Hi all

Been a lurker here for a while on and off, but I now need some 'local'
assistance from you good people. In a previous life we lived in sunny
Oxfordshire, and could grow just about anything we liked outside as we
seemed to have a never ending growing season. We now live in Ayrshire,
and the climate's proving ever so slightly different.

Some of you probably contributed to my 'what kind of greenhouse should
I build' thread about a year ago, and I'm pleased to say it's now 90%
functional ( I didn't bother with installing the auto roof vent
openers, they're still in the box), and we have many plants on the go,
ready to be planted out into newly prepared raised beds (once the
railway sleepers arrive). However, I'm not sure about what'll survive
outdoors here, hence the call for help. I have tomatoes (cherry and
plum), courgettes, melons, cucumber, chillies, sweet red peppers,
cayenne, garlic all looking ok in the greenhouse at the mo, and will
be planting root veg directly outside as soon as I can. (as mentioned
in another thread, SWMBO has some potatoes in car tyres on the go too)

I have a south facing, pebbledash wall about 14 ft long that I could
put vine wires on to train the toms etc, will they be ok? and what
else might grow well beside them?

Looking forward to all your tips - then we'll get on to the composting
questions.

Thanks in advance

Tim

Subject: Now we live 'up North'.....
From: Tim Nicholson
Date: 04/05/2004 18:30 GMT Daylight Time
Message-id:

We now live in Ayrshire,

Which part? Some parts of Ayrshire are very mild, others can be a little
harsh.

I used to live in Ayrshire myself, up the Irvine valley which was quite mild.

I have a south facing, pebbledash wall about 14 ft long that I could
put vine wires on to train the toms etc, will they be ok? and what
else might grow well beside them?

Tomatos should grow, but wait until the start of june to avoid the last frost.
As for what else, well, what else were you thinking?

--
Rhiannon
http://www.livejournal.com/users/rhiannon_s/
"The trick is to commit crimes so confusing that police feel too stupid to even
write a crime report about them."
Aubrey on remaining at liberty
www.somethingpositive.net

On 04 May 2004 19:50:25 GMT, emon (Rhiannon S)
wrote:

Subject: Now we live 'up North'.....
From: Tim Nicholson
Date: 04/05/2004 18:30 GMT Daylight Time
Message-id:

We now live in Ayrshire,

Which part? Some parts of Ayrshire are very mild, others can be a little
harsh.

I used to live in Ayrshire myself, up the Irvine valley which was quite mild.

Ha! We also live in the Irvine valley, just East of Kilmarnock.
Weather does seem reasonably mild, except for the seemingly continuous
rain from mid-october 'til March....

I have a south facing, pebbledash wall about 14 ft long that I could
put vine wires on to train the toms etc, will they be ok? and what
else might grow well beside them?

Tomatos should grow, but wait until the start of june to avoid the last frost.
As for what else, well, what else were you thinking?

Cucumbers? The variety I've germinated (can't remember the name right
now) said OK for a cool greenhouse, so I'd hoped they too might grow
outside. I expect the chillies, melons etc will need to stay in the
greenhouse primarily for the heat.

Thanks for the reply

Tim

The message
from Tim Nicholson contains these words:

Hi all

Been a lurker here for a while on and off, but I now need some 'local'
assistance from you good people. In a previous life we lived in sunny
Oxfordshire, and could grow just about anything we liked outside as we
seemed to have a never ending growing season. We now live in Ayrshire,
and the climate's proving ever so slightly different.

Which bit of Ayrshire? Coastal fringe is milder than inland.

I'm not sure about what'll survive
outdoors here, hence the call for help. I have tomatoes (cherry and
plum), courgettes, melons, cucumber, chillies, sweet red peppers,
cayenne, garlic all looking ok in the greenhouse at the mo, and will
be planting root veg directly outside as soon as I can. (as mentioned
in another thread, SWMBO has some potatoes in car tyres on the go too)

I have a south facing, pebbledash wall about 14 ft long that I could
put vine wires on to train the toms etc, will they be ok? and what
else might grow well beside them?

Chillies peppers and melons are strictly for the GH.
Garlic is hardy and will be fine outide. Courgettes need to be hardened
off, and planted outside after the last frost date. If you are well
inland, I wouldn't plant them out till June 5th.

Outdoor tomatoes are a bit of a gamble in Scotland, see last frost
date. In a sunny garden, in a warm area, in a good summer, you might
succeed. I recommend you divide your plants and grow half outside and
half in the GH.

Even in summer, you'll find west Scotland considerably windier than
darnsarth, and the prevailing wind is SW..bear that in mind for your
wall-cordons.


Janet (Isle of Arran; snow on Goatfell last night).

The message
from Tim Nicholson contains these words:

Cucumbers? The variety I've germinated (can't remember the name right
now) said OK for a cool greenhouse, so I'd hoped they too might grow
outside.

Probably, but you'd have been better (probably) with a ridge cucumber.

