Bonsai Garden Forums / GARDENING / General Gardening

23 tips on growing tomatoes

mikefisher — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:40:43 GMT

Tomatoes are one of the top crops you’ll find in any home garden. There’s good reason they are so popular—there isn’t much that beats the taste of a fresh homegrown tomato. Plus, tomatoes are relatively easy to grow.

This site is packed with information on growing tomatoes. If you need to know it about tomatoes, it’s here. In fact, they aren't going to beat around the “tomato” bush with this site. They’ll jump right in and start you out with 23 Tomato Growing Tips.

http://tomatogrowingtips.org/

Reclamation

Stymie — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 17:38:28 GMT

In the aftermath of my long association with goats, I am gradually removing the fodder trees and getting back to what the garden was intended for. Its an arm wrestling undertaking but it will happen. I have a few fruits and veggies but the removal of the 'wild life' area is a protracted job. You've never seen such huge piles of material drying in anticipation of being burned.:P At least we will not be short of potash. There are also piles of logs laid aside for warming the house.

What is a Weed!

Tuppence — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:16:56 GMT

I came across this site today. A good one for identifying weeds. Lots of photos and information.

[url]http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/weeds.htm[/url]

:)

Herbs

Tuppence — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:38:26 GMT

:) I've planted different types of mint, including blackcurrant mint, tricolour sage, chives, several sorts of thyme and corriander, but that was eaten - by birds? I've just seen wood pigeons eating rose leaves, which I've not seen before.

I know it's not a herb, but I also got two courgette plants and am going to grow them on a compost heap when the weather warms up enough to put out the tender plants.

Penny

Red Onions

Tuppence — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:06:31 GMT

I've not grown red onions before but saw a very reasonably priced set in the garden centre and snapped them up. With my discount, for volunteering there, I got 50 for £1.12. I've planted them with the other onions under the green netting cloche and look forward to their progress. My friend has has all her little leeks eaten by slugs, she thinks. I told her she'll have to use nematodes next year - if that's the creature she needs to control the slugs.

:)

Fungi

RoyH — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:46:41 GMT

Hi all, does anyone know what kind of fungi this is, is it rare as I have never seen one like this before.

We have some gowing in our lawn, which we cant cut at the moment due to all the rain we have had, perhaps the reason for the fungi?

Potatoes

Tuppence — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:06:33 GMT

My seed potatoes have arrived, ordered from Alan Romans in November last year.

Varieties:

Celine
Colleen
Hermes and
Red Duke of York

I'll be able to start planting the early ones at the end of February/beginning of March. Looking forward to delicious spuds. :)

Mangetout

Tuppence — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:37:45 GMT

Does anyone grow these? I bought a flat of seedling mangetout today and hope to be eating them later in the year. Also planted more herbs, including a curry plant and compact marjoram.

:)

Kohlrabi and Beetroot

Tuppence — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:38:22 GMT

Hello.

I planted beetroot seeds today ("Wotan"), and kholrabi ("Quickstar"). I've not grown the latter before. Has anyone experience of growing and eating it?

Penny

Dare I say it...................

Kath — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:30:44 GMT

Is this the beginning of Spring??????? or are we going to have another 'rude awakening' next week ?????????

Atm it is +10c, sun is shining and not a cloud in the sky :) Spent time this morning pruning the rose 'Compassion' around the rose arch and cleaned the geenhouse rooves, removing moss from the outer edges of each panel of glass, cleaned the gutterings.

Moved on to tidy up the small semi circular border by first greenhouse, corydalis is covered in chickweed and grass seedlings. Would you believe, I'm planting crocus bulbs that never got planted in October :):):) Most were planted and everything is amass of the small early lilac crocus (been there for years), the larger yellow and purple flowered ones are still in bud.

Just had a bit of lunch so it's 'back to the weeding' have a good day all :)

Snowdrops

Tuppence — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:52:16 GMT

I've just looked in a corner of the front garden and see that there are tiny snowdrops in flower. My first ones this year.

