I have been looking for some answers recently on the web but haven’t been able to find them – so I thought I would outsource the problem to you guys!
First of all, big thanks to Susan Gallagher for all the hard work she’s done on the new website. I think you’ll agree it’s a smashing job! Between that and working on the minor matter of the PhD it’s been a while since the last post so it’s time to get things rolling again.
There are many more experienced farmers and gardeners than me who contact me through this website and I am very grateful for all the advice I have received over the past year. For this post I wanted to try draw on the collective experience of the readers to decide what to do next, wisdom of crowds style.
To that end, I have below a few polls covering gardening issues I have been grappling with. I encourage you to answer to the best of your knowledge. Don’t worry if you’re not an expert; the thinking behind the wisdom of crowds is that the collective intelligence transcends that of any individual!
Once I get a big enough sample size enough answers (gotta watch nerdy terms after being called “highly geeky” during the week!), I will implement whichever solution is favoured in each case, and of course document the results here.
In my microgreenhouse, I have to large tomato plants in big containers and at the top I have to tomato plants in hanging baskets. Both sets of plants are getting a bit big for the available space in the greenhouse. Should I put the tomato plants outside in the unpredictable Irish weather?
<pic – showing space issues of greenhouse with cherry tomatoes and others clearly visible>
Put all the tomato plants outside to maximize available space
Just put out the cherry tomato plants; that will leave the others room to grow in the greenhouse
Just put out the big tomato plants, they will survive better outside
Leave them all in the greenhouse; the extra space in the greenhouse will not compensate for the loss in yield of putting one or both sets outside outside
Question 2:
<pic – not sure what – if no g-flies – maybe just the infected corner? or maybe no pic?>
We have been getting greenflies on and off on a couple of the plants for the last month or so. What should be done about our greenfly infestation?
Do nothing and wash greenfly off produce after it is harvested (even if this means the plants suffer)
Source some ladybirds (-bugs) and let them feast
Use any old insecticide
Try and find an organic insecticide
Wash them off periodically with a spray of soapy water
Question 3:
<pic – potato plants not tied up>
Tehe potato plants are now well over a metre tall and are looking quite fragile in the blustery wind. Some of them have already broken. How should I deal with these uber-tall potato plants?
Leave them, the wind will make them strong
Protect them by tying them up so the stalks don’t break
Buy yet more compost and keep mounding above the container to add stability
Answers on a postcard please! I look forward to putting to work whatever it is you decide I should do.
In my microgreenhouse, I have two large tomato plants in big containers and at the top I have two cherry tomato plants in hanging baskets. Both sets of plants are getting a bit big for the available space in the greenhouse.
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We have been getting greenflies on and off on a couple of the plants for the last month or so.
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The potato plants are now well over a metre tall and are looking quite fragile in the blustery wind. Some of them have already broken. The containers are already full to the brim with compost.
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Answers on a postcard please! I look forward to putting to work whatever it is you decide I should do.
The tomatoes must be protected at all costs, I am determined to see success there!
The tomatos can easily grow outside – here in Lithuania many people grow then outside and we sure have colder weather (at this time of the year sometimes you may fing all the grass white early in the morning…) The only thing is – tomatos don’t like there leaves to get wet, so you should think how to protect them from rain.
Tying potatos reallty sounds fun – have you ever seen people doing this? Puting more compost will produce more potatos and this is what you want
Hi
Well – I’m still learning myself – so only voted on the one I’m reasonably sure of. Not quite so restricted as you are for space – mine is a tiny back yard instead of a “proper” garden. Reckon I just about make 75 square feet of growing space – so I’m having to learn a lot about growing things vertically.
You should harvest Lady Birds from a well established larger garden. I know of one nearby if you’d like to contact me directly.
Oooh, it was fun to vote. I’m glad nobody voted “the wind will make them strong” though – those kind of macho toughen-up perspectives don’t belong in gardening!
I hope I didn’t offend with the geeky label – I meant it with all due respect for your scientific approach to learning and sharing! As someone who has only just managed to even record planting and harvesting dates for the last year I’m totally in awe of your dedication.
@Paul I tend to agree. Maybe that’s just because I am hungry and haven’t had lunch yet!
@Vaiva Problem is I’ve already piled in a lot of compost in on top of them – maybw 75cm or more deep. If I put any more I am slightly worried about the logistics of harvesting and the pressure on my homemade trough!
@ceridwen I’m very interesting in vertical things. I was thinking of trying to build some kind of vertical lettuce grower for next season, though that’s still in the ideas stage at the moment.
@Marie G Thanks, I may be in touch, result of poll pending…
@esther No worries – I wasn’t offended I thoroughly enjoyed it! Just glad to be able to offer maybe a slightly different perspective
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Hi, I enjoyed the voting,good idea! You did not say if your potatoes had produced any flowers yet?I have been told once they flower the spuds have set underneath, earlies can then be used when the flowers die off and leave main crop for about 10 weeks after.
We have peas too and like you tried a few which were small but we are leaving them to grow on for another while hopefully to increase the yield.
Hi Peggy. We have no flowers yet, which I am a bit surprised by to be honest. I think the plants still look relatively healthy if a little droopy in places. I wonder are we set back a bit by only having half-day light.
[...] to everyone who responded to the survey I put out there a while ago looking for help with my balcony dilemmas. As promised, here is the upshot of the [...]
Hello there, I’m starting up a website and in the middle of creating somewhat diverse content. Do you mind if I blog about this article? I will of course provide you and this site full acknowledgment.
@Dean Yes of course that’s fine. You can email me at eightsquaremetres at gmail dot com if you have any further questions.