GROW SOMETHING BIG
Gardeners have always loved to rise to the challenge of
getting the biggest plant possible. Once you have mastered the techniques of
getting good crops many like to take it a wee bit further and then size does
matter. Once it gets under your skin and results come in, the dedicated
gardeners like to take their produce to the shows in open competition. However
for most of us we are happy to grow a huge pumpkin or a very tall sunflower.
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| Pumpkin Hundredweight |
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| Dahlia Karma Gold |
Start with well prepared soil, with good drainage and plenty
well rotted compost added, adding extra fertiliser depending on plant then give
irrigation as necessary and weekly feeding for the roots. Pests and diseases and
weeds are not allowed so keep an eye on them and take action immediately.
Pumpkins and courgettes respond to maximum feeding, watering
and pruning of excessive young shoots. You also need to start with a variety
that likes to grow huge like Hundredweight or Atlantic Giant Pumpkin. Start
them early in a greenhouse to give them a long growing season then allow plenty
of space to grow but do not take too many fruits from each plant.
Onions are another favourite that need rich soil, feeding
plenty of room and a long growing season, starting off with a good variety like
Kelsae. Most gardeners would be very happy with outdoor grown large onions, but
if you compete at shows then most likely the onions will be grown in pots or
special beds in a greenhouse or tunnel. Avoid over watering as onions are very
prone to white rot.
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| Onion Globo |
To grow giant leeks is not easy as the techniques are kept
closely guarded secrets, especially feeding and strains of exhibition varieties
are often handed down from father to son. Germination is usually from an autumn
sowing and plants potted up gradually in ever richer soil. They can grow outdoors
but many prefer glasshouse or tunnel protection for better results.
Cabbage, cauliflower, Swedes and other vegetables all follow
similar growing styles.
Potatoes are another favourite when going for size and the
variety Amour will get you off to a good start. It has huge tubers for the show
bench as well as a cracking baked potato.
Flowers are a different story when seeking a large head as
some respond to rich soil with feeding such as sunflowers and dahlias, but
others such as carnations, iris and lilies do not need rich soil, but good soil
structure and free drainage is essential.
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| Lily Chelsea |
Chrysanthemums and dahlias for exhibition or just for large
heads require selecting the best varieties, growing them strongly and only
growing one or two heads per plant so all the plants energy is concentrated in
growing a large flower.
Sweet Peas grown for size are usually grown as single stem
cordons. Ground preparation is essential, so select a site with very fertile
soil and enhance this by taking out a trench in autumn and forking in compost
or well rotted manure into the bottom. Leave this over winter but back fill
with good soil ahead of planting in early spring. Seeds are sown in the
greenhouse in autumn and grown on. Young plants are tipped after a few leaves
then the strongest shoot is retained. Use six foot tall canes to support the
cordons removing all side shoots and tendrils. Liquid feed weekly.
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| Spur pruning grape vine |
Wee jobs to do this week
Grape vines grown
both indoors and outdoors are best pruned between December and the end of
January otherwise they are liable to bleed as the sap rises quite early in the
season. Under glass they are grown as upright rods spaced about 18 inches apart
and 6 feet tall. All sideshoots are cut back to one or two buds. This system is
also fine outdoors, or grown with a fan shaped permanent framework as long
branches are given ample space. Again all shoots are cut back to a couple of
buds. Commercially vines are grown on the Guyot system of pruning where
fruiting laterals are only kept for one year then replaced. There are some
excellent You Tube videos on this technique.
END
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