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

My brassica strategy - only grow the ones that don't matter if they get nibbled/massacred. So kohl rabi, swede and cabbages. That pretty much is it for me. And I've tried everything. Life is too short...

Diet - well done and it is hard to give up a plot you have tended for years. The old guy who had all our plots once upon a time has lost it big style and comes over, harvests people's crops, takes them home [the next house but one from the end plot] and leaves them in the outhouse. Never eats them. So I make it as hard as possible for him to wander on my patch. He took a family's kids' first sweetcorn two years ago. They were heartbroken but what can we do? Just make it difficult for him to gain access. I put large canes up on the paths so that it makes it hard to just nip onto the patch.

Evening ! feet up now after a busy day - another 3 squashes planted out ( only 2 to go now) weeded all the asparagus on new bit of plot - he has left us 15 plants , though looking at them , will be a couple of years before we can harvest I think. Dug and weeded another chunk of new plot - nearly ready to plant out cabbages -this next week, hopefully. And then I did some gardening at home this afternoon - its looking a bit neglected!
alternative - do you manage to use all of your courgettes, and do you seed save those as well ? I am totally in awe of that many!, though it is heresy about the brassicas - we love them , so they are worth the effort for us :)
Diet - well done! , now he may just come and potter, and you can work on it while he isn't there, and he can pretend he is helping :) I think that soil should be fine - maybe add a bit of compost to the hole when planting out your seedlings?
Rooster - we do like our brassicas,especially sprouting broccoli ,kale and sprouts , and it was tricky the first couple of years, trying to net with wobbly bamboo canes and the like. We don't have raised beds, so devised a plan of action to make life a bit easier to plant/weed/harvest. My plot is 'virtually' divided into 3 metre chunks,( to make it easy to do rotation), so we have a hard wood post every 3 metres - about 5' high all along the edges of the plot. Where the brassica area is that year, we have 2 enormous nets, sewn together, which cover the whole area - ( so 3m x7.5m ) -they go over the posts and we put a great big wooden post in the middle to keep the net up high, and a gate to get in. Then we just need to take the net down, roll it up, and reuse the next year (slight problem last year- rabbits chewed big holes in it, so had a bit of sewing to do!)
Well, that was a bit long and rambling...!

Mink - sorry to hear about the allotment 'help'. How annoying. People who started around the same time as us are quite supportive and complimentry, despite their allotments being a lot neater than ours Some old(ish) timers are a bit of a nuisence. The proper old timers are lovely though.

Alternative - am so jealous of your 30 varieties of cucurbits! They are may fave but we have a mere 4 varieties on our allotment. How big is your plot?

We haven't done anything this w/e except show my Dad around . I am going down tomorrow am (the joys of self employment) to water, and plant some brassicas (chinese cabbage, rocket, swede). Hope I wake up early!

Wow, agoodbook that sounds very impressive.

I do love brassicas so I need to come up with a proper solution.

We were like a comedy duo today, not helped by the fact that being an untidy gardener last time I used the linkabord I'd dumped it bu the potting shed instead of putting it away so by the time we'd wrestled it from the overgrown grass and found all the bits tempers were frayed...

I've harvested lettuce and radish today and used them to make my lunch for tomorrow.

One of my courgettes has a courgette on it and I have lots of tiny tomatoes forming.

My trail of tears French beans are germinating - yaaay! And I have a cucamelon poking its head through the compost.

ooh- a courgette Rooster - mine are still growing leaves!
To be honest, we made the decision based on how long each year we would wrestle with nets . The cheap ones don't seem to come in the right widths , rot in no time - and with putting in frames/hoops as well, we took a slightly more long term solution - a bit more work early on , so you don't have to work so hard later- and I can stand up in it!
Mind you, now we have another 25 odd metres of plot, we may take another tack for that -I am just looking /researching for a secondhand/cheap polytunnel frame ( or alike) that can be moved around!

I love reading everyone's updates!
Just a quick hour at the plot today, in the heat of the early evening. I planted out... more courgettes and squash. I've 10 out now, with plenty more to follow. Just not much room. Some will go in the bed where the spuds are now, so I'll need to pot them on I think. I planted tonight the ones for the arch, that I hope will climb. I must say, I am really loving reading about the different varieties available -of courgettes, squash and also tomatoes. It's a shame that I can't try the veg before I buy the seed tho.