:)

the Town's Sensory Garden

Tuppence — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:48:28 GMT

Hello.

I joined the committe of the Senosry Garden, which is situated in the town Park - a little walled garden where people can sit - and volunteer, helping in its upkeep. Here is a link to some photos I took while there the other day.

[url]http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/slideshow/574948918huJYEf[/url]

Penny

Mizuna

Tuppence — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:49:46 GMT

I planted Mizuna seedlings, bought from the garden centre, the other day - not grown it before. I also put in, somewhat late, seeds of a Chinese cabbage, "Pe Tsai", and perpetual spinach. I've covered them with fleece and hope they'll germinate.

Penny :)

Vegetable Seeds - Carrots for Clay Soil, etc.

Tuppence — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:14:00 GMT

I've just ordered some vegetable seeds on-line.

"Paramex" carrots, suitable for clay soils
Beans - "Fagioli Rampicanti Dolcio del Metro"
and
Asparagus peas.

I've not grown any of them before so it will be interesting to see what grows well.

If I get potatoes later, I'll order "Desiree".

Penny :)

Courgettes and Cabbages

Tuppence — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:48:28 GMT

"Courgettes and Cabbages" - :D Sounds like a title for a film or a book!

Do you have any luck with courgettes? I planted two but only one there now - the second having been munched. The same with cabbages. I planted six and have four left. I don't like using slug pellets because of the hedgehogs and sloworms in the garden, so I put up with plants disappearing. The same has happend to three of the tomato plants but I've one or two left.

I ought to get some little cloche covers - I will, eventually.

Penny :)

newts

RoyH — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:51:41 GMT

found this little creature under our wheelie bin, so i moved it to a safer place. does anyone know what kind of newt it is??

new home

Do you recognize this vegetable?

Tuppence — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:04:19 GMT

Friends photographed a row of this vegetable while on a garden visit but don't know what it is. Any ideas?

Thanks.

Greenhouse construction

Tuppence — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 08:28:20 GMT

How easy do you think this greenhouse would be to put together? Could I manage it by myself, or with a neighbour? I could get it on buy now, pay later.....ought to wait, really until next year! :)

[url]http://www.choice.co.uk/rf/cho/navigation/product.do?Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&SNtt=greenhouse&groupId=235349335&Nu=this_product&SNtk=littlewoods_search&Np=1&SN=85+103&Ntt=235349335&D=235349335&Ntk=group_search&Dx=mode%2bmatchall&thisprod=235349335&N=85+103&Nty=1&Mis_item_id=15&Mis_item_loc_id=1&product=235349335[/url]

Weedkiller.

Stymie — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:01:25 GMT

I have not been converted to the use of 'Resolva' as a herbicide. It appears to be a hybrid between the 'Weedol' and 'Roundup' types of weed killer which were each formulated for a specific function. What are other people's reactions?

Japanese Onions, Tundra Cabbages and The Vegetable Garden

Tuppence — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 07:15:01 GMT

Hello everyone. :)

I have started using one of the raised beds I had made in the vegetable garden. I've planted, under a green netting cloche, Japanese onions and some Tundra cabbages. I keep having to push in the onions as some work their way on to the top of the soil but most of them have rooted. The little cabbages look happy and are growing.

I've also planted a "Martlet" red gooseberry and a "Ben Connan" blackcurrant and look forward to fruit next year.

My Victoria Plum, around 3 years old, isn't doing well. I thought there might be a pollinator in a neighbouring garden but perhaps there isn't. It's not produced fruit yet. Do they take time to establish and become productive? It's suffering from lack of water, I think, too, as we've not had an rain to speak of for quite a while.

I've also got what I think is a turban squash. Someone said it's a butternut, but it's not the shape or colour of that variety. It's round, slightly flat at top and bottom, and dark green.

I've tomatoes in the greenhouse but they don't want to ripen and I'll probably bring them indoors today.

:)

Farm Museum & Grounds of Wiltshire College formerly Lackham Collge of Agriculture

Tuppence — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:23:14 GMT

Hello.

