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Old 02-08-2020, 07:58 AM   #1
Engel
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Default Any Gardeners here?

Hopefully this year I will be spending a decent amount of time in the garden as I find it helps me get out even on wobbly days.

I have been trying to grow my own veggies for the past 5 years and have been successful with somethings but not others, but that's just how it is. I also grow flowers too. Now that I have hamsters they'll get daily rations of fresh, organic veggies, herbs and flowers.

This had me wondering, anyone else here potter about in the garden? What will you be growing this year?
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Old 02-08-2020, 09:14 AM   #2
sushi_78
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Default Re: Any Gardeners here?

I got into gardening a bit last year. In the garden I have parsley, rosemary and chamomile. I have tried feeding all of these to Pumpkin, but she isn't keen on fresh food. My gerbils love chamomile and parsley though, not so much rosemary.

This year I am growing chillis (not for the pets!), marigolds (the petals are edible), sunflowers (the pets will enjoy the seeds), lots of herbs, tomatoes, beetroot, radishes, sweet peppers and spinach. Maybe some others, I'm not sure yet.
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Old 02-08-2020, 09:52 AM   #3
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Any Gardeners here?

Amateur gardener, heavily reliant on my niece and my mums help. I have just planted some salad seed balls in my growtrug.

I have 2 small raised beds, 1 of which i use, 2nd one not used yet.

Last year I planted beetroot, carrots, spinach, parsley, basil, flax (for the hamsters) and butternut squashes(but i planted too late)

I also have daisies, gerberas, foxgloves, peony, wall flower, bidens, clematis amongst other flowers.
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Old 02-08-2020, 12:20 PM   #4
TinyBubbles
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Default Re: Any Gardeners here?

I try... I do tomatoes every year but the birds and squirrels get to them before they are ripe. I typically get to eat my peppers and cucumbers (if I get any cucs) we have been trying melons but don't think we have watered enough or had to pick them before a freeze and they didn't have time to ripen. We always have great basil and mint. Will do some new things this year as well for hammy.

We have had a plum tree in our yard until this last year. Wonder if I will have more critters in the garden now that that food is gone... or maybe less since the tree isn't here to draw them in?
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Old 02-08-2020, 01:25 PM   #5
Engel
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Default Re: Any Gardeners here?

Quote:
Originally Posted by sushi_78 View Post
I got into gardening a bit last year. In the garden I have parsley, rosemary and chamomile. I have tried feeding all of these to Pumpkin, but she isn't keen on fresh food. My gerbils love chamomile and parsley though, not so much rosemary.

This year I am growing chillis (not for the pets!), marigolds (the petals are edible), sunflowers (the pets will enjoy the seeds), lots of herbs, tomatoes, beetroot, radishes, sweet peppers and spinach. Maybe some others, I'm not sure yet.
Planting marigolds and nasturtiums near most fruits and veggies actually helps them grow. It's called companion planting and it's great whether you have a large garden or if you're tight on space.

Also, if you don't know, plant radishes little and often unless you plan on eating a lot of radish...just something I've learnt. I'm going to try spinach this year...I've got quite a few different things to plant so if you want ideas let me know!
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Old 02-08-2020, 01:27 PM   #6
Engel
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Default Re: Any Gardeners here?

Quote:
Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1 View Post
Amateur gardener, heavily reliant on my niece and my mums help. I have just planted some salad seed balls in my growtrug.

I have 2 small raised beds, 1 of which i use, 2nd one not used yet.

Last year I planted beetroot, carrots, spinach, parsley, basil, flax (for the hamsters) and butternut squashes(but i planted too late)

I also have daisies, gerberas, foxgloves, peony, wall flower, bidens, clematis amongst other flowers.
Oh nice. If you want any tips/advice just say! Got 3 generations worth of knowledge as well as my own trial and errors.
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Old 02-08-2020, 01:32 PM   #7
sushi_78
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Default Re: Any Gardeners here?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Engel View Post
Planting marigolds and nasturtiums near most fruits and veggies actually helps them grow. It's called companion planting and it's great whether you have a large garden or if you're tight on space.