I expect the chillies, melons etc will need to stay in the
greenhouse primarily for the heat.

Yes. I had some on a windowsill and some outside, and the outside ones
never presented me with a ripe chilli, but I had loads from the ones in
my front room.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Jaques d'Alltrades wrote:

Yes. I had some on a windowsill and some outside, and the outside ones
never presented me with a ripe chilli, but I had loads from the ones in
my front room.

What did you feed them with?

HC

--
www.magic-hush.com | email on website

Subject: Now we live 'up North'.....
From: Tim Nicholson
Date: 04/05/2004 21:31 GMT Daylight Time
Message-id:

On 04 May 2004 19:50:25 GMT, emon (Rhiannon S)
wrote:

Subject: Now we live 'up North'.....
From: Tim Nicholson
Date: 04/05/2004 18:30 GMT Daylight Time
Message-id:

We now live in Ayrshire,

Which part? Some parts of Ayrshire are very mild, others can be a little
harsh.

I used to live in Ayrshire myself, up the Irvine valley which was quite
mild.

Ha! We also live in the Irvine valley, just East of Kilmarnock.

Hey, if you have moved to Darvel, then you have won a prize) If of course,
you went for one of the other towns then we look down on you, you feelthy
kerniggets. )

(20p fine now paid)

Weather does seem reasonably mild, except for the seemingly continuous
rain from mid-october 'til March....

You noticed that too huh. I was told it's something to do with the shape of
the valley forcing the clouds up it and then not being able to get up onto the
Lanark moors at the end.

Um, yes very wet in winter.

I have a south facing, pebbledash wall about 14 ft long that I could
put vine wires on to train the toms etc, will they be ok? and what
else might grow well beside them?

Tomatos should grow, but wait until the start of june to avoid the last
frost.
As for what else, well, what else were you thinking?

Cucumbers? The variety I've germinated (can't remember the name right
now) said OK for a cool greenhouse, so I'd hoped they too might grow
outside. I expect the chillies, melons etc will need to stay in the
greenhouse primarily for the heat.


Yes and no for the cucumbers. In a good year they will do very well outside,
in a bad year it's certain death. And in an average year, maybe aye, maybe
naw.

Sorry I'm not more helpful.
--
Rhiannon
http://www.livejournal.com/users/rhiannon_s/
"The trick is to commit crimes so confusing that police feel too stupid to even
write a crime report about them."
Aubrey on remaining at liberty
www.somethingpositive.net

The message
from (Hugh Chaloner) contains these words:
Jaques d'Alltrades wrote:

Yes. I had some on a windowsill and some outside, and the outside ones
never presented me with a ripe chilli, but I had loads from the ones in
my front room.

What did you feed them with?

Tomorite.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

On 05 May 2004 10:16:55 GMT, emon (Rhiannon S)
wrote:

Hey, if you have moved to Darvel, then you have won a prize) If of course,
you went for one of the other towns then we look down on you, you feelthy
kerniggets. )

(20p fine now paid)

Ah no, we chose not to live in any of the villages or towns on the
A71, but rather further out in the countryside. If you know the area
we're about 3/4 mile due north of the A71 at Hurlford, adjacent to the
river. The tree surgeon I've found and the 'man with mini-digger for
hire' both live in Darvel tho', so it can't be too bad a place!

Now - anyone know anything about ponds? I'll be starting a new thread
on this in a mo.......

Tim

Subject: Now we live 'up North'.....
From: Tim Nicholson
Date: 05/05/2004 14:40 GMT Daylight Time
Message-id:

Ah no, we chose not to live in any of the villages or towns on the
A71, but rather further out in the countryside. If you know the area
we're about 3/4 mile due north of the A71 at Hurlford, adjacent to the
river. T

Um, this may not be a good time to mention this, but did you check for flood
risk? If it's the area I'm thinking of then it's proverbial for flooding very
badly.

Although if it helps, you're in one of the warmer areas in ayrshire.
--
Rhiannon
http://www.livejournal.com/users/rhiannon_s/
"The trick is to commit crimes so confusing that police feel too stupid to even
write a crime report about them."
Aubrey on remaining at liberty
www.somethingpositive.net

On 05 May 2004 14:41:35 GMT, emon (Rhiannon S)
wrote:

Um, this may not be a good time to mention this, but did you check for flood
risk? If it's the area I'm thinking of then it's proverbial for flooding very
badly.

Although if it helps, you're in one of the warmer areas in ayrshire.

A big yes on checking about the flooding risk. Our house, although
only sixty or so feet from the river, is also about 40 ft *above* the
river. (The garden's on a bit of a slope...) the riverside paths
regularly disappear underwater though, and the local powers that be
are spending a couple of million pounds on flood prevention in this
part of the valley at the moment. But the *very* local salmon and
trout fishing makes up for the occasional inconvenience!

