Getting ready!

I assume I am not the only gardener that is planning next years veg crops despite it being the middle of winter here in the UK?

So my preperation means gleaning some advice from those that are more experienced with veggie growing than I - which probably means pretty much all of you.

Just to explain, I have been attempting to grow veg for 4 years now. the first year was probably the best I have ever grown, perhaps I was over cautious and paid much more attention and was regimented in my approach? However the last few years, other than a few types of veg, I have had pretty poor crops and I am determined to get things done properly this time round.

I've had success with Carrots, French Beans (which grew to triffid proportions in the polytunnel), Courgettes, sweetcorn (in the PT here in Caithness), Parsnips and Leeks BUT there are some plants i want to grow but just don't seem able to.

Onions. They just never grow to any decent size. Are seeds better than bulbs? What sort of soil is best? What are the best large varieties that give a decent twang?

Caulis. They always get heads on them but then they bolt before they get a decent size. Is there a foolproof variety?

Broccoli. It just never seems to produce anything. Research tells me the soil has to be firm to prevent rocking so is it best to stake them too? Do they like alot of manure?

Celeriac. I bought seeds from Ebay a couple of years ago but the plants never produced anything. Is there anything I can do to prevent this happening again?

Swede. This grows amazingly easy here but I find if i leave them for the allotted time they are literally the size of footballs. If I have to pull them earlier at the right size will they be ripe?

Sorry about all the questions but I really want to get it right next year as we have added even more veg beds to our land.

Thank you for all/any replies.

Linda

http://thetenaciousgardener.blogspot.co.uk/

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Goodall on December 24, 2012 at 20:07

Hi Linda

If you are growing onions from seed the traditional sowing date is Boxing Day. I am trying Mr Fothergills, Bedfordshire Champion this next year.

I have staked Broccoli before. Have never been able to grow Caulis so just do not bother anymore.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Willis on December 24, 2012 at 20:51

Hi Linda;

One of my favourite "tasks" during the Chritmas holiday is to choose my seeds for the following year. Hours of entertainment!

Re Broccoli - (I assume you refer to Purple Sprouting type) - I always stake mine because they get very top-heavy and are vulnerable to wind damage. I get good crops without any applications of manure, just some pelleted chicken manure once a year. This is one of my favourite veg - much featured on my blog!

Re Celeriac. I tried three years in a row, and got very little success. Needed a lot of attention (e.g. constant watering), and the result was about the size of a tennis-ball.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Goodall on December 24, 2012 at 21:44

Hi Mark

PSB is one of our favourite veg but sowings failed this year and I can only get to our local market at lunchtime and he had sold out each time. There is always next year. It is one of those veg that is always limp when you see it on the market stall.

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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on December 24, 2012 at 22:36

Hi Linda,

I've been growing fruit and veg for years but have to admit that the last few seasons have been quite trying. If you are new to it and getting even half decent crops I'd say you were doing well.

Half the fun is finding what does well in your particular conditions and that's where some of the gardening books let you down. You follow the instructions carefully and end up with nowt because what appreciates the fertile red soil of Devon just sulks in Cumbrian clay. There are some things that just don't work for me and others that give marvelous results, it's just a question of being prepared to experiment a bit. At least with a polytunnel you can offer some protection against the Caithness weather.

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Permalink Reply by linda claxson on December 24, 2012 at 22:56

Thank you for your reply Andrew. Many people have told me that they struggle to grow Caulis which is why I'm suprised that I had success to the point of heads forming. Maybe I am expecting the heads to be bigger than what they should be and am therfore leaving them too long and they bolt! I'm a very impatient vegetable gardener. lol.

Re Onion seed. If i sowed Boxing day when should the crop be ready for harvest? I always assumed seed would take much much longer and envisioned picking the crop in 2 years time lol. Do you prefer seed to sets?

Andrew Goodall said:

Hi Linda

If you are growing onions from seed the traditional sowing date is Boxing Day. I am trying Mr Fothergills, Bedfordshire Champion this next year.

I have staked Broccoli before. Have never been able to grow Caulis so just do not bother anymore.

