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Veg to sow now...
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tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Aug 11, 20 9:55 am Post subject:

Always had a plot till the new house got built. When we first moved here we had more than an acre of veg plus sheep. Unfortunately the only location that the planning officer deemed suitable for the new house was in the middle of our veg plot, right on top of the greenhouse. Since then we've just been too busy with the orchards and furniture and....

We'd love to do it again but we'd need someone local to do it in partnership with, but most people just don't have the necessary gumption.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Aug 11, 20 9:56 am Post subject:
Pak choi if you can keep the flea beetle off (wondermesh or fleece)

gythagirl

Joined: 18 Feb 2010
Posts: 1467
Location: Somerset

Posted: Tue Aug 11, 20 10:04 am Post subject:

Cheers, Tahir, I will pop in some carrots and spinach, will also try the new packet of rocket again which didn't germinate at all earlier. Have only just planted out my leek seedlings and the my cav nero is slowly disappearing under the weight of the caterpillars - talk about eating yourself out of house and home...
Wouldn't have thought of French beans but I have climbing French just coming into flower, so along with the over-productive runners (spiced runner bean chutney production starting soon!) should be ok there.
Have also remembered the pak choi - I recall Monty Don saying it's more successful later in the year, first sowing didn't heart up at all.

Some rain would help

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Aug 11, 20 10:16 am Post subject:
The only way we could grow brassicas was under wonder mesh, otherwise between the pigeons, caterpillars and flea beetle they were doomed.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Aug 11, 20 10:17 am Post subject:
I'd cover the leeks with mesh too, leek moth had become quite an issue for us by the time we gave the plot up.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16004

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 20 7:13 am Post subject:
I am glad to say that we haven't suffered from that here yet. My leeks are coming on quite well, so should give a good winter crop. I might have another go at some french beans as mine were a disaster this year. Like you, time is a problem.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46249
Location: yes

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 20 11:01 am Post subject:

i got some nice nasturtium flowers and 2 radishes and 3 mange tout this year

the cucumber is hysterically inadequate

the vine made it to about a foot from the soil and both the tiny rotting cucumbers are about half an inch long

even though i have been within in feet of them all most of the time a mix of slug, mouse, bird and invertebrate sneaked past me and devastated everything

the bramble is spectacularly productive, which is nice although it is full of things that bite, sting and scratch, my right forearm looks like it had a few months in a jungle

gythagirl

Joined: 18 Feb 2010
Posts: 1467
Location: Somerset

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 20 11:29 am Post subject:

Re nasturtiums I've come to the conclusion that they just encourage MORE butterflies, who see all the others and decide there's more room on whatever brassicas are being grown. I am indeed going to enviromesh the leeks - haven't grown them for a couple of years as last time out they got decimated - I'd never come across leek moth before. it's a bugger. There's always something...and yet we gardeners always have faith in the following year

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 20 8:33 pm Post subject:
Wonder mesh is great for all flying bugs. I might still have some. Do you want me to check?

gz

Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8961
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 20 9:37 am Post subject:
Leek moth is gradually working Northwards. It had just arrived in Cwmcarn in 2010, not sure how fast the progression is. The leeks are ok here so far.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16004

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 20 7:32 am Post subject:
Well I am in the south, but further west than Tahir. Hopefully it will not come this way, but I will be on the lookout for it.

gz

Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8961
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 20 6:43 pm Post subject:
We sorted it by using a fine mesh net over the leeks which was raised as they grew, keeping it above and not touching top or sides

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28239
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Sat Aug 15, 20 6:51 am Post subject:
We are by a bird reserve and now we are growing veg we went chicken wire thinking the birds were the threat, Really should have gone for mesh.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16004

Posted: Sat Aug 15, 20 7:16 am Post subject:
Can you just put mesh over the chicken wire, or use the same frame to support it? I have been manually removing butterfly eggs this year every few days, and with the other bed netted, things don't look too bad as far as brassicas are concerned. Some things not growing too well, but so far no major pests.

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28239
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Sun Aug 16, 20 7:47 am Post subject:

Mistress Rose wrote:

Can you just put mesh over the chicken wire, or use the same frame to support it?

I have been manually removing butterfly eggs this year every few days, and with the other bed netted, things don't look too bad as far as brassicas are concerned. Some things not growing too well, but so far no major pests.

I'm thinking we will have a rethink. The whole area as you know is under construction and so have been concentrating on the building before tinkering with improvements.

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