Growing your own veg

[Kidds]

And drop a bit of poo in each hole for fertility!

You do what you like but there is a real risk of E.coli by putting poo near your veg. As a commercial veg grower, I can't grow veg on ground that has had slurry within 12 months. Nor would I want to.

 

[SilliamWhale]

You do what you like but there is a real risk of E.coli by putting poo near your veg. As a commercial veg grower, I can't grow veg on ground that has had slurry within 12 months. Nor would I want to.

I was joking!

 

[Chasingmytail]

we didnt allow the ground (home made compost) to break down enough last year an it made planting hardwork. Over the last few weeks we have re-covered all the plots with thick plastic (prev pulled out as much as we could) and allowing it all to breakdown over the next couple of months. Silverweed was my biggest problem last year it covered everything so planning to keep a gap off the beds. I agree having read some books you need to keep the area fenced off to keep rabbits and the odd sheep off. As for slugs we got ducks last year so hoping they will eat them. Parker - your garden looks phenomenal love the way its protected by the hedging.

 

[Old Boar]

Grown all my own veg for years, but the veg plot has got a fair bit smaller since the children have left. Used to grow 365 onions every year, and a huge patch of spuds. Now just grow enough for me, and just had some leeks and brocolli for supper - 10 minutes from pick to pot.
I also have a 30ft polytunnel for tomatoes, etc. Pretty self sufficient in veg and have been for the last 40 years. Peas never seem to make it to the house though!

 

[Kidds]

Peas never seem to make it to the house though!

My missus still can't understand why I grow peas because they never get to the house.

 

[Old Boar]

Tomatoes hot off the vine, sun warmed strawberries, peas straight from the pod, unripe gooseberries to suck as you work - life has so many little pleasures!

 

[Pasty]

I plan on getting seriously into this. We used to have half an acre when I was a kid but dad gave up, I guess as veg got cheaper and cheaper and the farm took more time. Now I'm more concerned about freshness and time from field to plate. What are people's thoughts on outside vs. polytunnel? I have a good few hens and was planning a few tunnels to grow fruit and veg, dry firewood and then in the winter, put the laying hens in to sanitise, fertilise and also keep them out of the mud in January and give me nice clean eggs. Sort of Polyface stylee. Is it the case that some plants prefer outdoors or can I grow everything in tunnels? I like the idea of hay bale planting too as my back is not so good.

 

[Kidds]

Some things don't benefit massively by being in a tunnel but can't think of anything that suffers because of it.
Runner beans might just as well be outside but will come earlier under cover. Just for an example.
Red spider can be more of a problem as they thrive in warm and dry conditions. As an example of negatives.

The key is ventilation and irrigation. Don't underestimate just how critical and time consuming they can be. You probably will!!

 

[Pasty]

Some things don't benefit massively by being in a tunnel but can't think of anything that suffers because of it.
Runner beans might just as well be outside but will come earlier under cover. Just for an example.
Red spider can be more of a problem as they thrive in warm and dry conditions. As an example of negatives.

The key is ventilation and irrigation. Don't underestimate just how critical and time consuming they can be. You probably will!!

I'm sure I will! I would be planning some kind of auto irrigation system with rainwater. In terms of ventilation, does this mean constant tinkering during the day?

 

[Kidds]

My tunnel has mesh sides and open ends. It is also on a slight slope so rising heat vents it too. I don't do anything else regarding ventilation.
If it is closed sides and ends then yes, daily adjustment can be required depending on the crop (including hens). The temperature rises very quick and very high as soon as the sun comes from behind a cloud.

I measured 35C in mine many times last year, it was only good attention to irrigation that got my plants through it. They turned out exceptionally well but an hour without water and I would have lost the lot.

Automatic irrigation can be very good with the right setup but I have yet to have one that was foolproof.
You will likely need more than just rainwater too.

 

[Pasty]

Thanks, some good info there. I hadn't realised that irrigation was so crucial.

