasn't dead!
lemonjelly
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Well I checked all the garden out, & all appears well.
Gave the stuff in the greenhouse a feed last night. Decided to leave the stuff outside alone, as storms were forecast.
Was then woken up a few times in the night by thunder etc. Glad I left it. As mentioned by others, it proper wellyed it down!
Rainfall was heavy, but not too excessive imo, so I doubt any plants have been adversely affected.
Thunder through the night & continued this morning. Only recently stopped. Will have done the gardens good though.
Cucumber plants have doubled in size in the week I was away! Loads of flowers on them, so I'm very hopeful there...
Gave the stuff in the greenhouse a feed last night. Decided to leave the stuff outside alone, as storms were forecast.
Was then woken up a few times in the night by thunder etc. Glad I left it. As mentioned by others, it proper wellyed it down!
Rainfall was heavy, but not too excessive imo, so I doubt any plants have been adversely affected.
Thunder through the night & continued this morning. Only recently stopped. Will have done the gardens good though.
Cucumber plants have doubled in size in the week I was away! Loads of flowers on them, so I'm very hopeful there...