Also, if you don't know, plant radishes little and often unless you plan on eating a lot of radish...just something I've learnt. I'm going to try spinach this year...I've got quite a few different things to plant so if you want ideas let me know!
I definitely want ideas please! I have a small garden with a patio so I'm for the most part limited to container gardening at the moment. I did a survey of all my seeds and containers and discovered I have lots of unused containers I could be growing things in, including a huge 44cm one.
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Old 02-08-2020, 01:39 PM   #8
Engel
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Default Re: Any Gardeners here?

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Originally Posted by TinyBubbles View Post
I try... I do tomatoes every year but the birds and squirrels get to them before they are ripe. I typically get to eat my peppers and cucumbers (if I get any cucs) we have been trying melons but don't think we have watered enough or had to pick them before a freeze and they didn't have time to ripen. We always have great basil and mint. Will do some new things this year as well for hammy.

We have had a plum tree in our yard until this last year. Wonder if I will have more critters in the garden now that that food is gone... or maybe less since the tree isn't here to draw them in?
Where are you planting your toms? If planting outside have you tried a bit of foil on string by the crops,? As the light hits it, it gets mistaken as a threat, scaring birds and other critters away!

What's happened with your cucs? Do they just not grow? Indoor or outdoor variety? (I've grown both so may be able to give you some tips). Never tried growing melon. Tried growing pumpkin one year but I had the same problem as you.

As for the tree. Maybe more as you're thinking of growing more things this year. But that depends what you're planting. From what I have found, if you plant things by onions, garlic or anything citrus (like lemon grass), because of the strong smell, a lot of animals won't go near it. Natural deterrent
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Old 02-08-2020, 01:42 PM   #9
sushi_78
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Default Re: Any Gardeners here?

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Originally Posted by Engel View Post
As for the tree. Maybe more as you're thinking of growing more things this year. But that depends what you're planting. From what I have found, if you plant things by onions, garlic or anything citrus (like lemon grass), because of the strong smell, a lot of animals won't go near it. Natural deterrent
Do you think that would work for cats? Ever since our own cat died a few years ago, there have been a succession of cats coming into our garden and digging it up. I mean, I like cats, but I don't want my plants dug up.
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Old 02-08-2020, 02:32 PM   #10
Engel
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Default Re: Any Gardeners here?

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Originally Posted by sushi_78 View Post
I definitely want ideas please! I have a small garden with a patio so I'm for the most part limited to container gardening at the moment. I did a survey of all my seeds and containers and discovered I have lots of unused containers I could be growing things in, including a huge 44cm one.
Quite a few things can be planted in containers to be honest. Now what you grow depends on what you eat. Also look up companion planting as this will help you grow more in a limited space. For example, growing carrots can take a few months so that's a lot of relatively empty space. So you can plant lettuce as they quickly mature and are shallow rooted. Another example is again planting carrots and planting peas or beans on top. Peas and beans release a lot of nitrogen into the soil which carrots LOVE. When the pea plant starts to die off, just cut the stem just above the surface of the ground rather than pull the whole plant out. The roots store a lot nitrogen too so it'll release it back into the soil.

Right here's my list of things to grow. Keep in mind I do all mine from seed. You can use bulbs or buy starter plants if you wish! Any in bold will be new for this year. Any in italics will be what I have grown before but not going to this year. I'll add the variety name if there's a specific one that I recommend although its entirely up to you!

Basil
Beetroot - Boltardy
Broccoli *
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage *
Carrot - 'nantes'
Cauliflower - variety 'Cheesy' F1 *
Celery
Coriander
Cucumber - 'Carmen' (indoor variety), 'Mini munch' and
'Marketmore' (outdoor variety)
Dill
Fennel
Kale*
Leek
Lettuce- 'Little Gem', 'Webbs Wonderful' and 'All the year round'
Onions - (Spring or bunching onions) 'White Lisbon',
(Red) - 'Red Baron' and 'Red Brunswick'
(White) - 'Sturon' and 'Ailsa Craig'
Parsley
Parsnip - 'Gladiator' and 'White Gem'
Pepper - 'California wonder' and 'Gourmet'
Potato - normally do second early varieties
Pumpkin*
Radish - 'French Breakfast'
Spinach
Strawberry
Swede*
Sweetcorn
Thyme
Tomato - 'Money maker' and 'Alicante'

I've put a * next to the ones which I recommend NOT to plant in pots which is hardly any to be honest In theory you could plant cabbages in pots but they'd probably come up small
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