I visited the College today and here are some photos I took. The weather was overcast and drizzly so the photos aren't as good as I'd like. Hope you enjoy them. The old farm machinery and everyday implements were very interesting. I remember a dolly tub and washboards in Hull as a child.

Click on the photoand it'll take you to the album.

:)

[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/album/567705881dDBLMs][IMG]http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/71/71/4/3/87/2715403870047132684JcDgAh_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Asparagus

Tuppence — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:05:59 GMT

I visited a large garden centre with my sister this morning, in the hope of finding asparagus crowns, and did. I got three crowns of the variety "Cito", a male plant (producing higher yields than female plants) which provides good crops early in its life, according to the label. They're in the greenhouse until I dig their trench, add drainage material and manure and plant them. I'll keep them covered until danger of frost is past. Does anyone grow asparagus?

Penny

Ideas for next year.

Stymie — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:50:25 GMT

Having had more than enough of the predations of the local wild life on my veggies, I'm going to put some gro-bags or the equivalent on my flat roof and grow beans up there beside my best bonsai. It is squirrel, hedgehog and fox proof up there. Overhanging trees have been curtailed and I have laid on some piped water to make life easier. Birds will still have access of course but they mostly call for the water. To bathe and drink. I hope that this idea will pay off in the form of more fuel for the kitchen.

A foretaste of Spring

Tuppence — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:01:07 GMT

A photo of the hyacinth, which is flowering on my windowsill. Click the photo for a larger size. :)

[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/album/569652894lXURwl][IMG]http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/66/566/9/78/63/2185978630047132684PPicBZ_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

"Good King Henry"

Tuppence — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:07:11 GMT

[URL=http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2759511440047132684JROMJW][IMG]http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/66/766/5/11/44/2759511440047132684JROMJW_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Chenepodium bonus-henricus
Said to have been brought here by the Romans.

I was given a small seedling of this perennial vegetable last year, forgot about it and noticed it today, growing well. I've not harvested from this plant, yet, and look forward to tasting it.

Penny :)

Oxford Botanical Gardens and Magdalen College, Oxford

Tuppence — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:12:11 GMT

[URL=http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/570624120DLiYBG][IMG]http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/66/766/6/81/67/2907681670047132684dBazkz_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I visited Oxford Botanical Gardens and was very impressed at the layout and labelling of all plants in the collections. There's a large pinus nigra in the gardens which was a favourite of J. R. R. Tolkein. I particularly liked the wickerwork bells covering tender plants, holding dried fern leaves as protection.

We also visited Magdalen College, set in it's own grounds, including a deer park and riverside walk, full of woodland flowers. I watched "Lewis" on TV the following day and the opening shots were from the woodland walk at Magdalen College and other shots were set near the gates leading to the walk.

[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/album/570636607IVWYKF][IMG]http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/74/74/7/82/24/2934782240047132684BwvUlm_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

(The easiest way to view the photos is by chosing "slideshow" once you get to the albums).

Penny :)

My first ever garlic

Tuppence — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:17:05 GMT

I planted garlic for the first time last autumn and have just started harvesting it. I ate some of the scapes, which were very tasty and have started this clove.

[URL=http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2436142030047132684hhgQMB][IMG]http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/62/762/1/42/3/2436142030047132684hhgQMB_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

:)Penny

Victoria Plums

Tuppence — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:25:44 GMT

Hello. :)

I've always wanted a plum tree in the garden and don't know why I waited until I retired before planting one. These are my first ever plums.

[URL=http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2040500540047132684aGdqUY][IMG]http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/74/174/5/0/54/2040500540047132684aGdqUY_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Seeing them really lifts my heart - silly, I know, as that's what trees do, grow and produce fruit, but I'm very pleased to have them growing and am looking forward to eating any that survive.

Penny

Plants in Flower

Tuppence — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:21:26 GMT

Hello.

