Tweet
Hi,
(Note: anyone with a polytunnel probably thinks this is a fatuous post.)
A while back I said I was going to try a few things I'd usually grow outside in the greenhouse, in pots. I said I'd come back with a report, and as I ate my first potatoes on Sunday, I thought now was the time...
Throughout, bear in mind that I'm quite far north, so everything is a bit behind some of you further south.
1. Potatoes. One per planter, sown very end of Feb. Turned out the first pot on June 2nd and got a satisfactory crop, matching expectations (I was so relieved). The two of us scoffed the lot, but they would have fed three or even four fairly well. For first earlies I thought this was fine. For context, outside the first earlies ought to be ready for the first week of July (when they usually are).
Despite some serious watering the pot was pretty dry, so more watering might have increased yield. I've also done something bad. After turning it out, I was surprised to find the seed potato still solid (could have eaten it). So I've chucked the plant back into the soil and I'll look again in a couple of months to see if anything else has appeared. It's been relegated to outside though.
Oh yes, and they were lovely!
2. Broad beans. 4 per planter, sown end of Feb. I thought these were least likely to succeed, not enough soil and difficulties with pollination. However, at time of speaking they've set a lot of beans. Not ready yet, and I don't expect all the set beans to produce, but it's looking good. Again, about a month ahead of outside.
3. Peas. About 20 in a planter. Again, looking good, lots of peas setting, I'm hoping to eat them soon. Miles ahead of outside (including some started in modules only a couple of weeks behind).
4. Courgettes. One per plants, sown mid-March. Actually, I do this every year. Usually get a crop in the last week of May. This year, first female on June 1, though the boys are still in bed.
5. Carrots. I've got a big pot with some amazing greenery. Sadly not much carrot as yet. I'm still hoping that they'll swell up soon, but possibly I've sown too much (and I'm terrible at thinning).
6. Spinach. I was astonished how much better the crop was from inside than out. Inside we had a whole load through May (now sadly bolted). Outside, sown at the same time, the crop is just coming and the leaves are much, much smaller.
7. Beetroot. The one failure. They didn't like the cold nights in March and essentially set there doing nothing. I'm going to scratch my head about this and try again next year.
So, in conclusion, I'm looking at getting a number of very edible things a month ahead of schedule. That's a success to me, so I'm going to do it again next year.
(Note: anyone with a polytunnel probably thinks this is a fatuous post.)
A while back I said I was going to try a few things I'd usually grow outside in the greenhouse, in pots. I said I'd come back with a report, and as I ate my first potatoes on Sunday, I thought now was the time...
Throughout, bear in mind that I'm quite far north, so everything is a bit behind some of you further south.
1. Potatoes. One per planter, sown very end of Feb. Turned out the first pot on June 2nd and got a satisfactory crop, matching expectations (I was so relieved). The two of us scoffed the lot, but they would have fed three or even four fairly well. For first earlies I thought this was fine. For context, outside the first earlies ought to be ready for the first week of July (when they usually are).
Despite some serious watering the pot was pretty dry, so more watering might have increased yield. I've also done something bad. After turning it out, I was surprised to find the seed potato still solid (could have eaten it). So I've chucked the plant back into the soil and I'll look again in a couple of months to see if anything else has appeared. It's been relegated to outside though.
Oh yes, and they were lovely!
2. Broad beans. 4 per planter, sown end of Feb. I thought these were least likely to succeed, not enough soil and difficulties with pollination. However, at time of speaking they've set a lot of beans. Not ready yet, and I don't expect all the set beans to produce, but it's looking good. Again, about a month ahead of outside.
3. Peas. About 20 in a planter. Again, looking good, lots of peas setting, I'm hoping to eat them soon. Miles ahead of outside (including some started in modules only a couple of weeks behind).
4. Courgettes. One per plants, sown mid-March. Actually, I do this every year. Usually get a crop in the last week of May. This year, first female on June 1, though the boys are still in bed.
5. Carrots. I've got a big pot with some amazing greenery. Sadly not much carrot as yet. I'm still hoping that they'll swell up soon, but possibly I've sown too much (and I'm terrible at thinning).
6. Spinach. I was astonished how much better the crop was from inside than out. Inside we had a whole load through May (now sadly bolted). Outside, sown at the same time, the crop is just coming and the leaves are much, much smaller.
7. Beetroot. The one failure. They didn't like the cold nights in March and essentially set there doing nothing. I'm going to scratch my head about this and try again next year.
So, in conclusion, I'm looking at getting a number of very edible things a month ahead of schedule. That's a success to me, so I'm going to do it again next year.
Comment