VEGETABLE GROWING 2020

Hi all, Ive seen on some of the pictures people using bottle tops. I assume this is a pest control measure, can anyone point out the benefits please

 

Hi beefpotnoodle,

They are cloches to protect you don’t have plants, particularly from the colder night at the moment and also cold winds. They also offer some protection against birds.
Rusty

 

Is it worth doing these now for my peas carrots etc? They are just shooting

 

@beefpotnoodle

That is difficult to answer as you have boots on the ground - you are the best judge of the local conditions.

I do not use bottle cloches for peas or carrots as they grow better without them in the North London weather. If I had pest problems like cabbage white butterfly, pigeons, squirrels, foxes and rats then I might use netting or wire mesh instead.

What I do use cloches for are the cucurbits: pumpkin, marrow, courgette, cucumber etc.

 

Nasturtiums.



Some of you may remember that I grew these last year as sacrificial plants to draw insect pests away from my runner beans.

Well, now they are serving a different purpose. They didn't die off over winter and they've grown and regrown so vigorously that we've been picking them for salad leaves (leaves, flowers and seeds are edible) just to keep them in check.

 

The bottles were there purely to protect from pigeons, and only a temporary measure. I’ve now put in place the permanent solution. Not only will it keep out pigeons, it’ll also keep out butterflies and hopefully carrot root fly.

 

I see thanks, I was running around after plastic bottles yesterday just in case I'd missed something. I have a very large bird net, but haven't put it up for one reason or another. Thankfully Mr magpie has been helping out in the garden

 

Chopsuey greens and lettuce transplanted yesterday.



And, beetroot a day before that.


Half Bull's Blood and half Golden Boldor.

 

Picked two good handfuls of these today.



Here they were a few moments ago.

 

Looking good MrQ.
Planted mine in March and they're only about 6 inches tall so far. When did you plant them?

 

We are way behind out here but I am pleased with my broad beans and their bushy growth.

 

The broad beans (Aquadulce Claudia) were direct sown last November.

That bed is actually my main tomato bed. I treat everything else as just a catch crop until my tomato plants are ready to go in.

 

Planted out some of the runner beans today.





Here they were a few moments ago.



They have been outdoors exposed to the weather for the last three weeks so have already hardened off.

As a precautionary measure, a few slug pellet granules were placed at the edges of the containers and in the nooks and crannies outside.

 

Lots of tomatoes and tumbling tomatoes,courgettes and lots of other veggies first time growing melons to.

 

When they were up, did you suffer any winter losses? I’m asking as I may well try them later this year.