Thank you @Lyn and @Bee witched for the recommendation of Charles Dowding whom I'd never heard of, I will read about his methods and see what may work in my space - thanks so much I'm excited about this!
@Fairygirl we are building an 8x18ft greenhouse (second hand win!) atm which is going to need to house rather a lot as it turns out - even the pumpkins I think. Do you know if you can grow peas in an unheated greenhouse or is it generally too warm? We will likely need to eventually get a second greenhouse for propagation and keep the big one for growing adult plants
One final quick question to you all I hope @Allotment Boy@Lyn@raisingirl@Fairygirl@Bee witched - I've grown potatoes in raised beds, and underplanted with lettuce and spinach. Because of this I have not earthed them up as there wasn't space - will this ruin my potatoes or should I remove the other greens and earth them up? The potatoes are to be fair quite tall now on the Early varieties. I've under sown the main crop with beetroot, so again, can't earth up due to lack of space - was this a mistake? Needed to make the best of the space I had so lots in one place!
Do you know if you can grow peas in an unheated greenhouse or is it generally too warm? We will likely need to eventually get a second greenhouse for propagation and keep the big one for growing adult plants
I did exactly that last year because I ran out of materials to protect the young peas from the sparrows and greenfinches, which otherwise literally peck them to death! I grew a yellow-podded mangetout which had interesting blue flowers and had 2 good crops from those - I tore up the old ones once finished and planted new ones I'd started in modules in their place. That took only 2ft of greenhouse border. Next to those I grew Borlotti beans as those don't do well outside for some reason, here. Excellent crop. This year I'm growing snap peas, and 2 types of mangetout in the greenhouse borders, plus hyacinth beans for a bit of fun. Luckily, I have a 2nd greenhouse for the tomatoes.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
@BobTheGardener oh wow that is really amazing! I may have to try this - I am only growing regular peas as it's my first try, Rapid and Douce Provence. I like the sound of the blue flowered variety you're doing, and I am actually super envious of your greenfinches - I'm an amateur ornithologist/birder and we just don't get them here so the are a pleasure lol. Ok, I will I think try indoor peas next year, and do a control of outdoor and see which fares best!
Hi, as you are checking Charles Dowding you will note he "compost ups" his spuds, as the point of his method is minimal soil disturbance. The main aim of earthing up is just to exclude light from the tubers (green potatoes are poisonous). Anything that will exclude light, compost, thick straw, long dried grass clippings etc can be used. Put them round the stems of the spuds as tubers can develop quite high up sometimes.
All that happens if you don't earth up potatoes is the spuds nearest the surface can go green so you may have to discard them, or bits of them. It doesn't harm the plants and the potatoes that form deeper down will be fine.
If you can 'straw them up' without ruining your lettuce, so much the better
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Thanks @raisingirl - they've been in the ground since beginning April and have grown tall, so I'm almost guessing that by now some may have already gone green near the surface but I'll have a go and see how they do, hopefully I'll still get some good crop - they are in 4x8ft raised beds so not loads, but still happy enough for first go
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@Fairygirl we are building an 8x18ft greenhouse (second hand win!) atm which is going to need to house rather a lot as it turns out - even the pumpkins I think. Do you know if you can grow peas in an unheated greenhouse or is it generally too warm? We will likely need to eventually get a second greenhouse for propagation and keep the big one for growing adult plants
If you can 'straw them up' without ruining your lettuce, so much the better
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”