Archives for May 2009

Wow! What a lot of comments - mostly with really hard questions - do keep them coming! I've picked a couple of the subjects that have come up - rabbit control, and plants that like shade.

Let's start with rabbits, as quite a few of you, like Newbieplot, seem to be plagued by them. Fluffy bunny wunnies may look cuddly, but when they've scoffed your seedlings it's hard not to start thinking about rabbit pie. Part of the trouble is that they've got similar tastes to us, so they'd rather eat our beetroot or lettuce than weeds, which have often adapted to be bitter and unpleasant to avoid being munched. They won't generally eat onions or garlic though.

I'm going to give it to you straight - the only sure way to keep the rabbits off is a barrier, like a mesh covering or rabbit proof fencing. There's a bit of good news - just laying the bottom section of rabbit fencing on the ground, rather than burying it in a trench, will usually stop Mr Rabbit digging down and under next to it.

If you don't feel like turning your garden into a mini-Colditz, there's a couple of traditional tips that might work. According to some people, human, cat or dog hair laid in clumps around your veggies will scare off rabbits. Hairdressers will apparently happily supply said hair. It's weird, but it might just work, and hair has actually been found to be a pretty good fertilizer too. If anyone tries this, please let us know how it works out! Smelly plants like onions and marigolds can also confuse the bunnies, but once they've had a taste of your veg, they will be back.

JanetBruten wanted to know a veg that would put up with some shade. A tricky one this, as most shade-tolerant plants tend to be things that last a few years - trees and bushes, that sort of thing. Brassicas - that's plants in the same family as cabbages, broccoli and the like, can put up with a bit of shade. If you think they're a bit dull, then think again. Smooth, sophisticated rocket is a brassica, and there's a load of jazzy new oriental greens, like mizuna, which keep on growing really late into the winter. Give them a try, along with parsley and lettuce. Beans aren't likely to hack it. They need the sun - look how they climb for it.

Next week - slugs. I promise I'll get round to these slimy little rascals. But in the meantime, let me know how you keep them off your veg by leaving a comment - looking forward to reading what you've got to say.

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Oh Lord... I thought things were going suspiciously swimmingly with this gardening lark. My lush green vegetable patch obviously lulled me into a false sense of security and I took my eye off the ball, or to be more specific, the squash.

There I was trotting round my garden centre, briefly flirting with the idea of purchasing nude statues, discussing my patch with the nice lady behind the counter, merrily re-potting my tomatoes and butternut squash and wittering on to anyone who'd listen about the joys of growing your own, that I obviously drowned out the meek cries for help that were coming from my squash pots.

The three squash seedlings that before last week's re-potting could've easily been understudy to the main plant in any Broadway production of Jack and the Beanstalk, now slouch droopily in their new pots, gazing forlornly out the window like sulky teenagers. To continue with the teen metaphor they also seem to be sprouting hair in unsightly places. Their leaves are now the furry equivalent of a boys first bumfluff moustache. I suppose I should be grateful I haven't caught them smoking menthol cigarettes behind the garage.

The droop and the fur are not the only symptoms of decline; as you are all well aware I'm no gardening expert but even I know that beige isn't a colour usually associated with thriving vegetation, so I was alarmed to see some edges of my squash leaves had turned that very shade. Beige may well be all over the catwalks of Paris and Milan next season but it's definitely out of fashion in my kitchen. In times of trouble some people turn to drink and I hoped this would work for my squash. I gave them a good glug of water and got in touch with Ann for help.

I confessed that stupidly I hadn't watered the squash before re-potting so she said maybe there was a bit of root damage and prescribed keeping them well-watered, adding a bit of fertilizer and finding a more sunny spot. I'm off to the garden centre this afternoon for the Baby Bio and looking for sunnier climes to take my squash. Maybe two weeks in Marbella would do?

Hope all is well with you and your squash. As ever, any tips appreciated. Maybe you brought your plants back from the brink of death? Would love to hear from you.

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Many of you have mentioned that you're growing the Dig In veg outside, so I thought I'd write about one of the main pitfalls - the weeds! If conditions are right for veg, they're better for weeds, which grow bigger, stronger and faster. They're the bullies of the plant world.

Other common nasties are pictured in the rogues' gallery to the right. At the top is vetch. This helpfully puts nitrogen into the soil, which is good for plants, but still you don't want it crawling all over your beetroot.

Next is fat hen, which used to be fed to chickens, and then speedwell, once used against coughs and itches. You can see why people say that a weed is just a plant in the wrong place. 

But the most evil of the lot, without any redeeming feature to my mind, is the one at the bottom: the dreaded couch-grass. One tiny bit will grow and spread and cover your plot if you're not on the lookout for it. See that white "root"? It's not a root, it's a specially adapted stem that can spread underground, creeping through the soil and then appearing where you least expect it.

The only solution is getting every speck out - and don't rotovate it! Every cut up bit will grow into a new clump ready to choke your veg.

For loads more pics of weeds, check out the brilliant weed seedlings gallery on this site.

So, I think you'll all be able to work out what I'll be spending my bank holiday doing - yes, pulling up the weeds! But what about you? Send us a comment and let us know.

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I feel chastened this week, by an animated character. You see, I saw the beautiful animated film Coraline at the weekend. In it, when not being terrorised by people with buttons for eyes, Coraline is constantly nagging her parents to get outside and sort their new garden out, but they're too busy writing about gardening to actually do any. It all sounded a little familiar.

In the past week or two, I've been too busy reading other people's experiences and getting sidetracked while researching their questions to actually do any gardening myself, bar the odd water and checking nothing was dying.

When I finally took some time out with my veg, a mystery presented itself. In the window box I inherited from the Green Balloon Club, there's been a suspicious flattening of my carrots. Did I, like Coraline, have a sinister visitor from another world, calling on my balcony? It looked to me as if Something has been using the carrot tops as a bed. Five floors up, there aren't many suspects, and the flattened area looks suspiciously pigeon-shaped. Is it related to Sara's pigeon perhaps? Or am I just being paranoid? Your suggestions welcome...

Talking of unwelcome guests, thanks for the comment on my last post from thelovelycheesybeans asking what to do to stop foxes fouling the courgettes. Being a zoologist by trade I'm tempted to say lucky you for having a resident fox, but I don't think that's the answer you're after.

You might want to check with fertiliser you're using - if it's a bonemeal-based one it'll be very attractive to foxes, so changing to something else might help. Apart from that, take a look at Ann's reply to your comment - she's been talking to a man who deters foxes for a living.

P.S. If you want to read a blog by a fascinating man who really knows what happens in a small patch, have a look at The Square Metre blog, run by Patrick. I made a film with Patrick for Springwatch a couple of years back, and he is truly an amazing man with a real passion for things at a tiny scale.

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Well, its really rather appropriate I'm writing this week's entry with The British Soap Awards on the telly in the background, as there's been drama in the garden this week. The award for most dramatic moment goes to the tomatoes and squash being re-potted episode. For a couple of weeks I've been dillying and indeed dallying about when and how I should separate the handful of straggly teen plants and set them up in their own cool bachelor pads. After some gentle encouragement from Ann and the usual brilliant advice from Chris I decided the take the plunge; as the saying goes, if you love them let them grow.

I nipped to my local garden centre yesterday to stock up on small plant pots, organic slug pellets and some well-rotted manure for when the squash are tub-ready. I also got some bird food and was toying with the idea of a bird table and a life-size statue of a nude lady but boot-space and garden-safety issues nobbled my plan... probably for the best.

The grand re-potting ceremony took place on the garden table outside in gale force winds. I had no idea what I was doing so kinda winged it by tipping the plants out and teasing the thin little roots apart before bunging them in their little individual pots. There were a few casualties along the way but overall I'm rather pleased with my fifteen teen tom plants and three squash pots. Thank the lord they made it through the night. My indoor windowsill is now a sea of green; framed photos of my children have been shunted elsewhere. I have a new family now... my veg - haha!