 

[Old Boar]

I find that all the pea and bean family do better outside, as does most of the cabbage family. Sprouts tend to "blow" inside.
Mine is 30ft by 12ft, and gets stuffed full with salad stuff every summer. Seeds are planted in trays and get a good start - I have just put the sweet peas in and covered with mesh off a bale, not touching, as this seems to protect against frost. Cutting purple sprouting at the mo, and the asparagus is showing growth signs, which is a bit early. I grow several rows of flowers in there for the house, Anenomies showing now.
A friend has a hammock in hers, and every year I mean to copy this idea but never quite get round to it!
One tip is dont grow what you dont like to eat. It is easy to see a whole range of veg seeds and want to fill the plot, but grow more of what you like as you will use it. You can never grow enough peas....

 

[SoilMan]

I plan on getting seriously into this. We used to have half an acre when I was a kid but dad gave up, I guess as veg got cheaper and cheaper and the farm took more time. Now I'm more concerned about freshness and time from field to plate. What are people's thoughts on outside vs. polytunnel? I have a good few hens and was planning a few tunnels to grow fruit and veg, dry firewood and then in the winter, put the laying hens in to sanitise, fertilise and also keep them out of the mud in January and give me nice clean eggs. Sort of Polyface stylee. Is it the case that some plants prefer outdoors or can I grow everything in tunnels? I like the idea of hay bale planting too as my back is not so good.

only just heard about this bale planting thing, like the idea of it in garden where i have large hedge and not too much bare soil to grow stuff in. Also was concerned about roots from hedge sucking up all the goodness and moisture the veg wood need. But what grows best in these bales? we talking things like strawbs and potatoes?

 

[Netherfield]

I grow a lot of first and second early potatoes, varieties you can't buy in the supermarkets, in home made compost, lots of taste when eaten fresh from the ground. Have a few King Edwards each year,but always seem to get blight.
Red onions, self sufficient both us and my daughter, can't get any success with carrots, leeks and Beetroot a good crop, salad crops we gave up with because of the slugs,no soot available round here,and won't use slug pellets because of the dogs.

 

[Kidds]

I grow a lot of first and second early potatoes, varieties you can't buy in the supermarkets, in home made compost, lots of taste when eaten fresh from the ground. Have a few King Edwards each year,but always seem to get blight.
Red onions, self sufficient both us and my daughter, can't get any success with carrots, leeks and Beetroot a good crop, salad crops we gave up with because of the slugs,no soot available round here,and won't use slug pellets because of the dogs.

Ferric phosphate pellets control slugs very well without risk to your dogs. Spread thinly enough your dogs would be unlikely to find enough to do any harm anyway.
Alternatively use beer traps to catch the slugs. Can't promise your dogs won't drink the beer of course.

 

[Pasty]

only just heard about this bale planting thing, like the idea of it in garden where i have large hedge and not too much bare soil to grow stuff in. Also was concerned about roots from hedge sucking up all the goodness and moisture the veg wood need. But what grows best in these bales? we talking things like strawbs and potatoes?

Loads of good youtube vids about it. Most people use straw but I watched something about someone using hay and she said it was far superior.

 

[RTK Farmer]

Had a look on YouTube re bale gardening. Very interesting, seems starter fert if planting into residue is the message. Will be getting a quadrant into position in the garden to try.

 

[Pasty]

Apparently peeing on it prior to planting is good. Like repeatedly. Not sure I've got enough left after peeing all around the chicken pens to keep Foxy away. Might need to employ a group of contract slashers.

 

[SoilMan]

I suppose hay has more in it in terms of trace elements and minerals etc. . . ?

And some form of starter fert would probably help with the high carbon content.

 

[Chasingmytail]

ducks and hedgehogs are good for snail and slugs control. Certain breeds of ducks like runners devour slugs so could be an option of keeping some in the plot. I am having problems getting hedgehogs here no idea why.