Update

[newatallthis]

Hi everyone.

Ok I now have a greenhouse, one of the plastic varieties not glass, and I have moved the strawberries, tomatoes, melon and I think they are spring onion (didn't have a label, but thats what they look like.) Outside I have my sweetcorn, which I now have more of, my calabrese,cauli and butternut squash and lettuce. Would the lettuce be better in the greenhouse?

I brought the lettuce as plants as well as the spring onions. when will i know to pick/cut/pull them?

Also just to let you all know that I now have some flowers starting on my butternut squash, which I have to say I am quite excited about.

Any further suggestions or changes anyone?

Also my strawberry plant I am not too sure about, the tendriles or whatever you call them, the bits of the plant that are growing long bits. seem to be dying although I do have some nice green shoots in the heart/middle of the plant. (still learning the lingo) does this sound ok?

I hope you gardens are doing well.
newatallthis

[sprout]

Sounds great!
Lettuce will do well outside in summer - you'll be able to eat lettuce from the greenhouse in winter too. Look out for winter varieties to sow in Autumn?

If you grow your own, you (not the supermarket) get to choose when a crop is 'ready' - so your lettuce can be eaten as sprouts, cut & come again, baby or hearted, mature lettuce. However you and your family enjoy it best

[Compo]

With regard to your strawberry it is putting out runners to make new plants, these runners will root if left in the ground, you could take new plants off the original plant and you will get lots of plants to leave in the ground and over winter. Strawberry plants are best left in same spot for three years. So next year the original plant will have a good crop, the runners will have a small crop. Some people cut the runners off and leave the plant this makes the original plant stronger and will give more berries. So which ever method you choose, you wont lose.


In this hot weather you want to grow as much outside as you can using your greenhouse for Tomatoes, Peppers and cucumbers etc. And obviously sowing seeds in trays or modules.

How much ground have you got?

You need to choose a variety of crops to suit your taste and the time of year so they will fit into the space you have.

If you buy KG Magazine and get a good book from the library this will also help. Finally tune into BBC2 1000 Sun Morning for the 'Big Dig' programme where they give great tips for growing veg on allotments.

Whatever you do. emjoy it and learn from the failures, you will probably have a few. Now you have a greenhouse you can grow all your own seeds!!

Good luck

Compo

[newatallthis]

Thank you Compo for your reply. re; strawberries

How much ground have you got?

Not much for veggies I am using a bit at the back of the garden which is about, 6ft x 4ft. Which I have now put my calabrese, cauliflower, sweetcorn. You were all right of course they seem to like the firm ground so much better.

Whatever you do. emjoy it and learn from the failures, you will probably have a few. Now you have a greenhouse you can grow all your own seeds!!

I am really enjoying it and finding it all really exciting, we have had some of the lettuce out of the garden, which I have to say is enormously satisfying cutting your own lettuce for your plate, it tastes so much better when it is fresh. Actually I have a question about lettuce... when I cut it, do I cut the leaves or the stem or what, i have done a bit of both I think.. it will grow again won't it?

Actually I think I am going to have to go and get some more, I think I need a lot more lettuce to keep us going. Thinking ahead, is there any sort that grows through the winter? Could I grow it from seed, I would really like to.

Many thanks for your advice, I know I am likely to make mistakes, but I like learning!

Happy Gardening

Compo