2018 growing season

Polytunnels, cold frames, greenhouses, propagators & more. How to get the best out of yours...

Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter

tigerburnie
KG Regular
Posts: 2084
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2017 10:12 am
Location: Angus by the sea
Has thanked: 322 times
Been thanked: 194 times

My first sowing for the new season, F1 Red Pearl onion seeds in cells in the propagator in the conservatory.
Been gardening for over 65 years and still learning.
tigerburnie
KG Regular
Posts: 2084
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2017 10:12 am
Location: Angus by the sea
Has thanked: 322 times
Been thanked: 194 times

They are now just showing through the compost, at least I now know the seed is viable(I bought them for last year and didn't use them all)
Been gardening for over 65 years and still learning.
User avatar
oldherbaceous
KG Regular
Posts: 13819
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:52 pm
Location: Beautiful Bedfordshire
Has thanked: 254 times
Been thanked: 294 times

That's what you call rapid germination, Tigerbernie.......excellent result.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.

There's no fool like an old fool.
tigerburnie
KG Regular
Posts: 2084
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2017 10:12 am
Location: Angus by the sea
Has thanked: 322 times
Been thanked: 194 times

It's an electric one as the conservatory is still cold although frost free.
Been gardening for over 65 years and still learning.
User avatar
Diane
KG Regular
Posts: 1640
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2005 3:08 pm
Location: Wimborne, Dorset.
Been thanked: 1 time

Just looking through the catalogues, on a freezing cold grey day, and wondering what tomatoes to grow this summer. Blight resistance and taste a priority. Has anyone grown Crimson Crush toms before? I shall grow the usual favourite - Sungold - but thought I'd try something new this year. In the greenhouse and possibly outside too.
'Preserve wildlife - pickle a rat'
robo
KG Regular
Posts: 2808
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2012 10:22 pm
Location: st.helens
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 56 times

We tried legend last year as they are supposed to be blight resistant I was impressed a nice looking and tasty tomato we did try crimson crush but they were not very successful but I'm giving them another go this year
tigerburnie
KG Regular
Posts: 2084
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2017 10:12 am
Location: Angus by the sea
Has thanked: 322 times
Been thanked: 194 times

I sowed Crimson Crush but the seedlings got cooked on a hot day with the lid still on the propagator, I will try again this year.
Been gardening for over 65 years and still learning.
Westi
KG Regular
Posts: 5906
Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 4:46 pm
Location: Christchurch, Dorset
Has thanked: 667 times
Been thanked: 238 times

I grew Crimson Crush a few years back when it came out first - it got blight! But I also harvested some nice tasty toms before then. Not big but not a cherry more a small salad type. I won't grow them again though as doing better with beefsteak types in the greenhouse, but for same size, taste & nearly same blight resistance I'd recommend Indigo Rose - if you can get your head over a black tomato - nice red flesh inside that black skin though!
Westi
User avatar
Diane
KG Regular
Posts: 1640
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2005 3:08 pm
Location: Wimborne, Dorset.
Been thanked: 1 time

Thank you all for your most excellent input - most appreciated. I think I'll give Crimson Crush a miss - and go for Legend and Indigo Rose.
'Preserve wildlife - pickle a rat'
tigerburnie
KG Regular
Posts: 2084
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2017 10:12 am
Location: Angus by the sea
Has thanked: 322 times
Been thanked: 194 times

Onions.jpg
Onions.jpg (322.33 KiB) Viewed 12765 times


You can tell which way the light comes in, I will have to raise the propagator to straighten them up a bit.
Been gardening for over 65 years and still learning.
User avatar
Geoff
KG Regular
Posts: 5573
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:33 pm
Location: Forest of Bowland
Been thanked: 129 times

If you like dark tomatoes try Cherokee Purple, I don't know about blight outside, seems OK inside.
Westi
KG Regular
Posts: 5906
Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 4:46 pm
Location: Christchurch, Dorset
Has thanked: 667 times
Been thanked: 238 times

My onion seeds are similar in size to yours, maybe a tiny bit bigger, I started mine off on the 27th but they are not having any heat but are in the propagator to stop the cat showing too much interest.
Westi
tigerburnie
KG Regular
Posts: 2084
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2017 10:12 am
Location: Angus by the sea
Has thanked: 322 times
Been thanked: 194 times

Taken the Onions out of the heated prop and put them in an unheated one, Sweetpeas in root trainers now in the heated one, all still in the conservatory as still getting minus temps in the greenhouse.
Been gardening for over 65 years and still learning.
PLUMPUDDING
KG Regular
Posts: 3269
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:14 pm
Location: Stocksbridge, S. Yorks

You're all very advanced with your gardening - onions, seed potatoes and tomatoes. I came back from six weeks in Thailand to ice and snow last week and am only just getting used to the time and temperature. I imagine I'll warm up when I start on the digging.

I had a nice stroll round the garden at the weekend and there were some gorgeous scents from the Sarcococca and the witch hazel and the snowdrops, species crocus and Christmas roses were a nice surprise.

There's still plenty of purple and green curly kale, flower sprouts, leeks and a few carrots left so the garden is producing nicely.

A real surprise was my dwarf peach in a pot that I'd forgotten to bring back into the greenhouse is flowering and the rhubarb is six inches high.
User avatar
oldherbaceous
KG Regular
Posts: 13819
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:52 pm
Location: Beautiful Bedfordshire
Has thanked: 254 times
Been thanked: 294 times

We have missed you Plumpudding, but i hope you had a marvellous time.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.

There's no fool like an old fool.
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic