[kermit]

Hi all

2nd year growing veg - last year was mainly just pots and and cold frame.  But just finishing 3 large very high raised beds (heavy rock & clay garden).  3 questions:

1) I've noticed roots appearing at the top of my young tomato and chilli plants - is this normal?  Should I 'earth up' or re-pot?

2) The beds are about 50cm high - I'm planning on using Council free compost, manure and purchased top soil to fill (with minimum of the latter, which is obviously expensive).  Do you think this is ok?  the manure is well rotted, but will be going into the bed now - should I put it at the bottom or just mix it all in?

3) My garden is north facing with sun only really from midday, even in summer months.  One bed will be lucky to get that - is it worthwhile?  Im so short of space Im keen to squeeze in this 3rd one.  Im thinking salad crops, or maybe even some maincrop spuds I've got left over?

Thanks guys, great site.

Duncan

[Trillium]

Toms by nature will root anywhere along their length, so yes, you can either earth up or better still repot or simply plant deeper depending on the situation. I've not noticed it with pepper plants but it's always possible and the same can be done.

As for the bed soil, you have a nice mix to put in and you can mix it all up. If you have enough, you can put some manure into the bottom first for the plant roots to reach down for, but mix the rest in. Let the beds 'rest' a week or two before planting.

Sunwise, a lot of crops can take some shade and still be productive. Toms, however, appreciate the sunniest spot you can give them, followed by beans and peas. Salad crops would work in the 3rd and shadiest bed. They don't mind some shade and sometimes you just have to work with what you've got. Ripening of some crops will happen later than usual, but you'll get there in the end.

[kermit]

Great, thanks for the advice.  I'll re-pot to cover the surface roots.  probably no bad thing as they're maybe slightly leggy.

Thanks for the advice about the bed soil too - hadnt thought about letting the bed settle.  Better get cracking (darn this Scottish rain and cold!).

Yea, I've got a wee lean-to green house round the front in a sunny spot for my toms and chillies - there's no way they'd have a chance in our shady back garden!

Was lying in bed last night and thought of another conundrum:  can i grow some brussels in pots until my raised bed peas & beans are harvested and then transplant? 

[mumofstig]

Don't worry too much about the sun, my garden only gets afternoon sun and i had a crop of toms last year even in that dismal summer! Nearest the fence (even shadier) i grew french beans and salad rather well .....even if i say so myself

I  grow my cabbage in pots to follow early spuds n early peas, think it depends on how late your harvest of peas n beans is going to be.

[kermit]

Cheers for this.  Still raining here - no way I can finish off these beds until I dig over the remaining clay soil, which is just impossible in the wet.  Getting a bit worried now that nothing's in the ground - whats the latest I can direct sow things like calbrese, carrots, maincrop spuds, peas, runner / french beans etc?

Ive got some peas and broadbeans started in cells / pots but not enough for when my beds are finally finished!

So much for my productive week off!

[Kristen]

whats the latest I can direct sow things like calbrese, carrots, maincrop spuds, peas, runner / french beans etc?

There is a chart here which may help (probably loads of other places too, maybe better ones at that!)

http://www.thevga.co.uk/the_shed/howto/getfamilies.cgi

The Runners and French beans should only go out when risk of frost has passed. You could start them off indoors in cells / pots / newspaper pots if you have space (bit early yet though)

[mumofstig]

this is a link to sowing/harvest chart on this site, bit easier to handle and prints quite nicely for the shed door

http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/general/sowing-harvest-vegetable-chart.php