The 2015 Allotment / Veg Patch Thread Part 3 already!

[agoodbook]

Just seen the other is full , so here goes - we are heading for summer now! Welcome to everyone old and new :)

here is a link to the previous thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/gardening/2350947-The-2015-Allotment-Veg-Patch-Thread-Part-2?msgid=54546739

WhoKnows the cucamelons look ace! I have cucamelon envy!

So as we are now (hopefully? ) out of the worst of the weather, my hardening-off of my cucurbits can start, so I've just popped a couple outside for a short burst. I'm sure that they've perked up already this morning, having had some sun on their leaves. And I may try to plant out the almost last of my tomatoes -well, either plant them out at the plot, or put them in their final pots at home. Or give them to my sister. Just a few ones after this swathe, those freebie Gardener's World blight-resistant seeds, whose plants look in no way as healthy as my other toms. Odd. Those ones will def go to the plot, but they're still in the blowaway for now. Oh, I have some tomato armpits that have been sat in water rooting, I might pot them up today too. It's typical that the tomato variety that I have somehow ended up with the most plants of, is also the most prolific armpitter. Black Cherry FYI. Tell me it's nice, as I have a forest of the buggers.

And perhaps I'll 'build' and dig in my arch today, ready for its climbing squash.

whoknows - fab cucamelons! Have you grown them before? Do you know how tall they have to be/how warm it has to get before they start flowering, perchance? I had 6 plants but the snails consumed one overnight (as in, GONE) so now am preciously guarding my survivors.

Mangetout question - when do they start flowering? Mine are around 60cm tall and going mad but still no flowers!

The gales absolutely blew round here, we had to take DS's tent down before it left the country but very little actual damage.
Very jealous of tall peas plumbing.
And I'm definitely going to have a go planting through/on paper sacks next year.
Onions not looking too bad, peas and beans short and sturdy, lettuce rising from the dead will the slimy ones return to finish the job?

Mangetouts - flower when they are ready. Sorry. Depends on the variety and when you planted them. Mine have just started flowering so I have thrown a fine net over them to try and stop the pea moth.

Ok - so I put most of the pumpkins, squashes and courgettes out today. Wahoo.

I have just found some cucurbit 'fat baby' seed that I'd shoved in the seed tin, is it too late?

Evening! A lovely one at that :)
Been to the plot this afternoon -all held up well from the wind - including the beans thankfully.
Planted up more sprouting broccoli , and the first succession of hardy savoy cabbages. I am just sorting out what is left to fit in there ,I have filled about 3/4 of it and I still have my sprouting broccoli for next spring to plant in there, and really should have the kale in there, not quite sure it will all go in...plenty of room elsewhere, but just means another cage of netting to sort.....
starting to harden off the last of my squashes -(the butternuts which took so long to germinate !) I would like them to have another pair of leaves before planting out, but having them outside should kickstart them , and hopefully ready for planting at the weekend.

Hello all! I hope everyone's gardens have survived the wind and rain. Mine's looking a bit battered but I didn't suffer any real losses.
It's been dry here today, but I'm still finding it cold - I think my courgettes might be suffering as the ones I planted out look a bit yellow and sad.

My cucamelons haven't germinated, I might have to break out the heated propagator.
My garden's being a bit neglected at the moment because I'm up to my eyes in it in work. Hopefully in a couple of week I'll have more time to devote to it.

Alternative - what courgettes and squash are you doing? Actually, what ones is everyone doing?

violet the sowing instructions say to sow them in April/May, maybe. And we're only just put of May, and it was cold anyway... Go on, sow them, you know you want to. Well, I want you to. Have you ever grown them before, or eaten them? I've only read about them, and also those freakish exploding ones.

agoodbook - I too am starting to harden off squash, tho mine are my first. How many pairs of leaves would you want them to have before planting out?

This post has been bought to you by a cucurbit-obsessed MNer.

Ooh, Rooster - I just cross posted with your cucurbit-themed post! Cucamelons do take aaaaaaages to germinate. I did mine in a warm airing cupboard, but had to be so careful to remember to check the cupboard daily.

Damn it. I keep forgetting to embolden names. Hope work calms down a bit for you soon, Rooster.

Thanks spotted - shouldn't really be on here, but I thought I'd take half an hour off and sneak in.

