The 2015 Allotment / Veg Patch Thread Part 2

[agoodbook]

the previous thread is just about full, - well done spotted so welcome to everyone interested in growing their own veg!

Previous thread is here
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/gardening/2282529-The-2015-Allotment-Veg-Patch-Thread-its-here?msgid=53650520

I've no idea, it was there when I took over the plot, I know zilch about rhubarb, but we had enough for a rhubarb crumble about once a fortnight last summer from it. I noticed last year that it was much later to get going than some of those on other plots, it only emerged from the ground a couple of weeks ago this year. One plot has got one about the size of a Smart car!

Home again now, but will try and go back again later. I have replanted one of my beds of onion sets, they weren't doing very well as the surface of the ground was too dry/hard, and weeds were taking over, so I lifted them, weeded and then put each one back in a little nest of compost and soil mix. Plan to do the other one this afternoon, although a lot of them are doing better. I also need to get the strimmer up there and attend to my edges and paths.

I found a mother and baby slow-worm in my compost bin, very cute!

Oh and I have treated myself to some bluetooth earphones so I can listen to Radio 4 podcasts as I garden (GQT and Woman's Hour this morning), together with my new bench and thermal mug of coffee I am a happy gardener! Just need to find more time to get up there, I've started a second job this week, but am coming to the end of my OU module, once that's out of hte way things iwll get easier.

One final thing - my cucamelons have germinated. I think I sowed them about 2 weeks ago.

violet - as long as you take a big clump of soil around it and settle it in well, should be okay - and to second spotted - you can't find it??
as everyone is showing off there rhubarb - here is my thug - its the early one which pushes through the snow :) - Timperley early I think - brains going numb. I bought 3 varieties from a specialist , and lost the names - the mid one is struggling next to the thug, so will move it this year, and the late one is coming on nicely

I have rhubarb envy now. Next door allotment gas promised me some of his in the autumn. I am hoping he remembers!

I've spent the morning at the plot. Planted some lettuces, spring onions and more carrots. It was boiling up there once the sun came out. I've even watered the onions because it's been so dry. I think there may some signs of life in the beetroots and leeks I planted the other week. Not sure which are the weeds and which are the seedlings right now.

beetroot is easy, even the seedlings have the distinct colour

and leeks come up in a loop (and then looks like grass)

Rhubarb on a tiny plot that belonged to a relative, now waist high in weeds.

a lovely 2 hours down at the plot ( though it 's just gone very cloudy, and cooling down .....
and!!! - I'm really excited by tonights tea - we not only have sprouting broccoli to add to my risotto , but I have a starter!
Here's my picking tray :)

ah violet - can you cut down the obvious weeds to find the rhubarb- sounds like it could be there, but down near the ground.
By the way- the starter isn't last years potato !

Oh wow, love the picking tray.
Re the rhubarb, I'm not keen on investing much time clearing the jungle to find it but I'll go up with a plastic sack and see what I can find sometime this week. Apparently the nasty neighbours have poisoned the chestnut tree.
So there might not be anything left if they've got a bit of a scorched earth policy going on.

my parents insist that rhubarb us poisonous past mid june. is that a myth?
I hope so

agoodbook that's a veritable bounty, there! Wow to your asparagus.

Boo to your nasty neighbours, Violet. Why wpuld they poison a chestnut tree.?

shovetheholly It's Friday... is your greenhouse up yet?