The patch is flourishing nicely and loves it when I give it a little drink. Ann advised me to put organic slug pellets down so I did last night, even though I've not yet (touch wood) spotted a single slug or snail. This procedure however prompted me to dream last night of a sluggy invasion, so thanks Ann.

Would love an update on all your patches and pots please... get in touch via the blog.

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It's the time of the year when you have to make that tricky decision - to repot or not to repot? Sara's mentioned her worries about overcrowded squash and weedy tomatoes in her blog post, and I've spent a lot of time lately staring at seedlings trying to decide if they'll do another week, or if they really do need to stretch their roots.

As a rule of thumb, tomato plants with two "true" leaves (not the two long thin ones that turn up first), or over 12cm need their own pot. Squashes can be left until they've got three or four true leaves.

It's a fiddly process, but a week after you've done it you really see the difference a bit of space makes, as your little plants shoot up. With lots of help and advice I've developed a technique that most of my seedlings manage to survive!

1 - First, and very importantly, give the repottees a really good watering before you move them. It'll be a while before they get settled enough to suck up any water in their new home. Wet earth will also stay stuck to the roots, so they don't get damaged as much.

2 - Next, get all your new pots close to hand and about half-full of moist compost. I use loads of newspaper pots, because I have lots of seedlings and I'm not made of money.

3 - Now hold your pot of seedlings with your hand over the top, turn it upside down and give the bottom a few sharp taps with your other hand. The whole lump of compost and seedlings should come out in one go.

4 - Gently pull the seedlings apart, leaving a bit of compost around their roots if you can. Put each one in its new pot and fill in around it with more compost. Then press down to firm the compost around the seedling so it doesn't fall over.

5 - Finally, give it another good watering, then pop back on the windowsill or in the greenhouse.

Anyone else got any tips or techniques? Share them in a comment!

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Well, I never thought I would ever have too much to say about growing five vegetables but it appears that might be the case! So instead of blathering on let's jump straight to the ever increasing list of questions Sara's posed for me in her last post.

1. Watering.

Some people will debate this for days, but I think the general consensus is that first thing in the morning is best. This lets the water be absorbed by the soil and plant during the day and means the leaves are dry overnight - thus stopping mould or mildew forming. You don't want to water in the heat of the day - if the sun is blazing the poor little blighters aren't really ready for rain! Best to water little and often, and try to make sure the water hits the soil and not the plants themselves. And of course, too much water is as bad as too little...

2. Potting out your squash

Hmm, tricky. Are your seedlings really ready to fledge the nest? How about a picture for next week so we can have a look?

But if you think they are too big for their current situation then your hunch is probably right. An intermediate pot might be a good idea, giving them a bit of room while still letting you take them in at night. Or you could fashion some kind of covering for them in the big pot to protect them from the elements. Perhaps a recycled plastic tub to go over the plant? Ultimately though there might have to be a sacrifice here if your squash to pot ratio is too high. It's a sad day, but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.

3. To manure or not to manure?

Up to you really. The squash will love it (what veggie wouldn't?) but it shouldn't be necessary if they are going in pots filled with compost. Make sure it is well mixed up and watered in before you plant the squash if you do go for it, though...

4. Teeny tiny tomatoes

You should certainly be thinking about 'pricking out' - pulling up the weedy ones if you haven't already but it might still be a little early to get them outside. They might need repotting into their own personal pots to grow a bit larger before they go outside first. Are they going into growbags or straight into your patch?

5. Pigeon problems.

He's reporting to me. I needed to check that the Gardeners' World team weren't coming back every day to do the hard work for you!

Hope that helps - though I'm sure there'll be others out there with opinions, so please keep the comments coming. Everyone develops their own little tricks in gardening, so if you've got one that might help, pop it in a comment. Or if you completely disagree with me, do the same! Just be gentle...

