Green thumbed folks, gardeners and grow your own

I just planted some new pak choi cuz some of mine bolted from the heat and my laziness in harvesting it. It's really easy, and the baby leaves are also tasty. I picked a purple variety so it's pretty to look at too!

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I can never get over the fact that you can put tiny seeds in the ground and a few weeks later, they turn into FOOD!  ...it's like magic!   

Am having to grow indoors, but I have Ramiro, Cowhorn, Jalepeno, Cayenne, and Chilly Billy peppers (some of which are going on 3 years old now). Also the usual herbs - rosemary, cilantro, basil. The tomato plants (Berkeley Tie-Dye) need to be pruned back - too much leaves, not enough blooms. There is one little grape-sized tomato, so far.  All are in pots on various windowsills.

I have waaay too many dried peppers. But my next trial is going to be planting some of the seeds from a dried Ancho, so I can have Poblano peppers.   As soon as a spot on the windowsill becomes available.

Am having to grow indoors, but I have Ramiro, Cowhorn, Jalepeno, Cayenne, and Chilly Billy peppers (some of which are going on 3 years old now). Also the usual herbs - rosemary, cilantro, basil. The tomato plants (Berkeley Tie-Dye) need to be pruned back - too much leaves, not enough blooms. There is one little grape-sized tomato, so far.  All are in pots on various windowsills.

I have waaay too many dried peppers. But my next trial is going to be planting some of the seeds from a dried Ancho, so I can have Poblano peppers.   As soon as a spot on the windowsill becomes available.

How are your little strawberries, Nan?... I've been frightened to ask!   

They did well for a while, then got covered by white stuff. Which vacuumed off. Then got aphids. Which got chemically nuked. So right now they are kind of holding their own, not looking great, on the windowsill. I think I need to sneak them out into the communal space in the back and get them planted in actual soil. 

They did well for a while, then got covered by white stuff. Which vacuumed off. Then got aphids. Which got chemically nuked. So right now they are kind of holding their own, not looking great, on the windowsill. I think I need to sneak them out into the communal space in the back and get them planted in actual soil. 

Ahh, that's a shame, maybe just not going to work indoors. Mine have started to fruit now.

My friend gave me a handful of strawberry plants, but the neighbourhood cats keep digging in that pot. They are starting to fruit but I don't hold a lot of hope I'll get to eat them.

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Thanks for the inspiration, Margo and the advice, PB!     I've just ordered some seeds;  pak choi (I always used to say bok choy!), Chinese cabbage, mange tout and some courgettes for good measure.

My little vegetable patch is pretty much maxed out already so I'll have to manage with some containers, I think and creative use of space! 

Thanks for the inspiration, Margo and the advice, PB!     I've just ordered some seeds;  pak choi (I always used to say bok choy!), Chinese cabbage, mange tout and some courgettes for good measure.

My little vegetable patch is pretty much maxed out already so I'll have to manage with some containers, I think and creative use of space! 

Next year, hopefully, I'm going to start a garden.  Right now I'm keeping my basil alive in the utili-kitchen window, and I started an avocado from the pit, which is almost ready to go in a pot.  And I ordered some chilli seeds for my husband for our anniversary (keeping the spice in our marriage?), and he is keen to start them.  But I want to grow napa cabbage!  That's one of my priorities.  Oh, and chicory.  And, basically, all the other things I can't find easily since moving from England to Wales.

(I always said bok choy in the US... do we say it differently there?)

Can you not find 'Chinese Leaf; in the supermarket JFKimberly? 

I know you love Tesco, so I found it for you online, here


With things like Chinese cabbage, chicory, radicchio, there usually grown blanched (earthed up) , or even in dark spaces to reduce the bitterness. So, when you're growing them, you'll need to constantly earth up to keep them white and tender and not so bitter. Easy to grow, otherwise.   

Can you not find 'Chinese Leaf; in the supermarket JFKimberly? 

I know you love Tesco, so I found it for you online, here


With things like Chinese cabbage, chicory, radicchio, there usually grown blanched (earthed up) , or even in dark spaces to reduce the bitterness. So, when you're growing them, you'll need to constantly earth up to keep them white and tender and not so bitter. Easy to grow, otherwise.   

I'm eating a bowl of Chinese cabbage as a snack right now, got it at Sainsbury's. It's almost the same price as the bok choy/pak choi but there is a lot more of it so I'm able to justify the spend! 

Thanks for the tip! I hope I manage to get them that far.. I really do not have green fingers but I keep on trying! 

Can you not find 'Chinese Leaf; in the supermarket JFKimberly? 

I know you love Tesco, so I found it for you online, here


With things like Chinese cabbage, chicory, radicchio, there usually grown blanched (earthed up) , or even in dark spaces to reduce the bitterness. So, when you're growing them, you'll need to constantly earth up to keep them white and tender and not so bitter. Easy to grow, otherwise.   

Yes, I love Tesco... that's it.   

The thing with Tesco is if you're not logged in, no problem... it shows up in your search.  You get all excited imagining the meals you can make...  But then you log in to order it and it's not there anymore because your local Tesco doesn't order it.   It's probably my fault for living in a place where there isn't a lot of demand for these things.

Yes, I love Tesco... that's it.   

The thing with Tesco is if you're not logged in, no problem... it shows up in your search.  You get all excited imagining the meals you can make...  But then you log in to order it and it's not there anymore because your local Tesco doesn't order it.   It's probably my fault for living in a place where there isn't a lot of demand for these things.

Awww    Any farm shops near you? They might have it 

If I have *success with mine, I'll send you one, jfkimberly! 


*do not count on the success part!

Awww    Any farm shops near you? They might have it 

I haven't found one yet, but I only started driving about a year ago, and I get the car once a week (sometimes less), so haven't really had a lot of time to just explore.  I do have the car today, though, and I'm home from my errands and pretty much recovered from the exertion.  I'm trying to decide if it's worth the effort of looking for an appointment for my "annual" vision check-up (it's been 3+ years, I am out of contact lenses, and I hate wearing my old glasses).  Maybe I could do the appointment and look for a farm shop on the same trip...  Or maybe I could just go out in the garden and enjoy this perfect day we've been given.

If I have *success with mine, I'll send you one, jfkimberly! 

*do not count on the success part!

I will do an interpretive dance to convince your crop to come up nicely.  *Twirl!* *Leap!*  *Sway...*