Veg plans for 2021

Calvin001 wrote: »

Only have a small long bed for planting, so usually plant some peas at the back, with cauliflower and broccoli (6-8 plants) and then maybe some beetroot. Will have strawberries, hopefully the rasberrys and bluberries come back also.

This year, thinking of putting in some herbs, and less brassica (suffer from snails/slugs)

Need to get the garden more "table friendly", maybe even need to get good fertilizer into it (and pest killer!!)

Here's a natural remedy for slugs. It's a nematode that preys on the slugs.
https://www.nematodesdirect.co.uk/6-nemaslug#:~:text=Nemaslug%20is%20a%20unique%20product,%2C%20pets%2C%20birds%20and%20wildlife

One of the great benefits of DIY gardening is, the option of minimising the use of pesticides and chemical fertiliser.

lordgoat wrote: »

I was, just a poor variety I grabbed from Woodies I think.

Funny enough, I get mine from Woodies or Lidl every year (the ones in the 9cm pots) and have always found them to be good. I watch like a hawk until they are on sale (the Lidl ones are a euro cheaper and I get about 16 0f them). I'm mad keen to get them growing on and into the greenhouse asap as in Ireland I think tomatoes need every beam of sunshine going!

Living Off The Splash wrote: »

think I need to get to the other side of Christmas for the energy to start flowing again.

My problem is that a fortnight of ungardenable weather diverted my energy into other things that weren't on the To Do list! And now that they're started, they have to be finished before Christmas, even if the weather's improved. :pac:

Getting there though. Have been looking into the use of underbed storage boxes as portable propagatory type things. Jan-Feb-Mar are the months that best suit me for working ("proper" work, as my mother calls it - the type you get paid for ) which involves being away from home at the very time I need to be sowing and supervising my solanaceous crops. I think I can get six of them into the "boot" of my camper where they'll be lovely and warm for germination, and then easy to shift around once they need light for growth.

lordgoat wrote: »

Normally I am exactly the same, this year though I want to pick a couple of bush varieties and maximise the greenhouse rather than fill it with a load of plants.

Funny enough I got two bush plants this year from Woodies to try them- I have to say I was very unimpressed. The fruiting was much slower and they got to that hard pale green stage and just stopped- whereas my Gardeners Delight, Ailsa Craigs etc. were proper. My experiment the previous year was getting yellow varieties and I won't be repeating that one either!

damn this is useful mate

Have heard rumors that seeds are becoming hard to get. Usually I wait until after the new year to order but will be ordering soon, and then wait....

teroknor83 wrote: »

I have never grown veg before but I'm keen to set some into next year. I live in a town so would probably be restricted to small raised beds or containers. Any recommendations for a first time grower? I have already been recommended to try growing garlic.

Garlic you put out in fall and harvest the next year in most cases. I'd start with simpler faster things like lettuce and peas, if you like them. If you have a bit of room, squash and beetroot. If you have use for them, most common cooking herbs are very easy, in fact the hard part is keeping them from taking over.

Tomatoes want sun and warm and moisture, so if that's appropriate to your area they grow fine in containers.

Bought some Money Maker tomato seeds today in Woodies. Can I start putting them in pots on the window sill soon?

A packet cost €2.99, can you get them cheaper elsewhere?

Seedaholics are brilliant. In Ireland, super fast service and a great selection.

Igotadose wrote: »

Seedaholics are brilliant. In Ireland, super fast service and a great selection.

Another vote for Seedaholics!

I have been trying to use all Irish grown seed for my vegetables so have bought mainly from Irish Seed Savers and Brown Envelope Seeds in Cork this year. Anything I can't get from them I get from Seedaholics or Fruit Hill Farm.

Brown envelope are very good too and are usually my go to supplier. FD as so little was available last year I did plant seeds from Lidl. It was hit or miss, courgettes were fine, peas and beans were fails. Brown envelopes "Irish Green" peas were a big success.

Sadly, my experience of Seedaholic has not been so good. Almost total failure of germination of lettuce and onion (Red Baron). I had successful sowings of other varieties at the same time to compare, so I suspect old seed - no dates of any sort on the packets!

I ordered seeds of a few basic veg like carrots parsnips and salads the other day. I need to get onion sets and possibly seed potatoes. I don't want to get too much as I currently don't have any veg beds

We moved house earlier this year, the previous owners had a small greenhouse which they left but no veg beds, so my early 2021 job is to get that built.