I shall persevere with the cucamelons.
I do have a lovely Fat Baby which was given to me - it's really big and healthy so I'm going to start putting it outside in the day time.

Hello all!

Well, after a three week wait I finally have my allotment keys.

Had to chase the council a few times and go from pillar to post to get the keys, but it's mine, yay! They are also giving me a years free rent because of the weeds - but I don't think its in too bad Nick - maybe they know something I dont!

Looking forward to digging out the weeds and getting something growing - planning on getting fruit bushes in two beds, permanent herbs and a salad bed whilst I get the rest of it in shape, maybe a few plugs.

Hi spotted - thought it would be easier to show you, so took a picture.
The squash on the left is a 'crown prince" - its a large -ish one, with a blue/green skin and bright orange flesh, a sort of cross between a pumpkin and a butternut -nice flavour. That has been hardened off for over a week - its a spare, from the second sowing, so is off to the plant sale soon . The one on the right is a butternut. It took its time to germinate and so its a bit behind on hardening off, and just that bit smaller leaved as well.

Zebra I bought them because my son can eat cucumbers in record breaking quantity and I thought they might be similar and fun. Then forgot all about them

Thank you for your replies, so sorry I've not had a minute to reply! The dreaded apocalyptic sickness bug has descended on the household so I've done little bar keep everyone alive, clean their messes and stare longingly out at my plants!

agoodbook, I'm ordering a composter bin this week so the plan is to pop it in there with some veggie peelings and other goodies and hope for the best. However, I doubt I'll get much planted this year with the time its taking to get the garden summer ready for the kids. I'm contemplating picking up some cucumber and tomato plants that our garden center is offering cheap as I was late planting the those this year. did it a week ago Least I have something for this year then besides fruit!

Rooster, I totally relate. Our 'rockery' has been composting sat in crap for the past year or so with everything hubby throws on it, but dig under and the soil is lush!

Sorry to hear about everyones experiences with that freakish wind, I'm up in Southern Scotland so it was pretty bad here too but luckily all we had was a few extra balls in the garden!

Today I totally got my ass in gear and snook out whilst the babies were sleeping, I removed two bushes I'd been working on an hour each day (seriously hard work!!) from the border and dug a trench and put in edging to create my first raised bed. Was so happy until it ran out so popped to asda to get another and cried in the car park when they didn't have any and won't be getting any back in and its not on the website. Only hope is the garden center I guess. I don't know why I only got one roll I am a total idiot who deserves to cry.

congrats clash - at long last!!! at least getting it now means you can crack on - there are still plenty of veg plants you can buy, and not too late for french and runner beans straight into the ground , if you can get an area clear - and its not too dry either, so you shouldn't (hopefully) be trying to dig concrete

story - thats life !

Yup! Been such an exhausting day though and that was my end in view point. New day new plan. Make the bed smaller and get those plants in

Hi all!

I finally had time to do a really good inspection of the garden last night and it's in a right state! Need to get on top of the weeding and soooo much needs planting out / potting up. I've decided to leave work a couple of hours early so my mum can have DS whilst I catch up a bit.

story well done getting the bushes out! My next door neighbour pulled a massive bush out of her front garden last week - it was there one minute and gone the next! I was in awe and asked how she did it - she said she tied a rope to it, then tied it onto her husband's van and just put the foot down! What sort of edging do you need? Upload a pic maybe somebody can help.

Found an old B&Q gift voucher with £12 on it so nipped out and bought more compost and some more strawberries - these are for DS to put in his little garden. He's eating his own lettuce now which he's VERY excited about!

Cupcakes, thanks, I've actually just finished it with the little man, heres a picture. I'm praying the raspberries live, my sister reminded me last night that it didn't really matter about the border as nothing would be living in it long anyway I'm unsure if I need to mulch to keep the moisture in? They've had a good soaking.

It was supposed to be twice as long so I could add strawberries along the front but I just used what I had and the strawberries are going up the fence in a few sections like the second pic. The bushes you can see are the ones I pulled out. Roots went right under the fence. Lol at your neighbour! Genius!!

