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I’ve had one of mine sliced in salads. It was lovely – first time I have been successful in growing celariac.
I got some seed from the Heritage Seed Library this year. Those already sown are just at seed leaf stage so cant really comment yet.
I have found that it usually works to plant the greenhouse about a month before you would plant outside but be ready with some fleece in case frost is forecast. Here in Nottingham I usually plant outside end of May or beginning of June so wouldnt plant tender plants in the greenhouse before the beginning of May …. however I might do it a few days earlier if the forecast is good. Hope that helps. Ros
I often follow on with winter leeks. Just dib them in and mulch round them once they have started growing.
I’ve had goodresults growing potatoes in old compost bags turned inside out with holes cut in the bottom….much cheaper!
Over 10 years ago when my mother died I inherited her trowel. The wooden handle is worn smooth with use and the blade is worn with many years use. I really enjoyed using it and thought about a copper one for a long time. 2 years ago I was given a copper trowel for Christmas. It slices through the ground so easily and gradually the handle is getting smoother with use. Half way through last summer I lost my copper trowel and had to go back to using my mother’s. Even taking out lettuces it didn’t slice through roots as easily as the copper one. I have now found my copper one where I thought if might be ….. and can confirm that it comes out of the compost heap after about 3 months just as good as it went in!!
I’ve tried a mixture of fruit, flowers and herbs in an allotment environment and it does work but is quite difficult to manage. In terms of no dig, after a first thick mulch all over I mulched each time I took plants out. My problem was remembering where I had planted things and therefore being able to harvest at the optimum time. Also I found it difficult to find room to plant things like brassicas for the winter as my system rather lacked any planning.
I now work with a series of patches approx 1 .2m x1.2m which I find I can plan better for follow on crops – each patch has a different veg or flower in and some patches have perrenial herbs and I can also rotate the patches each year. It works quite well but I do have to think about the shade that some crops cast over others. I wish you good luck and lots of enjoyment finding a system which siuts you.
I have 4 of these bins which I give to friends. They use them and I get them back when they are full so saving landfill and boosting my compost bulk! I have tried them at home to see how they work and must say they do smell when you take the lid off but the smell doesn’t linger too long. You use the impregnated bran and they give off a liquid which canbe used (suitably diluted) as liquid fertiliser or to clean drains but most usefully can be used sparingly instead of the bran as it contains the right bacteria to keep the process going.
If you get the bins and then decide not to use them the best use I have found for them is to put comfrey leaves and/or nettles in to make liquid fertiliser. Certainly worth a try. Some people swear by them, others hate them.I have noticedthat there are hardly any ladybirdsaroundhere in Nottingham – also not many hoverflies. The latter may be one reasonwhy I am getting a very poor set on my runner beans.
I find this a problem – I always want to use the compost before the squash is ready – I have has success though by planting one on leaf mould pile – just made a hole put in a couple of spades worth of manure or compost, planted the squash and then covered the compost with leaves. Somehow it is later than with compost that I wasnt to use the contents of the heap!
I was sowing cucumbers yesterday, aware that I was a bit late but happy that I will still get a good crop. When I had an allotment about 6 cellow plotholders and I tried a different variety of cucumber each and we shared our harvesf to see which variety we prefered. The winner was burpless tasty green and I am still growing this after about 7 years now. I have also now found crystal lemon which grows fruits thst look like lemons and are best harvested when they are about the size of a lemon – this is now a much grown variety. Both of these I would recommend for growing inside or outside.
I was somewhat reasured by seeing that you have yet to see growth on your shallots. After you sugested not to plant shallots til the middle of March I couldn’t wait so planted half of mine on 17th Feb and the other half about 2 weeks ago. I too was wonderi g when I would see any growth but am pleased to report that the February planted ones are just showing through. Today was the first fime I saw any green from them.
I have beds 1.2m wide and plant potatoes 3 across the beds. I have had good harvests this way overf4 years. Good luck with yours whichever way you decide on.
I too have used rockdust. In my garden at home I have 2 large raised beds for veg growing to overcome the soil here which I call low level industrial waste – actually the house was built on a site formally used by two businesses run out of garages. Though the underlying soil is clay what is on top is difficult to describe in any other way! I had to buy in soil to fill the raised beds and have used compost on top ever since [nearly 2 years now]. To make sure the rockdust is in contact with suitable microbiological activity I have put a dusting on top of the ingredients whenever I top up the compost heap so it is spread with the compost. As I haven’t got a control bed I really couldn’t say what difference it has made but the veg is begining to get better!