Any tips before i plant out?

Hi very helpful people!

I am off work this week and will start the planting out process. As a newbie I would welcome and take on board any hints/tips. I live in the north east of England. Everything is being planted out into containers, grow bags and raised beds.

I have 3courgette plants to plant out. 3 or 4 sweet corn. 3cucumber. Several tomato. Tomatoes are circa 8 - 10 inches in height. 3 very leggy broccoli. Sowed purple broccoli directly.

Plan on keeping chilli's inside - either window or grow home. Same with melon unless some says different. Just waiting for kiwi, gooseberry, baby aubergine to germinate.

So any words of wisdom. Anything - I know very little.

Thanks. X

 

I think you might be a bit late with your aubergines if they have not germinated, they need planting early to get a good season. You would probably get some at your local garden centre or online if you want.

 

Ok - just checked and two have germinated. I have about 6 - 8 mm of growth. I will perceiver if for no other reason than its all practice.

I will be better organised next year.

Thanks though. Wont beat myself up about a small to zero crop.

 

Hi, I'm in the NE too, I think hardening off properly is the most important thing. Toms will do well, with lots of sun, depending on the variety. The courgettes will be fine, I've never had success with corn so can't comment. Gooseberries do well up here, as for purple sprouting, I've tried till I'm blue(purple) in the faceBrassicas have defeated me, I have now officially given up
Aubs are another sore spot. Never tried kiwi. My chillis live indoors till it's toasty warm in the greenhouse.
Best of luck with it all, exciting isn't it? The failures only make us more determined

 

Certainly don't beat yourself up. When gardening we all make mistakes and things go wrong but that makes it all the better when we get something right! My cauliflower seedlings are pathetic things this year and I have no idea why!!!
You can plant your toms as deep as possible and they will put out extra roots from their stems. You can plant the broccoli deeper than they were in their pots too-good if they are leggy. Sweet corn are wind pollinated and need to be planted in a block to ensure this happening, I would suggest growing a few more to help this next time, perhaps 3x3 as a minimum. Yes your courgettes will be fine, probably so fine that by the end of the season you will be sick of them! Enjoy!

 

Thanks. Loki and Potling - sure posts have reassured me. We have had a nice couple of days up here in the NE. The sea breeze today meant it wasn't as warm as yesterday, but nice all the same. Had the doors rolled up on the grow homes to get the all use to a life outside.

Another quick question \ how do you know when beetroot is rdy for harvesting?

 

The other thing we gardeners do is blame the weather. Plants like sweet corn, cucumbers and melons, and even large beefsteak type tomatoes, don't like the cold and can have fungus problem if it's damp. Blaming the Great British weather is always an option if things don't turn out right!

I'd personally protect plants in the cucumber and tomato families from cold winds while hardening them off and planting them out. Mine have a bubble wrap wind breaker (improvised with 3 short canes and a pack of bubble wrap from Poundland) that can readily be turned into a tent if the forecast is bad.

Be aware that chilis grow slowly for the first couple of months, as can aubergine. I've supplemented my homegrown chilis with 3 plants from the clearance section at Homebase, to ensure that I get my first fruit before autumn!

All the best!

 

All great advice. Will put a plan together to start tomorrow as I also have grass seed to sow, membrane to put down, fruit cage to assemble. Busy week ahead!!!

Keep posting any advice folks, I am soaking it all up.

One quick question before I go grocery shopping. How long after earthing up your potatoes to the top of your grow bag will flowers form on the leaves. The photo is of Pentland javelins. They have been like this for around 7-10 days. So when should I expect flowers and how long do the flowers take to die away so I can harvest the potatoes?

Right - Asda here I come!

 

Helps if I add the picture - doh!

 

I don't think the earthing has anything to do with flower production, you earth up because the new tubers are produced on the base of the green shoots and can become exposed to the light and turn green, in which they should not be eaten as they contain alkaloids which can upset your digestion. It also helps protect against frost. When they flower, I guess, depends on a lot of variables, temperature, light levels, etc. I usually get flowers around the end of June and start harvesting then, mainly because I always have! I have never heard of waiting till the flowers die before harvesting, although someone might correct me.

 

Hi Potlings. Thanks. Will wait patiently for flowers. Earthing up daily at the mo for the different varieties I have.

I have a plan for tomorrow and Wednesday - two busy days ahead.

 

Me again - below are pictures of my courgettes. These leaves look very sad - they are the original leaves. Should I snip them off before I plant them out tomorrow or is that too much trauma in one go? Wasn't sure if sniping the stem would effect the fruit. If I do snip the leaf off, do I just snip the leaf or do I take the whole stalk off?

All the other leaves are fine.

As always - thanks.