Good luck with the weeding, I really feel for you, it can be hard work. Love that your son is eating his own lettuce! That's exactly my reasoning for wanting the garden filled with edibles and getting the kids to grow their own. I've been and bought some tomato and cucumber plants today, my son won't usually touch them and I was too late planting so hope these are as up for it as yours!

storybrooke - mulch will definitely help keep water in and weeds down! It looks great. I see no reason for your sister's scepticism!!

In terms of your border roll - dry those tears because you can get it on ebay! No need to leave the house. I think you're amazing for doing all that work with tinies. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Garden-Log-Roll-Border-Edging-Outdoor-Lawn-Edge-Flexible-Wooden-15-22-30-x-180cm-/141403249386?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item20ec4a5aea

Zebra - I'm doing two kinds of courgettes. Atena for taste (yellow 'uns) and Defender for high yield green ones. I like to pop the latter in a juice - sounds very weird but they have a very mild flavour which isn't bitter at all and they make it go quite creamy. It's a bit like adding a banana to a smoothie, only you don't have to feel guilty about the sugar and can therefore add loads of lovely berries and apples.

cupcakes - hopefully he is starting a life of enjoying growing his own food !
story that looks lovely
well. managed a good stint at the plot this afternoon, It was utterly glorious. DH there as well- we netted and put straw around the strawberries - its so much easier with two of you. Should have some to eat next week, if the weather stays fine.
dug some more...
got some hoeing done!
but I did have to cut off a lot of the angelica thug I mentioned upthread- the wind had really got hold of it and battered alot of it around. Really not sure what to use it for though - have googled like mad, but still coming down to sugaring it - ah well, it is pretty!

Well I've sown the cucurbit, now on Rayburn mantelpiece (best spot for courgette germination),
My poor old courgettes are beginning to look a bit windburned. Hope they are okay. shove the stress of one type of courgette is enough for me, I'm impressed.
We have just harvested some lettuce leaves - wrestled from the slimy jaws of death and it's very exciting to actually eat our own.
It's getting windy again and DS, who's a bit snotty decided it was too cold so we've done very little today.

Shove thank you!! That's exactly what I was looking for It's my first summer in our house and first garden of not being pregnant (kids are 1&2) so I'm determined to transform it for the smalls but its harder going than I imagined, I seriously take my hat off to you all!

I've not even finished the first corner and theres a rockery at the back to dig out/move slabs and loads more bushes dh cut back but didn't remove and both our neighbours have things overhanging into our garden but tbh that looks like the easiest job. Trying to focus on one thing at a time but does get a little overwhelming.

I'm just nipping off to mulch the fruits and start cutting down the first of next doors overhanging bush!

That car/bush thing is INSPIRED. My sister has some old stuff she wants out of her front garden, I am going to be all seemingly nice and offer to help, just so that I can do that.

I had a lovely quick hour at the plot today, I 'built' my arch and dug it in! I've put it in sort of on the wonk, which my incredibly tidy neighbours pointed out to me as soon they arrived. They love a straight line and a right angle. I also put in 2 more tomatoes. It's starting to look green, as opposed to mud brown, which is very heartening. My beans look a bit illing, I think they suffered quite a bit with the wind, so I hope that this warmer weather heals them.

Still a bit of room left, which is good as I've not put in any cucurbits yet. I've typed that word so often that it comes up as a suggestion when I type c-u! Cucurbit. It's a nice word.

Shove - I bought all my seeds in a bit of a hurry, but I'v since read that Atena is very good tasting. For yellow, I bought - ahem - Golden Zebra. Yes, I liked the name. I'm also doing a round one (Rond de nice), and 2 greens: All Green and Early Gem, iirc. And 2 patty pan squash. I'm hoping to have a massive glut, so will definitely try juicing them. I also want a spiralizer to try courgetti spaghetti, tho I probably ought to try with a grater or julienne peeler first.

agoodbook your squash look so lush and green! I still don't know if mine are ready to go out. I guess they're pretty hardy so I ought to take the plunge. Tonight will be the 2nd night ought in the unsheltered open, so maybe some will go out tomorrow? I've hardened off a selection of each variety, so i have a reserve. Ooh, I added a bit more manure to BenSquash today too. That is my pic of some squash -on one of the plants, there's a whitish bloom. ..It's not the beginnings of mildew already, is it?

Lovely pics, story. And I hope that your family share your love and excitement of the garden and of growing things! It does sound like you've been very hard at work.