I managed to get out and do some pruning and cleaning up in the front garden, raking up dead stems and leaves, etc., and found that there are primroses and lungwort in flower and little yellow crocus, along with the snowdrops. The veronica has been in flower since last year and there are blue bell-shaped flowers on the plant that climbs everywhere, and whose name I cannot remember. It sends out runners with leaves on and becomes extremely invasive.

Do you have anything in flower, yet?

"Arthur Bell"

Tuppence — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:28:12 GMT

This rose has been in flower since the summer. Incredible to think the buds survived the freeze over the past week or so. This is the rose today (Thursday 8th).

:)

My first frog of 2008

keithmart — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:56:56 GMT

Hi All Today I saw the first frog in my pond. Later than last year but hopefully a sign of spring.

Unfortunately he wouldn't wait for me to get my camera!

The forecast is for high winds tomorrow and Monday.

Batten down the hatches

learning gardener

Jinny — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:56:18 GMT

Hello

I've been trying to learn about gardening by experience for the past year...and basically killed or can't grow anything in my front garden as in the summer it dosn't get a lot of sun maybe an hour or 2 a day...can any 1 suggest any good shurbs ...plants...anything to get the ganden half decent..the soil has clay in it aswell...

For my balcony i've just planted today a nice climbing purple rose that i'm hoping to train along the balcony...any hints or tips

Thak you

Jinny

Weather

Stymie — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 21:17:34 GMT

Our garden is sadly neglected at the moment, having been waterlogged for the last month. It swallows and hangs on to wellington boots or any other loose fitting footwear. At one point in time the only things which could be seen were trees and climbing beans. Digging or hoeing are completely out of the frame. People with sandy ground must consider themselves fortunate. Ours is basically clay to which I have added animal manure and grit sand over the years. There are many underground watercourses in the area which have mostly been overflowing. I hope that I have cheered some less plagued people up.

Orchid photo

jimothy — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:43:59 GMT

Just wanted to share this photo I took of my two paphiopedilums in flower.

The first one (the one on the left) has been open since the beginning of january, and shows no signs of gving up the ghost just yet. The second opened about a week ago, so should see me well into march if it does as well.

[IMG]http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg94/jimothy78/paphs.jpg[/IMG]

A site for the kitchen gardener

Tuppence — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:46:31 GMT

[url]http://www.kitchengardeners.org/?gclid=CNPFkpv00JECFQjalAodNjCQ0A[/url]

I came across this site today when looking at rasied beds. :)

Penny

An interesting site about gardening

Tuppence — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:29:42 GMT

[url]http://uktv.co.uk/gardens/homepage/sid/353[/url]

I watched Geoff Hamilton on TV today and this site was mentioned.

:)

Camelia in Bud and About to Flower

Tuppence — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:36:09 GMT

I was given a camelia as a retirement present last year and have it in a large tub in the front garden. I noticed today that his has huge buds that are beginning to show petals. Is it usual for them to flower in January?

Penny

Bay in a Pot

Tuppence — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:24:48 GMT

I rescued a pot of bay from the nursery where I volunteer, before Christmas. They said that with care it would green-up and grow. The leaves are a pale green. Would tomato food help it, do you think?

Penny

Question for the gardeners

Stymie — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:19:20 GMT

Have any of you ever administered a sugar solution to any plants and if so with what results.?

I ask this in the knowledge that certain vegetable exhibitors use quiness as one of their special additives. Have you seen those giant marrows? Before you tell me that booze has vitamin 'B' in it, I know but the question is really about sugar.

Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar

Kath — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:36:30 GMT

Whilst hubby (Henk) was busy dead-heading the fuchsias in the front garden, he shouted, "Come and have a look at this".

[img]http://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Attachment80.aspx[/img]

[img]http://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Attachment81.aspx[/img]

Cheeky thing is having a banquet of fuchsia leaves, look how neatly he strips each one.
Yes it's the Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar which eventually turns into this:-

[img]http://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Attachment82.aspx[/img]

We thought we had only one of these little monsters, but the next day we found another three.