Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Triffid question
Like all lottie sites, ours has its fair share of people who know quite a
bit, people who think they know everything and those who know s*d all, like me and my soil mate, Ann. When a friend gave us four squash plants, I planted them straight into the soil. Those who know quite a bit said "You'll need to water them well". Those who think they know everything said "You should have planted them on a mound with a moat" or "You should have planted them on a mound with inset flowerpots to act as a reservoir". Of the ones on the moated mound, only one survives, about 6 inches high. Of those with the pots, only one survives, but is looking quite bushy and green with a few flowers. Ours are making a determined bid to take over the whole plot :-} Which brings me back to the question. One, a butternut, is not only fruiting well, but is sending out long, exploratory tendrils, about four foot long and growing and a couple of inches round. Should we pinch out the tips or just let it get on with it? -- Kathy |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Triffid question
"Kathy McIntosh" wrote Like all lottie sites, ours has its fair share of people who know quite a bit, people who think they know everything and those who know s*d all, like me and my soil mate, Ann. When a friend gave us four squash plants, I planted them straight into the soil. Those who know quite a bit said "You'll need to water them well". Those who think they know everything said "You should have planted them on a mound with a moat" or "You should have planted them on a mound with inset flowerpots to act as a reservoir". Of the ones on the moated mound, only one survives, about 6 inches high. Of those with the pots, only one survives, but is looking quite bushy and green with a few flowers. Ours are making a determined bid to take over the whole plot :-} Which brings me back to the question. One, a butternut, is not only fruiting well, but is sending out long, exploratory tendrils, about four foot long and growing and a couple of inches round. Should we pinch out the tips or just let it get on with it? I've heard others say you need to plant on a mound but we have always done the opposite since I learnt to garden as a child back in the Middle Ages. We dig a hole, a good bucket sized, and fill with compost heap, then plant the cucurbit in that using the soil we take out to make a dam around the hole/plant so it is easy to water and the water stays where it's needed, at the roots. Never had any problems doing it that way. Regarding butternuts, we have also never pinched out anything, just let them run, guiding them with canes when they get too near something else. If you can get them to root at the nodes even better. -- Regards Bob Hobden W.of London. UK |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Triffid question
"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
... "Kathy McIntosh" wrote Like all lottie sites, ours has its fair share of people who know quite a bit, people who think they know everything and those who know s*d all, like me and my soil mate, Ann. When a friend gave us four squash plants, I planted them straight into the soil. Those who know quite a bit said "You'll need to water them well". Those who think they know everything said "You should have planted them on a mound with a moat" or "You should have planted them on a mound with inset flowerpots to act as a reservoir". Of the ones on the moated mound, only one survives, about 6 inches high. Of those with the pots, only one survives, but is looking quite bushy and green with a few flowers. Ours are making a determined bid to take over the whole plot :-} Which brings me back to the question. One, a butternut, is not only fruiting well, but is sending out long, exploratory tendrils, about four foot long and growing and a couple of inches round. Should we pinch out the tips or just let it get on with it? I've heard others say you need to plant on a mound but we have always done the opposite since I learnt to garden as a child back in the Middle Ages. We dig a hole, a good bucket sized, and fill with compost heap, then plant the cucurbit in that using the soil we take out to make a dam around the hole/plant so it is easy to water and the water stays where it's needed, at the roots. Never had any problems doing it that way. Regarding butternuts, we have also never pinched out anything, just let them run, guiding them with canes when they get too near something else. If you can get them to root at the nodes even better. Thanks Bob. Will direct it away from the beans towards the fence. -- Kathy |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Triffid question
Kathy McIntosh wrote:
Regarding butternuts, we have also never pinched out anything, just let them run, guiding them with canes when they get too near something else. If you can get them to root at the nodes even better. Thanks Bob. Will direct it away from the beans towards the fence. We also never pinch out, just let them go. You'll get different sized fruits, but that's often handy. :-) You can always let them go over your bean soil and act as a mulch, a la "the there sisters" - corn for beans to climb up, squash to ground cover and keep out weeds. Althuogh if they start climbing up your beans you may find them struggling, or if your beans are dwarves! |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Triffid. | Garden Photos | |||
Can anyone please ID this Triffid?! | United Kingdom | |||
Triffid!!! | United Kingdom | |||
Good morning or good evening depending upon your location. I want to ask you the most important question of your life. Your joy or sorrow for all eternity depends upon your answer. The question is: Are you saved? It is not a question of how good | United Kingdom | |||
Butternut Squash growing like a Triffid | United Kingdom |