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Permalink Reply by linda claxson on December 24, 2012 at 22:59

It's such a shame re the Celeriac!

I think I will try staking the Broccoli against these Caithness winds and see if it helps.

Thank you for taking the time to reply Mark.
Mark Willis said:

Hi Linda;

One of my favourite "tasks" during the Chritmas holiday is to choose my seeds for the following year. Hours of entertainment!

Re Broccoli - (I assume you refer to Purple Sprouting type) - I always stake mine because they get very top-heavy and are vulnerable to wind damage. I get good crops without any applications of manure, just some pelleted chicken manure once a year. This is one of my favourite veg - much featured on my blog!

Re Celeriac. I tried three years in a row, and got very little success. Needed a lot of attention (e.g. constant watering), and the result was about the size of a tennis-ball.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andrew Goodall on December 24, 2012 at 23:04

Hi Linda

You are a bit further north than me so you will be later planting out I guess. I would think very late August or September for harvesting. Actually this will be my first year for seed I have always done sets in the past.

linda claxson said:

Thank you for your reply Andrew. Many people have told me that they struggle to grow Caulis which is why I'm suprised that I had success to the point of heads forming. Maybe I am expecting the heads to be bigger than what they should be and am therfore leaving them too long and they bolt! I'm a very impatient vegetable gardener. lol.

Re Onion seed. If i sowed Boxing day when should the crop be ready for harvest? I always assumed seed would take much much longer and envisioned picking the crop in 2 years time lol. Do you prefer seed to sets?

Andrew Goodall said:

Hi Linda

If you are growing onions from seed the traditional sowing date is Boxing Day. I am trying Mr Fothergills, Bedfordshire Champion this next year.

I have staked Broccoli before. Have never been able to grow Caulis so just do not bother anymore.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by linda claxson on December 24, 2012 at 23:06

Hi Colin.

There are a couple of veggies that do particularly well here - Leek & Parsnip and I get good crops without any inteference.

I've given up with Potatoes - too much blight or small crops.

The polytunnel certainly helps tremendously but I'm still a newbie to it and am quite embarrassed by how redundant it is through the winter.

I totally get what you say about the books. I used to follow them religiously, after all Allan Titchmarsh et al are experts and know what they're doing but alot of what they say is just no good for these gardening conditions. Those books should have warning labels on them to prevent people wasting 2 - 3 years of potential veggie growing seasons.

thank you for taking the time to reply Colin.

Colin Robinson said:

Hi Linda,

I've been growing fruit and veg for years but have to admit that the last few seasons have been quite trying. If you are new to it and getting even half decent crops I'd say you were doing well.

Half the fun is finding what does well in your particular conditions and that's where some of the gardening books let you down. You follow the instructions carefully and end up with nowt because what appreciates the fertile red soil of Devon just sulks in Cumbrian clay. There are some things that just don't work for me and others that give marvelous results, it's just a question of being prepared to experiment a bit. At least with a polytunnel you can offer some protection against the Caithness weather.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by linda claxson on December 24, 2012 at 23:07

Thanks again Andrew. I'm determined to get the Onion crops I want this year so I think I will sow both sets and seeds :)

Andrew Goodall said:

Hi Linda

You are a bit further north than me so you will be later planting out I guess. I would think very late August or September for harvesting. Actually this will be my first year for seed I have always done sets in the past.

linda claxson said:

Thank you for your reply Andrew. Many people have told me that they struggle to grow Caulis which is why I'm suprised that I had success to the point of heads forming. Maybe I am expecting the heads to be bigger than what they should be and am therfore leaving them too long and they bolt! I'm a very impatient vegetable gardener. lol.

Re Onion seed. If i sowed Boxing day when should the crop be ready for harvest? I always assumed seed would take much much longer and envisioned picking the crop in 2 years time lol. Do you prefer seed to sets?

Andrew Goodall said:

Hi Linda

If you are growing onions from seed the traditional sowing date is Boxing Day. I am trying Mr Fothergills, Bedfordshire Champion this next year.

I have staked Broccoli before. Have never been able to grow Caulis so just do not bother anymore.