Topic: Growing Your Own

[spicysarsy]

Hi Gang, just out of pure interest, is there anyone out there apart from myself who grows their own veg. I've been a proud allotment holder for some years now and grown my own own onions, garlic, ginger, herbs inc coriander, methi, potatoe's, spinach, carrots, leeks. As well as the general house vegtables for Sunday Lunch etc. I get enormous satisfaction from not only growing these morsels from start, but I must admit it does taste better than I could buy. Although my coriander is going berserk at the moment and covers 10 square metres of my plot alone. Cheer's Paul

[Chilli Prawn]

Hi Paul.  I grow my own chillis, Coriander, Aubergines and the usual run of the mill veggies.  But all in a small way as I have a greenhouse and small garden only.  I have had a go at Okra and would have got a crop if it hadn't been for for other distracting issues at the time.

I have big problems with Coriander, it keeps running to seed no matter what watering/feeding tactics I use.  I am told I need the culinary type of seed from specialist seed merchants which I have now and will try next season.  I have not had much luck with Methi either.  So any tips would be most welcome

Cheers
CP

[spicysarsy]

hi Chili. Corriander is very easy to upset. If it is not given enough water it bolts i.e starts to produce the seeds early { defence mechanism } not enough water it wilts and dies. The trick is little water but often {even in cold weather }. Methy is exactly the same. At the moment i'm finishing off repairs to my 2 greenhouses { 1 x 25ft - 1 x16ft } ready for next year's crops of toms, sweet pepper, chili's, cucumber. Never tried Aubergines yet though. Please feel free for any advice or seeds for yourself or other members. Cheer's Paul 

[spicysarsy]

 ;D ;D Sorry Chili I forgot to mention I've got some great corriander seed from last year if you want some. Just forward details via my e-mail.

[Hansel]

Hi fellow growers
I too have failed miserably with coriander. I will take the above advice on board for my next attempt. Does anyone know it this is better grown outdoors or inside and whether this can be done all year round? I also have a cool greenhouse and south facing porch which could be utilised. Can spice variety coriander be used as seed?

I had a good garlic crop this year and also some excellent chillis. I will try aubergines next year as my wife is addicted to my aubergine curry and they are quite expensive to buy comparatively. My celery was also rubbish but apparently this is quite difficult to grow well. Any tips for this would be appreciated.

[spicysarsy]

Hi Hansel and welcome to C.O.L. In answer to your question, yes you can grow coriander indoors on a sunny window sill, or in a greenhouse but only through the autumn/ winter, this is because the heat generated in a greenhouse would cause the plant to try and recover itself by producing it's seeds too early, if not just drying out and wilting away. The trick outside is to only plant a max of 20 plants per 2sq metres in a sunny but sheltered postion as it does not like windy conditions. I find to start growing from scratch better if you get your seeds from ebay {home and garden section }, grow a few plants {keep cutting the stems when the plant gets to about 10 inches tall { this is when the plant is at it's best for taste } and let 3-4 plants go to seed, {for constant supply } but overall the best result is when you can plant the seeds in periods of 2 weeks apart. this will give you a constant supply of fresh coriander.  As far as celery {the secret is a equal balance of compost and sand { builders will do } once the plant grows place a plastic tube over it as this will keep the flesh part nice and white. Good luck Paul

[Chilli Prawn]

That is great and very informative Paul.  I shall be in touch for some seed for sure; thank you.  I look forward to the day when I am independent of my suppliers, hoooooray.

Aubergines are reasonably easy to grow in a green house, but they need to be started very early in warm conditions and finished in hottish conditions.  I have had more success by buying young pot plants from the local nursery.  I water little and often until the fruit starts to grow and then I water and feed the same as the tomatoes.

As far as fresh green coriander seeds are concerned (and I have loads  :-[) They are perfect for all Mediterranean and North African recipes, especially pork recipes.  I have tried them in Asian cooking but I think they are too intense and seem to become bitter if mixed with certain spices

I have started buying seeds from this company: http://www.realseeds.co.uk but not had any success with the Coriander  , but I will take Paul's advice.

Cheers
CP

[spicysarsy]

Thanks for the kind comments Chili I've looked up that seed company and they look canny {although a bit pricy} . Look out for seeds which are marked F1, as these are Hybrid seeds and will always provide poor quality seeds from the parent plant. Cheer's Paul

[King Prawn]

I grow a variety of chillies every year !! (see below)

For Methi I just plant the seeds from the indian C&C and this works reasonably well. For Garlic just plant one of the outer cloves from a fresh head in the ground in Feb/March and they are ready in Sept! they like good drainage so a sandy soil (or a sand gravel mx) helps a lot.

Have any of you grown Cumin? - That is one I want to try next year but am having trouble finding info on how to do it and what conditions they like.

- If anyone would like to try home grown fresh chillies (some can be done in pots on a windows sill) then let me know. If there is interest I can post a list of the types I have and could make up a pack with a few of eash seeds in  for very little money (or swop for other shillie seeds that I don't already have). New for next year are the large and hot Turkish types and more Naga Morrich (ouch!!!)

Cheers

KPr(V)

[spicysarsy]

Hi King Prawn, hope this web address is a help. http://www.gardenaire.com/cumin.html.  ;)Regards Paul.