|
Post by Ali on Mar 26, 2011 16:38:56 GMT 1
What a week of glorious weather!!! So far in and on the off are: The peas (along the hens fence) Tatties Broad beans New strawberry bed Onions and shallots Pickled onions Spinach The garden bonfire ashes are spread all over, especially under the fruiting bushes (Monty said to ) Anybody know when to start chard and curly kale?
|
|
|
Post by troll on Mar 26, 2011 17:15:15 GMT 1
Chard from April onwards. I grow loads and raid it early for salad leaves, then in the Autumn I feed it to the birds. Have started picking last year's survivors for salad. The Autumn sown Broads were a disaster! between the frost and escaping togas, only 2 plants in a lonely row. Sown more now. How do you pickle your hunions before you sow them? I love Monty, Was amused at his "ready access" to his specs! I've got to the point where I have to take an old pair into the garden with me.
|
|
|
Post by thereddragon on Mar 26, 2011 19:06:23 GMT 1
Still forkin about! And digging. Have planted various seeds in my 'greenhouse' : Lots of lettuce variants Sunflowers courgettes cukes peas mange tout runner beans nasturtiums some funny looking yellow veg Would like to plant Heritage stuff but haven't got any seeds yet
|
|
|
Post by thereddragon on Mar 26, 2011 19:07:26 GMT 1
OOh and rocket from my own seeds
|
|
|
Post by Madame Moorhen on Mar 27, 2011 7:16:17 GMT 1
Don't do the kale for ages yet! but Spinach Beet can be sown now as it is pretty hardy. I sow kale in July for planting out in August. So far I have got in Parsnips Broad beans Peas Mange tout 2 types of shallot Belle de Fontenays - got 3 more varieties of spud to plant but not doing all of them! And in the heated propagator: 2 varieties of cherry tom 2 varieties of chilli And out of the potager I am 'getting there' but my list of things to do is still 3/4 page long...... ;D
|
|
|
Post by Madame Moorhen on Mar 27, 2011 7:17:07 GMT 1
Sorry you said chard, not spinach beet. ;D
|
|
|
Post by Ali on Mar 27, 2011 10:16:50 GMT 1
The new broads will catch up v quickly tho, I sow them in the g/house then plant out and those that cop it get replaced by direct seed and a month later you can't tell the diff!
TRD what on earth is Heritage stuff ??
Have some over-wintered spinach doing well so will be plucking from that soon and baby ones are already outside under cloches to bring them on a bit.
What to do with Chard/spinach beet? Do you lightly steam/flash boil it? Never grown any before - might do.
|
|
|
Post by thereddragon on Mar 27, 2011 11:03:46 GMT 1
Heritage stuff - essentially very old traditional stock that you can take the seed from and get the same again, year on year.
|
|
|
Post by mirabelle on Mar 27, 2011 11:04:35 GMT 1
I've given up - the donkey & pony ramraided my patch and ate everything!
I am going to wait now until we move house and then hopefully I can have a more secure plot where the bandits cannot get in!!
|
|
|
Post by Madame Moorhen on Mar 27, 2011 12:20:36 GMT 1
Chard and spinach beet - they are slightly different, sp. beet has a spinachy flavour but chard doesn't. Also chard has stems which taste a bit earthy - some like it and some absolutely don't. You can cook both parts of chard separately or just eat the leaves. Yes just shred and steam or stir fry ... basically use like spinach.
I don't like the stuff really so only grow it for my hens (sp. beet that is), pick the long leaves and tie them up so they have to peck the bits off and then at the end of winter I dig up the plants (you should see their roots!!!!! they are like a giant multi forked parsnip and give to the hens, who will have fun picking the leaves off and pecking out any worms in the soil stuck to the roots.
They will flower the 2nd year so it's no point leaving them in any longer.
The other reason for growing chard is the variety 'Bright Lights' which is really colourful and showy (google it) and is worth being grown just as an ornamental in the flower beds!
|
|