Author Topic: planting (Read 3664 times)

harry · « **on:** October 16, 2011, 10:37:15 am »

i want to grow root veg for my pigs to dig up and eat...... turnips swede parsnips etc etc .... when do i start planting various veg

Plantoid · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2011, 12:07:46 am »

Depends on the variety Harry .. I'd go and look on the website of a supplier you feel like using and check out the dates they recommend on their varieties and then buy the requisite seeds .

Any idea how many square metres you want to grow ?

Allotment .org.uk give a 26 week sow to harvest and recommend may to june sowing

I sowed my Helenor swede seeds on 28 July this year they are now about 40 mm across and hopefully will over winter fairly well for eating by us.

Somewhere like an agri seeds supplier might have better seed & better prices especially suited for your needs .

Fleecewife · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2011, 10:11:25 am »

Quote from: harry on October 16, 2011, 10:37:15 am

i want to grow root veg for my pigs to dig up and eat...... turnips swede parsnips etc etc .... when do i start planting various veg

Small white turnips can be sown from March onwards at regular intervals until autumn.
Parsnips can be sown from February if the soil is not too wet, but you might have more success in March/April.
Swedes, which here in Scotland are known as turnips just to be confusing, are usually sown in May, in soil heavily manured for a previous crop, to reach a good size for winter.
All of them need careful hoeing to keep them weedfree as young plants.
The other root which pigs love are fodder beet and mangolds/mangelwurzels which have a higher sugar content than swedes.

harry · « **Reply #3 on:** October 17, 2011, 10:18:52 am »

ok thanks will try them

Rosemary · « **Reply #4 on:** October 17, 2011, 12:21:49 pm »

I believe they also like Jerusalem artichokes

Fleecewife · « **Reply #5 on:** October 17, 2011, 01:24:17 pm »

Quote from: Rosemary on October 17, 2011, 12:21:49 pm

I believe they also like Jerusalem artichokes

Jet propelled pigs

But they are the very easiest to grow and you only need to buy the initial tubers and you have them for life, as long as you keep back a few before the pigs get to them

. I can't remember when you plant them though, autumn or spring.

Plantoid · « **Reply #6 on:** October 17, 2011, 10:35:13 pm »

Quote from: Fleecewife on October 17, 2011, 01:24:17 pm

Quote from: Rosemary on October 17, 2011, 12:21:49 pm
I believe they also like Jerusalem artichokes
Jet propelled pigs But they are the very easiest to grow and you only need to buy the initial tubers and you have them for life, as long as you keep back a few before the pigs get to them . I can't remember when you plant them though, autumn or spring.

Very soon .. when the greenery starts to die back.