The Poultry Keeper

chicken mummy · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 25

Just had to tell someone - started my first small veg patch this year and have today pulled up my first lot of carrots! Lots of people I spoke to about my veggies had a sharp intake of breath when i said that i had sown carrots. Lots of talk about fly and alot of trouble to grow etc. Haven't got many as i only put in 2 small rows but they taste delicious. Also had some coriander, basil, lettuce and radishes. Put some swede in ( for the chooks!) but don't look promising. Cucumbers doing well, butternut squash doing well, tomatoes doing very well, onions looking good, runner beans coming along slowly, rocket just put in. I'm really chuffed with it all -just had to tell someone!

jaydee67 · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 11:02 pm Post subject:

Well done! Sounds great!

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

excellent results on your plot ~ well done

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Good for you! I am jealous...didn't have time for a garden for the last 3 years. Sad

stephen · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 6:59 am Post subject: Re: Wow!

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7370 Location: isle of lewis

sounds like you are doing well ,there's nothing like putting your own grown food on the dinner plate.
suz

Lisa · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 7:59 am Post subject:

Well done you! Very Happy

That home grown taste is so worth it.

stamina · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 8:19 am Post subject:

Hi Chicken Mummy,
If you have problems with root fly in your carrots, try growing onions or leeks alongside them (companion planting).
The smell from the onions confuses the root fly and hey presto, a natural solution to an age old problem.
(I put rows of spring onions between my carrots).
Hope this is helpful. Rolling Eyes

Regards to all,
Stamina.

chicken mummy · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 25

Stamina - thanks for the advice. I did actually plant some onions next to the carrots and so this must have helped keep the fly at bay!
I have just picked a couple of runner beans and our bramley apples are ready to use. Isn't it a bit early for bramleys? I seem to remember that our Victoria plums usually come first - has anyone else got bramleys ready to use?

stamina · Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 1:25 pm Post subject:

Hi Chicken Mummy,
I think all apple trees seem to be forward this year. I live in a cottage which was originally built in around 1670 and over the last 10 to 12 years I have been planting an orchard with trees from about that time. All the trees are forward except the Quince which blossoms early and we lost a lot of it with the late storms that we had. I have never seen so much fruit on the Medlar trees before. The Damsons are looking good (lots of damson gin). Back to the apples, don't know what you find, but I think that in some years although the apple looks good on the tree it sometimes takes a while for the full flavour to come through.
Regards and good gardening
Stamina