I just planted my Spuds and Broad Beans, how long before I will see anything and what will I need to do?
Dare I say - 'wait & see'? Then call for help? Like do I need to fleece them against frosts?
If you look at my 'bucket' spuds, indoors, & see how long they have taken, it will give you some idea.
Beans - haven't a clue!
Broad beans: never in a hurry to germinate so just ignore them and they'll come through in their own good time.
The only other things to do:
when all the flowers are out, pinch out the tips to reduce the inevitable population of black aphid
if your plot is at all exposed put some sort of support around the plants: I just use canes and string
pick 'em young: like when the beans are not much bigger than smarties
when you're done put all the empty pods and plants on the compost and leave the roots in the soil: it's all good nitrogenous stuff!
Can broadbeans be dried or frozen? We don't eat many so I planned to grow only about 4 plants but my allotment neighbour gave me about another 12 plants, I couldn't bring mysef to see them thrown on the compost heap so I've planted them.
I reckon they freeze quite well - open freeze.
ooh yeah good for freezing, grow as many as you can!
Hi
I was all set to plant my spuds today (Saturday) when one of the more experienced gardeners told me not to be in such a rush... I know Easter is early this year and I have planted before usually on Good Fridsay.
He warned of frost damage and highlighted areas on the site with frost pockets...we had a late frost a couple of years ago and fortunately it missed me but damaged many spuds on the plots around.
I think I will take heed and wait a couple more weeks.. managed to get my onions and shallots in though...I have had these in trays for a few weeks and they have a good root system in place.
More seeds planted the greenhouse is gettting to bursting point ...more room needed
Derek
Quote from: terrace max on March 26, 2005, 19:40:02
Broad beans: never in a hurry to germinate so just ignore them and they'll come through in their own good time.
The only other things to do:
when all the flowers are out, pinch out the tips to reduce the inevitable population of black aphid
if your plot is at all exposed put some sort of support around the plants: I just use canes and string
pick 'em young: like when the beans are not much bigger than smarties
when you're done put all the empty pods and plants on the compost and leave the roots in the soil: it's all good nitrogenous stuff!
A few useful tips there Terrace ;) ;D Thanks very much 8)
Your spuds won't get frosted if you keep earthing them up regularly
Jesseveve,
If you check Gavin's site, gavin@keirg.freeserve.co.uk, he gives a few details on dried broad beans. :)
Ps they're the only vegetable I can think of that I'm not very keen on :(
Thanks Mothy, will have a look. Tim, what does open freeze mean?
After blanching - if you do it - dry them & lay them on a tray to freeze, then bag them. Just helps them 'pour'! As you would for raspberries & the like.
Those who don't like broadies may have had chewy ones. If in any doubt, 'shell' them & they're gourmet - fit for a King.
Frost? Yes - we just earth up till we can't, & then fleece them.
i planted my potatoes yesterday and covered them with fleece, it was the same date and method as last year (i was away for april last year) and it is earlier than most of the other plot holders but i got excellent yields earlier than most last year.
hope it works out ok this time!!
Have planted some rocket and some concorde now. Most are under fleece for now, and will keep earthing up the ones that are not.
But - both of you - you still need to earth up?? Or, down this way - 'mould'.
Some of the guys on my site do not earth up at all and have plated now. I have plated my first earlies (Rocket) and will plant my second earlies (Kestrel) over the next week and I shall be religiously earthing up.
oh yes tim, i still earth up but it is really a bit early to plant them out up here so the fleece keeps them snug for a few weeks.
Your guys, red, should remember that, if you don't, 25 potatoes have got to grow in 4" depth of soil - pretty good going??
Hya all I am new to this forum However I do not even dig the ground. I just place the spud and keep covering with leaves grass anything to keep warm and dark. still digging last years with great success,
Quote from: farmerlaura on March 27, 2005, 17:16:28
Hya all I am new to this forum However I do not even dig the ground. I just place the spud and keep covering with leaves grass anything to keep warm and dark. still digging last years with great success,
Hi farmerlaura and welcome aboard this wonderful site. 8) does your method of spud growing do anything to improving the soil below like it does the conventional way? ???
I suppose at the very least organic matter is being put on the soil which will be dragged down by worms and later dug in and will then rot down.
Welcome fellow newbie farmerlaura!
Like Roy B, I'm intrigued by your spud cultivation: hitherto potatoes have messed up my otherwise no-dig approach. I don't like the traditional (trench, earthing up) method because it wrecks soil structure: but given the importance of a successful potato harvest I haven't dared try anything different...
Quote from: terrace max on March 27, 2005, 20:28:44
Welcome fellow newbie farmerlaura!
Like Roy B, I'm intrigued by your spud cultivation: hitherto potatoes have messed up my otherwise no-dig approach. I don't like the traditional (trench, earthing up) method because it wrecks soil structure: but given the importance of a successful potato harvest I haven't dared try anything different...
I second the welcome.
TM, the no dig potato culture method is well tried and tested, see http://www.hdra.org.uk/organicgardening/nd_spuds.htm
One down side is that the mulch doesn't provide as much protection as 4" of soil so maybe delaying a couple of weeks past when you would conventiaonally plant might be sensible but, as they say, nothing ventured nothing gained
Phil
Thanks Phil, I'll definitely give this method a try this year.
Two questions: I haven't got access to organic hay or straw could I use one year old leafmould instead? How do you stop the mulch blowing away?
- Max
TM,
Any finely chopped organic material will do, lawn mowings for instance, not too thick at any one go or they result will be slimy.
To prevent the material blowing away several sheets of newspaper or cardboard with stones on top, make sure you allow for the sprouts/leaves to come through by making a hole in the covereing
Phil
Hya all as you can see I am a newbie. I have not even filled in details properly. I am B-HAM too. I have 3 plots. I cover one with black plastic for a season.
My first I dug and grew all in a convential manner and did really well. Second plot had been vacant for some 1-2 years. After doing some research and some info. of some cypriot friends, I realised that by using shredded newspaper, leaves and grass cuttings that have had no weed killer etc on I am feeding the soil whilst still using it. Of course there must always be rotation as well each year. With this method for spuds you can put your hand in and pull some small spuds out as and when.
Well done FL, you sound as though you are well on the way to being an organic gardener.
The great thing about not using chemicals is that you know that the whole plant is safe to eat - potato skins (when most of the goodness is), carrots just scrubbed instead of peeled (as FSA guidelines)
Phil
Just going back to the broad bean question - how long is long enough to wait - I put mine in 4 weeks ago now and no sign of anything happening yet. Do I give up now or just bide my time in the hopes that they are up to something underground and i just can't see it yet ???
I've got my spuds in, but should I eath up now or wait until I get some growth?
GG
Wait til you see the whites of their eyes, or in this case signs of the leaves breaking the ground.
That also gives the annual weeds time to start germinating, and you kill them off by earthing up - but you also bring more seeds to the surface!!
Phil
Carrie - if you have enough, & are impatient - lift one & check?
Now why didn't I think of that? Thanks Tim - I planted some spares at the end of the rows so I will have a little look at the weekend!
Carrie,
I put some broadbean seeds in at the beginning of March and one seedling has finally popped up today.
Mark