So, today's question is - what do you all wear on your feet when gardening, especially when digging? I have some walking boots which are waterproof, and lovely and warm; Ive mostly been wearing them. But I noticed that where my foot meets spade, I've almost worn a hole in them, they're probably no longer waterproof. Oops. Wellies wouldn't be warm enough for me for the winter, and they're too flappy on my feet in any case. What are good shoes for digging?

thanks spotted this is when I feel really lucky/pleased to have an allotment -and that its worth all the effort - how much would that lot have cost, and you can't beat picking it and eating in under 2 hours .
Footwear - it used to be walking boots till they fell to bits ! now its wellies with a really thick sole, and thick walking socks. I have a pair of fleece lined wellies for winter , still with walking socks ( DD1 bought them for me one Xmas they are white with pink flowers and really warm ) but I probably don't have as much heavy duty digging as you are faced with.
My biggest problem is gloves - even good quality ones wear out on the finger ends and I can't garden without them - they are constantly on my wish list.... :)

Another giveaway offer on Gardener's World ( I received free tomato seeds a few weeks ago ) - this time giant sunflowers - 4 x seed companies giving away 1000 packs of seeds to those who are the 1st to apply -

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/312zX4jzXl7lnwSdMXdDsXw/sunflower-seed-giveaway

Just watched it , so put my name down :) - I have already sown some for the allotment - they were free last year and just a general mix, so shall try to grow some giants!

Footwear, it varies. I have a pair of croc ballet pump style (see photo of rhubarb earlier) which are great for light work as it doesn't matter if they get wet. I usually keep them by the back door for just popping on and off and if I'm going up to the allotment early in the morning when it's dewy. For heavier work I've got a pair of slip on leather clogs, I also wear snow boots with very durable soles in colder weather. I don't wear my walking boots as I find them too rigid for kneeling in, my feet get cramp. I kneel a lot. No socks between now and September. My feet never get cold unless I am standing still for hours.

I just buy cheap gloves, but I am always taking them off, my fingernails look really grotty tonight.

Footwear - am usually just in a tame garden and so wear slightly too-large crocs (not clog style but shoe style). They are very robust and astonishingly ugly

A good book dunno if you have tried, of all brands, Laura Ashley Gloves. They do leather ones which are gauntlet style and come in a variety of sizes and colours. Cheap and well fitting - both my pairs still going strong after a decent amount of time and plenty of neglect.

And mousmous I have never heard that though believe you shouldn't pull it as long as June to give yourself a good crop the next year. Think you should stop in May though mine is the size of a sofa and hard to upset (am pretty sure we eat it in June too and chikdren still look ok ish...)

If only everything grew like rubabrb

Morning. We picked up some organic manure yesterday so the OH is going to spread that on a potato bed whilst I go and induct a new volunteer at the gardens. I may get her to read through it, and ask questions whilst I sow seeds/pot some stuff on.

Footwear - mostly walking boots and if really fine and only doing light work then sandals that can be hosed down. Gloves, I have a huge range from leather to light and still rarely wear them. I only tend to wear gloves if working in areas where we know there is glass, or if the soil is very wet.

I lose my gloves all the time. I have many lefts and no rights. So I rarely bother. I might start putting them on a string through my coat

I love the picking tray. Great to be eating the fruits of your labour!

I've worn welly boots all winter with two pairs of thick socks in them. That has been OK for a max of about 2hours at the very coldest times - and that is probably my limit anyway. I'm now wearing my walking boots. I will be quite strict with footwear this year as I keep turning up pieces of glass all over the place and don't want anyone treading on them.

My plan for today is plant up some more seeds in pots at home. I think this might be the best way to start crops off although I'm in denial about the lack of space to put them in the house.

I don't usually wear gloves, only when dealing with prickly stuff and then I borrow diy ones from dh.
shoes: ugly cheap croc style.

I am in a minority with gloves then - I wear them all the time unless I an sowing seeds - muddymitts thanks, I shall look at those. Though its really useful to wear them out - at least the kids know what to buy me !
mousmous - advice is you can pick up to June - I think the toxins ( is it oxalic acid? ) tends to stay in the leaves, but does build up
Its finally raining , but only a bit -hope we get a bit more than this!

I pickedand ate my rhubarb as long as it kept growing last year, I knew the leaves were poisonous but not that you should stop picking by June. Mine isn't going to be ready for picking for a few more weeks anyway.