I grow all my vegetables indoors first. Only when the seedlings look big and strong enough to survive outdoors do they move out! But the outside
world has its challenges: slugs, cats, and possibly more but
unidentified creatures. And wind and drought and hail and whatnot I
suppose. My courgettes and butternut squashes were among the first to
move out. But they struggled! The courgettes mainly from slugs, and the
butternut squash mainly from the cats. At some point I admitted
temporary defeat and moved the butternut squashes back in. Back indoors
they thrived again! But I figured in the long run they were better off
outside. Better changes of pollination, and more space to lay down heavy
fruit. So when they looked so big the cats wouldn't bury them anymore
and the slugs wouldn't manage to eat all of them anymore, I moved them
out again. Just to be on the safe side, I pushed some anti-cat sticks
into the soil around them. And around the same time I decided to move
some of the courgettes back in. I hope they'll recover!
I had also been growing carrots indoors. And I was growing a cut-off leek bum indoors too. Jenny said slug don't eat leek so I figured it could go outdoors too. And I put three carrots who had been growing in a separate pot outside too. If they'll be doing fine the rest can follow!
I think the aubergines will have to stay indoors. And I am not too sure of the chard. I'm sure it's hardy, but the slugs might like it too much! Same for the cabbage. But there's nothing wrong with having some of the veg indoors! So for now, these will stay...
Almost dead courgette plants inside
Recovered butternut squash plants outside; an a leek in the foreground
No comments:
Post a Comment