As to warmth, - a bit of an unknown concept here recently - but we DID
have a very pleasant day last Saturday. Bordered by cloud and rain
Friday and Sunday, and a sleet/hailstorm on the morning of bank
holiday Monday. Today it's just rained in varying
quantities/directions.

Tim

On Tue, 4 May 2004 21:08:29 +0100, Janet Baraclough..
wrote:

Which bit of Ayrshire? Coastal fringe is milder than inland.

Irvine valley - just east of Kilmarnock, so 'reasonably' mild I'm
assured by other urglers! (I wonder what 'unreasonably' mild feels
like)


Chillies peppers and melons are strictly for the GH.
Garlic is hardy and will be fine outide. Courgettes need to be hardened
off, and planted outside after the last frost date. If you are well
inland, I wouldn't plant them out till June 5th.

With the first frost of winter arriving on June 8th, that doen't leave
a very long growing season - June 5th it is then....is that
folklore, a metoffice 'best guess' or phenological observation?

Outdoor tomatoes are a bit of a gamble in Scotland, see last frost
date. In a sunny garden, in a warm area, in a good summer, you might
succeed. I recommend you divide your plants and grow half outside and
half in the GH.
I think I'll probably only try two of each type of tomato outside, and
maybe one or two cucumbers. I'll contrast them with the GH ones,
mostly to plan next year's growing schedule. Hopefully we'll be ready
for anything by then! Got a bit of a late start this year.

Even in summer, you'll find west Scotland considerably windier than
darnsarth, and the prevailing wind is SW..bear that in mind for your
wall-cordons.

wall-cordons? what they then? Better have a quick google. Not come
across those before - told you I was a beginner.

Thanks for all the advice though Janet, it's *really* welcomed!

Tim

Subject: Now we live 'up North'.....
From: Tim Nicholson
Date: 05/05/2004 19:23 GMT Daylight Time
Message-id:


Irvine valley - just east of Kilmarnock, so 'reasonably' mild I'm
assured by other urglers! (I wonder what 'unreasonably' mild feels
like)

Trust me, you do not want to know. If curiosity overwhelms you I suggest a
walk across the fenwick moors, or a nice day trip to Dalry.
With the first frost of winter arriving on June 8th, that doen't leave
a very long growing season - June 5th it is then....is that
folklore, a metoffice 'best guess' or phenological observation?

I would agree with that, certainly my grandfather would never put tender plants
outside until 1st week of June.
--
Rhiannon
http://www.livejournal.com/users/rhiannon_s/
"The trick is to commit crimes so confusing that police feel too stupid to even
write a crime report about them."
Aubrey on remaining at liberty
www.somethingpositive.net

The message
from Tim Nicholson contains these words:

On Tue, 4 May 2004 21:08:29 +0100, Janet Baraclough..
wrote:

Which bit of Ayrshire? Coastal fringe is milder than inland.

Irvine valley - just east of Kilmarnock, so 'reasonably' mild I'm
assured by other urglers! (I wonder what 'unreasonably' mild feels
like)

You'll soon find out, Scottish July is full of unreasonable weather.

Chillies peppers and melons are strictly for the GH.
Garlic is hardy and will be fine outide. Courgettes need to be hardened
off, and planted outside after the last frost date. If you are well
inland, I wouldn't plant them out till June 5th.

With the first frost of winter arriving on June 8th, that doen't leave
a very long growing season

Exactly, that's why I think you'll find the GH better for toms.Ist
September is the earliest first frost in my records btw
- June 5th it is then....is that
folklore, a metoffice 'best guess' or phenological observation?

It's based on 20-yr records of first and last frosts in my
Stirlingshire garden, (higher and colder than where you are) but is also
the common date mentioned by other Northern urglers.
(snip)

wall-cordons? what they then? Better have a quick google. Not come
across those before - told you I was a beginner.

It's those wires you're planning up your pebbledash wall :-)

Janet

On Wed, 5 May 2004 22:46:44 +0100, Janet Baraclough..
wrote:

On Tue, 4 May 2004 21:08:29 +0100, Janet Baraclough..
wrote:

Which bit of Ayrshire? Coastal fringe is milder than inland.

Irvine valley - just east of Kilmarnock, so 'reasonably' mild I'm
assured by other urglers! (I wonder what 'unreasonably' mild feels
like)

You'll soon find out, Scottish July is full of unreasonable weather.

Chillies peppers and melons are strictly for the GH.
Garlic is hardy and will be fine outide. Courgettes need to be hardened
off, and planted outside after the last frost date. If you are well
inland, I wouldn't plant them out till June 5th.

With the first frost of winter arriving on June 8th, that doen't leave
a very long growing season

Exactly, that's why I think you'll find the GH better for toms.Ist
September is the earliest first frost in my records btw
- June 5th it is then....is that
folklore, a metoffice 'best guess' or phenological observation?

It's based on 20-yr records of first and last frosts in my
Stirlingshire garden, (higher and colder than where you are) but is also
the common date mentioned by other Northern urglers.
(snip)