Garden/Politunnel Update - Going Through Changes

in gardening •  7 years ago 

Hello All!

A few weeks have passed since my last garden post and a lot has happened since then! Most of my plants are coming along pretty well and the weather is becoming milder too, which could be helping some plants more than others.

Take this cauliflower for example, a mere 6 days ago it looked like this:

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Today, it looks like this!

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I have been doing some research and it seems my cauliflower heads could be stretching for a number of reasons, from over-watering to a sudden climb in temperature. My guess is that it is probably the latter, I am positive I have not over-watered as I did that last year and suffered the consequences! Newbie errors that I strive to never commit twice. Are there any experienced gardeners reading with any tips on how to help my cauli? I don't need it to be shop floor perfect, but I have read that leaves can start growing in the head around the stretched florets which would make it hard to consume at the end, I would think. Any thoughts on the matter are welcomed!

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Onto other florets, check out my surprise broccoli. This is the most prolific one so far, the other three are slower to grow but they are getting there!

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Some of the "cabbages" are also growing like so... I am presuming they are a type of broccoli, or at least from the broccoli family. Does anyone know?

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The purple broccoli plants are enjoying their new digs. I was reading into Companion Planting and celery was amongst the list of friendlies so I popped some baby celery in the bed with them. The purple broccoli seedlings were not looking their best when in the root trainers (due to a nasty bug infestation!) so they need all the help I can give them. I can only hope they thrive now.

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My pea plants are going crazy with flowers which is all I could have asked for really - I have counted many pea pods already and I am eagerly watching them, waiting for the prime moment to pick (and immediately eat!).

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Despite most things looking well I have started to get aphids coming up on many of the leaves on my plants, does anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid? I have started by spraying affected areas with washing up liquid diluted with water. Any other suggestions for removal are greatly welcomed. I don't want to have to use heavy insecticide on my garden if I can avoid it!

I hope you have enjoyed this post, leave me a comment and let me know what you think! How is your garden doing?

Gardeningchef

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What wonderful photos of your plants progress. I think whatever the reson the the cauliflower loosening it’s head it will still taste good at harvest time..
I don’t recognize the unknown cabbage growth formation it kind of looks like it’s going to flower.
I hope you get through the aphid issue using soapy water.
Great post. Upvoted and resteemed

Glad you can see the progress @sallybeth23, I'm happy you liked the photos too. I expect the cauliflower will be fine, I have read online that people go to great lengths to baby their cauli heads. I see little need to interfere, especially as I am not worried about the general appearance. I just want it to taste good!

Oh so perhaps I am getting flowers, not florets? I guess I will soon find out ;) I sure hope I can get rid of these nasty aphids too. They are the last thing I want with my veg trying to live its best life.

Thank you as always for your lovely comments and support <3

Hello @gardeningchef!
To treat against aphids it is necessary to be the oil of rapeseed, but not more than 3 times per year to not that it smothers the leaves, or with black soap if there are not many.
For cabbage, it looks like a perennial maritime Crambe.
For cabbages, they need fertilizer, a lot of nitrogen and potash
and check often if there is no crawling attack.

Hey @archeothot, thank you for all of your great suggestions to help get rid of aphids. I will look for rapeseed oil. Would I dilute black soap into water like I have done with washing up liquid? I can only hope some of these remedies will get rid of them.

I looked up perennial maritime Crambe, some of the photos I saw do look similar to the plants I have. I will keep watching and see how the plant develops!

Yes, you can dilute it in lukewarm water.

Wow that's some amazing progress in growth!

That pea pod looks like its about to start swelling out with peas :D

It sure is about to, and the moment they are ready I'll be snacking on them :)

Yes using insecticide could effect the plants. I suggest you should buy this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0732NXT3H/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?psc=1

Thanks for your suggestion @aveshnaik007, I use those already but I should probably buy more!

Thank you for collaborating with me to promote this post as explained at https://steemit.com/steemit/@jerrybanfield/10-ways-to-fund-a-steem-growth-project.

extraordinary & exhilarated!

@pwangdu thank you!

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Beautiful plants & blog. :) I'm starting my own garden. Hope it will be like yours ;)

That is very kind of you to say @quelquun, thank you!! I wish you the best of luck with the start of your own garden :D

Oh your garden looks so wonderful! I love the greens of broccoli, and cauliflower! Do you eat them? I cooked them when I get them..

Wonderful garden pics! I always like seeing progress in the garden. Whereabouts are you located? Here in zone 5 It is a bit too cold to plant. I have begun some brassicas indoors such as cabbage, kale and cauliflower :) The cabbage you see going to flower could be a cross or rapini.