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Hurrah hurrah la la la! Massive excitement in the garden yesterday morning, made even sweeter by the fact I was doing my least favourite thing ever when I made my discovery.

Every couple of days I don rubber gloves and a disgruntled expression and trudge round my garden on the hunt for my basset hound Snoop's special stinky parcels and it was during this grim task I glanced over at my patch to see some green! My beetroot and lettuce babies decided to make their debut TOGETHER overnight, I can only presume in some sort of weird plant pact to freak me out. When I saw them I did a cartoon style double-take.

What I'm LOVING about gardening is the surprise element. It's like: nothing... nothing... nothing... something! Only a small something but a something all the same.

Thought it was a good time to get my 4 year old daughter Lola involved so I presented her with a blue dolphin-shaped watering can (thanks Ann) and we gave the patch a celebratory drink. Lovely stuff.

While I think on, is there a best time to water the patch? For some reason it's rattling round my head that night time is best? Is there any truth in that?

The butternut squash have been growing at Jack and the Beanstalk-esque speed - I'm sure one sprouted an inch whilst I was cooking dinner yesterday. Do I need to put them in bigger pots now, or straight into my massive tub? Won't the tub be too heavy to drag in every night while the squash are getting used to being outdoors? Maybe Chris can help (with the problem, not dragging the tub in).

Speaking of Chris, thanks for your help with my carrot fly worry, I'm no longer waking screaming from nightmares where the little sods are gorging themselves, Roman banquet-style, on my beautiful carrots.

Hadn't checked the patch since yesterday afternoon so thought mid-blog I'd better just pop out into the mid-morning sunshine to see if there's anything to report... laydeeees and gentlemen, I have carrots! Tiny teeny bright green babies pushing through! V. pleased. Think the patch is loving the warm sun we've been getting. p>

Ok, so other questions: when I re-pot my squash, will compost do or do I need to buy some manure? How big do my toms have to be before I plant them out? They still look a bit weedy. Is the woodpigeon sitting on the lawn on a covert spying mission, or just innocently sunbathing? Help please.

Am off to do a small victory lap round the garden... lettuce, beetroot AND carrots, all in one weekend! Huge.

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Watch Toby Buckland set up Sara's garden. Also starring - my spade.

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Thanks for all your comments - sorry to anyone I haven't got round to answering. Seems like people have a lot of questions about the evil carrot fly, and about growing in containers in small spaces. And we'd love to hear from you about money-saving tricks you've come up with in the garden - top of my list is the newspaper pot (pictured) for seedlings - it's ultra cheap and you can plant the whole thing when planting out time comes. Get directions on making newspaper pots.

First off, though, I wanted to reassure anyone who applied for Dig In seeds but hasn't got them yet that they will be sent. Because we had so many applications, we've had to print more seed packs, but most people will still receive their seeds within 28 days as we said. Anyone who won't will get an email shortly to let them know.

And if you didn't manage to apply for Dig In seeds, or even if you did, The One Show are doing a chilli seed giveaway this evening. Get over there and get spicy!

Anyway, back to those evil carrot flies and teeny pots. So, thelovelycheesybeans asked about whether growing carrots in containers would foil the carrot fly, because it can't fly very high. As flies go, they're a bit useless. Well, I've tried it, I grew carrots in an old water tank thrown out of someone's attic, and it worked a treat, hardly any damage at all. And my allotment neighbour reckons that just making a tall ridge in the soil is enough to put them off.

As well as old tanks, I grow my veg all sorts of other containers, like cardboard tubes scrounged from the local carpet shop (well, I say scrounged, they were overjoyed to get rid of them), sawn into 30-50cm lengths and filled with compost, old bins, old drawers from chests of drawers - basically if you can fill it with compost or soil, I'll grow something in it.

So, what are your tips for cheapy container growing? Send us a comment, suggest a subject you'd like to see discussed, or just tell us how your seedlings are getting on.

Have a lovely long weekend!

Dig In Ann

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