2018 Challenge - Sowing New Seeds

**Small pumpkin** · 29-09-2017, 02:24 PM

I'm in! Think I might try growing a couple of chillies

**veggiechicken** · 29-09-2017, 02:28 PM

Have you thought about growing Lemon Grass?

**Small pumpkin** · 29-09-2017, 02:31 PM

Ok, I'll give that a go as well

**Penellype** · 29-09-2017, 02:47 PM

I've grown amaranthus as microgreens and fenugreek as sprouting seeds and wasn't particularly keen on either. I'm growing 2 varieties of sweet potatoes having had some success with these last year, but not from seeds as I bought the young plants from the garden centre.

**Mark_Riga** · 30-09-2017, 08:57 PM

I bought some chickpea seeds and dahl from the local garden centre when they had a 50p a packet sale recently. Was looking forward to trying them out next year but the link above saying that mice are partial to them was a bit worrying to say the least. I've got some lemongrass in pots outside but been rather neglected so not much of a crop there.

I'm trying sweet potatoes now for the 3 year running - little success previous years. First year outside, the plants were delivered late and didn't do much at all. Last year in a polytunnel, they did a lot better - but rats ate a lot of them leaving me just enough for one meal to see what i was missing. I wasn't going to grow any this year but a piece that survived the winter near the kitchen sink appeared to be slowly rotting away so I planted it on a whim and put in a propagator not expecting anything at all and it sent up loads of shoots. So I have planted 8 or 9 out that have colonised 1/2 the poly tunnel. I will see it the rats have feasted again this year very soon.

**Snoop Puss** · 01-10-2017, 09:48 AM

I'll try chickpeas, as I bought a box for trying this year. I'm told that if they get sown early enough here and it rains from time to time, they won't need watering. If they do need watering, they're no-hopers as I won't be doing that.

Edited to add: Coriander was already on my list for next year. Hoping to get leaves as well as seeds!

**seasprout** · 01-10-2017, 02:06 PM

I grow luffa & lemongrass in a hot house at work, the luffa is a bad pollinator, so a paintbrush is needed. The lemongrass is uneventful, but I believe seeds are freely available.

I grew achoca for the first time this year, it took over the greenhouse, escaped though the vent.... when the fruits were big enough I tasted one, it was horrible... so dumped the plant.
I�m told shark fin melon can take over quite a large area with one plant.

I,love look through the list to fine something small to grow.

**Lumpy** · 01-10-2017, 02:16 PM

I have the urge to break into a riotious chorus of @And a Partridge in a Pear Tree'. p.s can I eat that as well?

**Deano's "Diggin It"** · 01-10-2017, 04:28 PM

I'll give it a bash!

although sourcing seed of the likes of African cucumber might prove a little daunting!

**veggiechicken** · 01-10-2017, 04:58 PM

Originally posted by Deano's "Diggin It" View Post

I'll give it a bash!

although sourcing seed of the likes of African cucumber might prove a little daunting!

https://www.seedsofitaly.com/Kiwano_...5_8314031.aspx

I'd like to try African kale, which comes in 2 varieties, Chomolia, grown from seed and Covo which can only be grown from cuttings. Can't find sources for either of these, yet!!

**Deano's "Diggin It"** · 01-10-2017, 05:21 PM

I'd really like to try the "Sharks Fin" but as it's explained as very much vigorous, and I'd wan to grow it under cover to give it a fighting chance, but would be very worried it would just take over the space I have!

But still loads of time to decide yet!

**SelkirkAlex** · 01-10-2017, 05:26 PM

african cucumber isn't worth growing , even where it grows easily no idea about the kale, unless it is what I know as marog, a kind of cross between kale and spinach that grows widely as a weed in southern africa and is widely picked and cooked, not bad if you like that kind of thing, basis of a stew with peanuts in Zimbabwe

**veggiechicken** · 01-10-2017, 05:31 PM

That's the one, Alex

"The leaves are commonly cooked in a sauce with peanut
butter often eaten with a cornmeal porridge known as
�sadza�."

**SelkirkAlex** · 02-10-2017, 08:07 AM

there are actually many different species of greens that are picked wild and cooked and eaten in much the same way, I am sure a botanist would have the heebiejeebies but to locals they are all the same thing, a free source of green roughage, none are considered a delicacy but then in a harsh environment a free meal is not to be sniffed at.

the african cucumber is I suppose a quaint curiousity to grow here with its thorns, other than as a source of water in the bush I don't think it has any culinary benefits at all

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2018 Challenge - Sowing New Seeds

2018 Challenge - Sowing New Seeds

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