Kitchen Garden Forum

Odd that! I just tried to book accommodation in Sheringham, but everywhere tells me they are fully booked next week by ladies from some forum or other

Dear Alan, i'll have you know i'm a one forum Man and don't play around elsewhere.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and good wishes for us both.

Good to see you back OH
Hope you had a great holiday and you enjoyed the flower show.

Dear Donedigging, thank you for your kind words. It is nice to be back, forgot just how peaceful it is here, but i did have a smashing time while away, although i gave the flower show a miss as it was very wet there, but lovely and sunny in Sheringham.

Lots of things to catch up with now.

I'm not sure if my celeriac is on target, as i was late starting, but it is about tennis ball size now, any thoughts!

Don't forget it's my first time of growing them, so be gentle with me....

That sounds ok to me, OH. They are not usually ready for harvesting until September/October/November. Don't forget to take off the bottom leaves as they yellow and keep watering and feeding them - they are greedy plants (I use Chempak root vegetable fertiliser).

I tried one the other day and the useable part was a little larger than a golfball.

Mine are about that size or slightly bigger - being pampered though as they are my challenge this year. Well prepared bed, mulched, fed & trimmed of bottom leaves! Might try Monika's recommendation for feed to give them a little more 'luv'!

Do have a problem with my celery though - doesn't want to grow up but spreading out like a flower opening, they are red stem as they did well last year & others didn't survive slimey things & also being pampered but are a bit confused at the moment! Any advice?

Westi

Thank you for the replies, Monika and Westi, glad i'm not too far of the mark. I am quite pleased with the way they look.

Regarding your celery Westi, i wonder if it has just been too hot!

How far apart do you grow your celeriac?
I grew it for the first time last year and got usable roots but nothing like the monsters you see in the supermarket that I believe are often Mediterranean.
One of my polytunnel books says "Celeriac has a longer growing period than most vegetables and many gardeners struggle to get worthwhile roots, particularly in northern parts of Britain. The polytunnel not only stretches the growing season for celeriac but also provides enough protection for it to be left in the ground right through the winter". So I decided to try some in there.
I raised one batch of plants and planted half inside and half outside. Outside they are about a foot apart both ways but inside they are a double row a foot apart but only 10" between the plants. It is obvious inside they are a mass of touching roots. The p/t book says 30cm apart. Moles seed catalogue is a little confusing "18 per sqm under glass, 10 per sqm for fresh market under fleece, 6 per sqm outside". Both lots are about the same size at just less than a tennis ball. They are fed twice a week with alternating sheep manure and nettle/comfrey home made feed.

Afternoon Geoff, mine are about 9'' between plants and about 15'' between the rows, this just worked out well for the amount of plants i had.

Mine are about a foot each way. Doing so much better than last years which were a little closer. I also thought last year with so much rain they would love it but obviously diluted any feed & rotted one or two. I've got great hopes for these - they are getting well OTT attention!

Westi

Mine are 12 inches apart both ways, in fact, I have started using a wall trellis with 6" squares laid on the ground for planting individual plants of different vegetables, either in each square (= 6" apart) or in every other square (= 12" apart). Makes it much easier to measure things!

Great idea Monika - mind if I steal it? I guesstimate & measure with my boots on but find myself getting closer at the end of the row to fit an extra couple in!

Westi

I discovered this easy way of measuring by chance and have used it ever since, Westi, so do feel free to copy it!