Grow 2021-24

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prophet:marginal
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Re: Grow 2021/2

Post by prophet:marginal »

Definitely looks like this weekend is the first of the year to be out in the garden for some light work. One of the prunus trees in a neighbour's garden is already in blossom, but the large one I have in front of mine has swollen buds on its branch tips, but no petals to date.

Very irritatingly, lots of our plants of a non-edible variety took a proper battering with that snow/freeze that happened just before Christmas. We had been given by some people up the road a couple of echiums and I think that they may have been too cold for too long (irritated because we did last year get the pots into our summer house, but didn't get around to it this time).

Anyway, will almost definitely be going in for some more red kale and brocolli this year; they were the two successes from last year, but, weather again, we went away during the heatwave last year, with promises from the boy to regularly water, only to return to a garden that looked like it had been burned to a crisp in the unremitting sun.
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Re: Grow 2021/2

Post by Alan Pardew's Dad »

I’ve still got some sprouts and kale in the plot, but it’ll be time to get it all dug through soon.

Just started trimming the hedge and trees before the birds start nesting. Traditionally a job to be completed by Valentine’s Day.
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Re: Grow 2021/2

Post by Up the Junction »

Lost one of our three chickens this week, bless her - and Mrs UtJ has replaced poor little Cluckers with three more.

So we'll definitely be growing lots of eggs this year.
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Re: Grow 2021/2

Post by jevs »

Having had this bloody bug since xmas and the allotment saturated or frozen, today has absolutely killed me. I ache in places I thought stopped working in my 20's.
More of the same tomorrow :grin:
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Re: Grow 2021/2

Post by Tenbury »

Up the Junction wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 4:50 pm Lost one of our three chickens this week, bless her - and Mrs UtJ has replaced poor little Cluckers with three more.

So we'll definitely be growing lots of eggs this year.
I'm down to 4 +2bantams(might be 3,I can't remember). They're all getting a bit long in the beak, but the kids insist on them enjoying a long and happy retirement, rather than the 'Logan' s Run' treatment.
So I need 3 or 4 new arrivals, think I might buy some day olds (haven't had any for ages), save a bit of cash :chin:
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Re: Grow 2021/2

Post by mushy »

jevs wrote: Fri Jan 27, 2023 9:23 am

Sorted out all my grow lamps and heat mats this week

Happy days.
What sort of money are you looking at to both buy and run these?
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Re: Grow 2021/2/3

Post by Tenbury »

It's not the cost of the lamps, more the price of infra red camera proof loft insulation... 8-)
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Re: Grow 2021/2/3

Post by mushy »

Tenbury wrote: Sun Jan 29, 2023 9:36 am It's not the cost of the lamps, more the price of infra red camera proof loft insulation... 8-)
Darn it, my loft was would be ideal for that sort of shenanigans.
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Re: Grow 2021/2

Post by jevs »

mushy wrote: Sun Jan 29, 2023 9:19 am What sort of money are you looking at to both buy and run these?
Ive just bought the large mat without thermostat for £42 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265046494557 ... BMusiU0L9h

Normal reptile heat mats are also good to use.

As for the lamps, I use a combination of these

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/385040174838 ... R_iVpNC_YQ

And these

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255427894143 ... R4C6s9C_YQ
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Re: Grow 2021/2/3

Post by Tenbury »

I've got a couple of the second ^^ ones, Jevs, they work OK for me. In fact my new GH, arriving Tuesday, will be in a reasonably shady place, because the lights are so efficient early in the year, and in high summer, I find artificial shading difficult.

Had some probs getting replacement bulbs, though, any ideas?
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Re: Grow 2021/2/3

Post by jevs »

Tenbury wrote: Sun Jan 29, 2023 11:12 am
Had some probs getting replacement bulbs, though, any ideas?
LED's come as a unit and are usually not replaceable so you either continue to use it with a few of the LED's out or get a complete new unit mate
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Re: Grow 2021/2/3

Post by Tenbury »

I was wondering. By chance one was wrapped up and the other wasn't, and it was probably pretty cold in that shed, the wrapped one has only one or two lights out, the other is worse. Think there's a lesson there somehow :phew: Think I'll buy some shiny new ones. :newthumb:
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Re: Grow 2021/2

Post by Up the Junction »

Tenbury wrote: Sun Jan 29, 2023 8:41 amI'm down to 4 +2bantams(might be 3,I can't remember). They're all getting a bit long in the beak, but the kids insist on them enjoying a long and happy retirement, rather than the 'Logan' s Run' treatment.
Yes, I couldn't contemplate sending them home early, I would get slaughtered myself Tenners - they're all family pets.

Ours are all rescue due to be put down, having spent a year pumping out eggs on a farm. Required donation is a pound per chuck.
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Re: Grow 2021/2/3

Post by Tenbury »

I've had a few like that, (now it's a hobby rather than a business) most commercial places let them go @12 - 13months, so, with a bit of luck, you could have them knocking out eggs for 4 or 5 years. They get less productive as they age, but the eggs get bigger (ironically, one of the reasons the farmers let them go). It's a bit weird, but I really enjoy having them in the garden, it would seem a bit empty without them.
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Re: Grow 2021/2/3

Post by sendô »

We spoke about this at the weekend and agreed to pull the veg bed up, for a number of reasons. Time being one, and the garden at this house simply not getting enough sunlight being another. Not to mention the whole thing being full of weeds, grass and cat **** now.

Last year was pretty much a failure across the board. Peas did not get going, tomato plants only had a handful of tiny tomatoes. Attempts at leeks, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, rocket amongst others all failed. The only things that succeeded were early potatoes, which did okay, parsnips with mixed results and spinach, which frankly went ****ing bonkers to the point where we couldn't eat the stuff fast enough.

I'm going to stick with growing herbs, which mostly seem to be doing okay.
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Re: Grow 2021/2/3

Post by prophet:marginal »

sends

I tried broccoli from seed and it was a wash out.

The next year, I went down the road and bought half a dozen seedlings, only about 2 inches tall, and planted those out instead.

The broccoli was strong in the stem, had copious leaves that you can eat as greens and the heads (actually the flowers, but...) were delicious.
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Re: Grow 2021/2/3

Post by Up the Junction »

Tenbury wrote: Mon Jan 30, 2023 12:18 pm It's a bit weird, but I really enjoy having them in the garden, it would seem a bit empty without them.
I hear you, Tenners. And them too, the noisy little buggers.
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Re: Grow 2021/2/3

Post by sendô »

prophet:marginal wrote: Mon Jan 30, 2023 2:59 pm sends

I tried broccoli from seed and it was a wash out.
We did broccoli (amongst other brassicas) in 2020 from seed and it did well once we managed to get a good method of keeping the butterflies away from it.

Like I said, time and a garden lacking in sunlight is the main issue.
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Re: Grow 2021/2/3

Post by jevs »

Has anyone grown Pak Choi? would love to hear about your experiences
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Re: Grow 2021/2/3

Post by Polaroid »

Never tried Pak Choi Jevs, but I'm also interested if anyone has some tips etc.

Not grown anything for a couple of years but will do mostly salad crops this time around.
Only got a small garden so all will be in pots / containers.
Hanging baskets for a couple of tumbling toms. A couple of old cat litter trays for little gem lettuce, small troughs for spring onion and radish. Plus peas (or patio candy as I call them), runner beans and some chili's if I can find some interesting varieties.
Maybe pak choi too.

A quick Google later. Seems simple enough.

https://www.haxnicks.co.uk/blogs/grow-a ... re%20plant.
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