Topic: Achilles Heel

[Tee Gee]

I was reading the article on 'Beetroot' and was surprised to find that some people have difficulty with this veg.

So I got to thinking (confession time) does any one else have a veg that they just can't get any success with?

I'll set the ball rolling;

My achilles heel is 'Cucumber'

[betula]

Pumpkins.............If I can get them to germinate it is a miracle  ;D

[Bugloss2009]

cucumber also

and up to but NOT this year  8), main crop peas

[OberonUK]

Last year I grew beetroot in containers and they were a complete disaster - they just failed to plump up at all. This year they are in the garden and I'm crossing my fingers. I wouldn't mind but I don't even like them; they are a 'consolation crop' to keep OH happy! If they fail again this year though OH is going to think it is deliberate!

[chriscross1966]

Radishes...... rarely have any success with them....

chrisc

[antipodes]

Definitely radishes! the so called easiest to grow!!
usually it's also carrots but fingers crossed they look like working out OK this time!

(just wondering what Betula is doing to germinate her pumpkins? They are my most successful crop usually!! This year I have even sowed in place and they have come through.)

[Digeroo]

Cauliflower  I have an expensive F1 vareity this year and I am keeping everything crossed.  

[caroline7758]

Cucumber for me too- even the plants I got from Saddad's sale failed on me, so i gave up after that. Also gave up on aubergines.

[shirlton]

Cucumber,  Celery will grow but its that tough that we can't eat it.

[froglets]

Leeks!.  Up until three years ago i could grow chunky leeks so big they had compressed the clay around them into concrete.  Since moving to this new site, also on clay, I have barely managed thumb thick (but tasty) output. <sulk>

[compo49]

 I have had my allotment for four years and i have never had success with parsnips.

[BarriedaleNick]

Where to begin!!

Up till now  - Carrots!  Not this year though as I have barricades in place and a master plan!!
Previously radish but have muich better success with the long rather than round ones..

Celariac - impossible!
Celery - see celariac..

[grotbag]

deffo cauliflour only managed 1 in 7 years

[aquilegia]

Carrots, parsnip and courgette, I'd say with some embarrasment!

My courgettes never seem to do anything. I've got 6 plants this year, so hopefully one of them will be ok!

Carrots never seem to produce roots.

Parsnips never even germinate (even though I always use new seed). But they have this year!

[cornykev]

Cauli's.   :'(      ;D ;D ;D

[chilli queen]

All brassicas  >:(
I have tried for 3 years to grow cabbages, cauliflowers or brocilli, each year they germinate and then die. Thinking this must be due to damping off this year I mixed sand into the compost, reduced watering and then only from the bottom.  I though I had cracked it and they produced their first true leaves - and then died.  Just sowed some more in a last ditch attempt for this year.

[manicscousers]

swede, until this year, started them off in jiffys, into fibre pots when germinated..planted out when  could see the tap root, if the leaves are anything to go by, they should be ok, fingers crossed  :)

[Tin Shed]

Brussel sprouts :'(

[SMP1704]

Spring onions :-[

[Garden Manager]

I think my achillies heel is as the original post said, beetroot. I have failed to get a decent crop for the past few years and have tried all sorts of tricks and methods to get them to grow, mostly involving sowing in pots or modules then planting out . My biggest problem has been the birds, particularly sparrows who tend to destroy the top growth before any roots can form, thereby ruining the crop even if they regrow. I have been forced this year to have an enviromesh cover made to protect both beetroot from the birds and carrots from the fly.

Carrots too are somewhat of a nemesis of mine much as i love eating homegrown carrots. With these too I have to sow in pots or modules them plant out. I get a crop but it is much reduced due to the limitations of container growing.