Parsnips have not germinated (three attempts) have tried another sowing today. It may be to late but I will try anything as I love parsnips. Yes I tried new seed.
Carrots did not germinate for the first two attempts. I have tried twice more and they have now come through. All are forming the "ferns".
No turnips or swede have come through. Will try again.
Slugs have attacked the squash but I still have a few.
Sweetcorn suffered "damping".
Runner beans have been attacked by slugs but still growing (just). Borlotti beans were sown 4 weeks ago and have only just started to come through.
Begining to think that I sowed things too early this year.
I am waiting for the goosberried to ripen. So i expect someone else is waiting for them as well.
Cabbage look good but I have not seen ant cabbage whites yet. So there could be a disaster there.
Just waiting for blight.
Ah the joys of gardening.
Bill
Full marks for perseverance, Bill. I've been battling with slugs, rust and now club root so far. Although its really late to start off parsnips now, just wondered if you'd tried the method for getting them to the seedling stage which involves starting them off indoors.
Its a real faff but works a treat.
For carrots sown outdoors, I find the trick (if the soil is on the dry side) is to pre water the drill, sow seeds thinly, then cover the drill with 1/2 inch of decent compost (not garden compost, but the stuff you buy in bags from the shops). Some folks cover the drill with wooden planks to reduce water loss in dry weather but if you're too late in removing them, then its back to square one !
My parsnips worked this year and I did absolutely nothing special for it!!! Although they are close to the compost bin (moister??) and a little bit shaded. They have come up a treat. My first turnips did nothing, I have sown again, and carrots have worked a little - I just sowed some more, fleeced them and they came up. I find that fleecing them helps, think they like it moist to germinate.
My peas were rubbish too, first ones did not work at all. Thought it was pests but the second sowing worked ??? It's odd isn't it. Sod's law!