'green' gardener
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter
My first post to this site to say hello. I'm green in both senses - lacking experience and wanting to be wildlife friendly. This is my third year of attempting to grow my own - but last year wasn't very successful as I'm the 'bung it in and let it get on with it' type of gardener which obviously doesn't work so well for veg. So I'm hoping to learn from my mistakes and gain some tips from you guys! My crop last year was some reasonable tomatoes, a few broad beans (enough for a salad for 1 with feta cheese!), a few pea pods, loads of salad leaves (my one success)and 0 courgettes! The first year I only managed 1. I was told courgettes are the easiest things I could grow and I'd have so many I wouldn't know what to do with them all. Ha! Ha! Not me. Anyway this year I'm having a go at potatoes (in bags) which are chitting on my windowsill at the moment, tomatoes, salads, beans and peas, carrots and beetroot, and courgettes again. Third time lucky?
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oldherbaceous
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Good evening Bec, and a very warm welcome.
I must say i'm very impressed that you got no courgettes last year, that must be a first.
As long as you learn by your mistakes you will soon learn.
We will all look after you on here if you get any problems this year.
Have you got a garden, allotment, or growing things in pot and tubs.
And i'm sure it will be third time lucky for you.
I must say i'm very impressed that you got no courgettes last year, that must be a first.
As long as you learn by your mistakes you will soon learn.
We will all look after you on here if you get any problems this year.
Have you got a garden, allotment, or growing things in pot and tubs.
And i'm sure it will be third time lucky for you.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.
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Jenny Green
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I wouldn't feel too bad. Last year in particular was a difficult year for the 'bung it in and let it get on with it' type of gardener. If it's any consolation I'm useless with courgettes too!
(Formerly known as 'Organic Freak')
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.
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alan refail
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Hi Bec
Welcome to the forum. As OldH. says, no courgettes must be some sort of record
Last year a squirrel ate the growing points out of all mine 
, a first for me. But they all came back, many developing into marrows - but no loss because a cut marrow is our hens' favourite, after cabbage. If you make sure that courgettes are in good soil and keep them well watered in dry weather, you can afford to let them get on with it. Glad to hear your salad leaves did well - I am a big fan of all sorts of cutting salad myself.
Best of luck for 2007
Alan
Welcome to the forum. As OldH. says, no courgettes must be some sort of record
Last year a squirrel ate the growing points out of all mine , a first for me. But they all came back, many developing into marrows - but no loss because a cut marrow is our hens' favourite, after cabbage. If you make sure that courgettes are in good soil and keep them well watered in dry weather, you can afford to let them get on with it. Glad to hear your salad leaves did well - I am a big fan of all sorts of cutting salad myself.
Best of luck for 2007
Alan
Cred air o bob deg a glywi, a thi a gei rywfaint bach o wir (hen ddihareb Gymraeg)
Believe one tenth of what you hear, and you will get some little truth (old Welsh proverb)
Believe one tenth of what you hear, and you will get some little truth (old Welsh proverb)
ive been bunging it in and letting it get on with it for years, jungles dont need constant attention, as long as you feed the ground with plenty of organic mulches and flood with water when needed it works most of the time
Thanks everyone for your encouragement. Last year I made a raised bed about 3m X 1.7m - probably slightly too wide for comfort but manageable. I've also used pots/containers - maybe that's why my courgettes did poorly the first year- maybe they got too dry (?). Courgettes developed to about 1 1/2 inches then started shrivelling/rotting at the ends. The second year I put a plant in the bed but I think something pecked or ate through the stem! Tomatoes are going back in grow bags against the house wall this year as they didn't ripen too well in the bed without the reflected heat. One thing I'm chuffed about- I thought I'd investigate the compost bin which I've been chucking stuff in for 2 years and wow! I've got home made compost! I was dead impressed! I'm half way through riddling it onto my raised bed so I'm hoping it'll do the trick this year! Just got to be careful I don't riddle the worms aswell!
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Primrose
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Hello Bec
I'm sure the compost you add to your beds will greatly improve the soil and your chance of better crops this year. I've tried growing courgettes in containers - not successful as my fruit also quickly rotted after forming and I do think they don't like having their very shallow roots restricted. Also, the sunnier the position you have for most of your plants the better. Last year was a difficult year weather-wise for all of us. Just don't get discouraged when things don't turn out right. It happens to all of us !
I'm sure the compost you add to your beds will greatly improve the soil and your chance of better crops this year. I've tried growing courgettes in containers - not successful as my fruit also quickly rotted after forming and I do think they don't like having their very shallow roots restricted. Also, the sunnier the position you have for most of your plants the better. Last year was a difficult year weather-wise for all of us. Just don't get discouraged when things don't turn out right. It happens to all of us !
Thanks Primrose.
It's reassuring to know even experienced gardeners don't always have a 100% success rate. I'm quite lucky in having a south facing garden so gets sun virtually all day (when it's shining obviously) but it is quite exposed as it's 900ft above sea level and it sure gets windy at times!
It's reassuring to know even experienced gardeners don't always have a 100% success rate. I'm quite lucky in having a south facing garden so gets sun virtually all day (when it's shining obviously) but it is quite exposed as it's 900ft above sea level and it sure gets windy at times!