Alternative -it was me who asked about your cucurbits, so ta for reply! Rugosa fruliana, and Queensland Blue both sound and look amazing. I've read so much about blue squashes, but I've never even seen one in the flesh. Hopefully there'll be some people at the allotment site who are growing different varieties and want to chat to me about them. Or even give me seed!

I've still not made my brassica cage, even tho it will just be canes in the ground, those ball joint things and net over the top. So my kale is still trapped in a too-small plasticcy cage and it's starting to grow funny. This week...

brassuca netting i built a rectangular box frame. It can be lifted by two people from one part of lot to next for rotation. I have black gardman netting that fits it prettyuch bang on. It is much less tangly than the green bird netting. Works for all braasica ezcept purple sprouting which get to tall.

artichokes it helps if you know hold old the plants are. First year all the crowns have to come off. 2nd year you can take 3 or 4, take the rest off. Irrc you take out the king first - that the one growing up the centre. That encourages the others to grow.
3rd year you get up to 12.

I take them off at about grapefruit sized.

I plant one new artichoke every year. As they last 3-5 years. And I protect from frost to over winter.

I love them!!

We're growing Queensland Blue squashes thanks to some seed givento me. Apparently they do better on our site than butternuts. I have got some butternut seed so next year will plant those as well and see what happens.
We spent most of yesterday planting out sweetcorn and squashes and pumpkins (mammoth). We were given two cucumber plants and so I've has to squeeze those in.
Harvested the first thinnings from the radishes which are growing still in spite of flea beetle. First potatoes areflowering so are the peas. Garlic has some rust so I am going to feed with tomato feed as this possibly could help. It will be annoying if it really gets hold as all my onions are together and the garlic is at the edge so will probably spread it along.
Also planted some sugar snap peas which I've never grown before so will be interested to see how they do. Will probably stick in some more normal peas. Also need to think about cabbages and broccoli as I have seed but not got around to planting any yet.
Things I want to grow next year include strawberries, get a couple of currant bushes, more raspberries, rhubarb and asparagus. So will need to give some proper thought into how I can fit them in rather than just planting where there is a space as I have done this year!

wrt to trying before buying seeds, my waitrose has a heritage veg shelf.

Spotted - you would be more than welcome!

The postcreting is really, really easy. You dig a hole. You put the post in roughly level (to the eye). You sploosh in a fair bit of water. You add enough powdery postcrete mix to fill the water. You grab a level and you just make sure that the post is level on top and at 90 degree angles all round. You hold it there for a couple of minutes while checking Mumsnet gardening on your phone. It sets in about 5 minutes. Bingo. It honestly could not be any easier. I was dreading it a bit, because I did proper mortaring in the garden of brick paths etc and it's a real drag - you have to keep mixing up the cement and it dries so you're against the clock and it's hard, physical work. This is a doddle by comparison! (My kind of DIY!!)

Alternative - I am utterly shocked at your neighbour raiding your plot. How rude! .

Rooster Brassica netting: after pigeons tore my cabbages to shreds (do not worry, fair readers, they did recover) I developed a cunning plan. I bought a roll of blue alkathene pipe from Screwfix and a roll of scaffolding netting off the internet.

I hacksawed the pipe into fairly long pieces, so that the arches are tall enough to house caulis and cabbages without problem (the pieces naturally form an arch because the pipe has been kept in a circle). I push four of these arches into the ground per bed. I then cover with the scaffolding mesh, weighing it down with stones (or plastic bottles filled with water). It is easy, quick, involves no skill whatsoever, and it works. I was worried that the netting would be too dark and shade the brassicas too much, but they actually seem to like it. And the scaffolding mesh also keeps out some insects too. My brassicas have been pristine ever since.

Cedar - I love the sound of your blue squash!

Morning all!

Welcome budding!

I agree we need a glut thread. Then I can share my amazing courgette and cheese patties, which DS was basically weaned on.

DH dug out a patio for somebody last week and brough home all of the top soil for me. So now I have a massive mound of not-brilliant top soil taking up the only empty space on my plot. Argh! What do I do with it. It's really wet and clumpy. The only thing I can think to do is spread the clumps around my potatoes? I've not got any space to move it elsewhere.

I need to get my leeks, onions and beans planted. Toms are all in at last (14 plants so far and I can't resist potting up my sungold armpits!). 5 cucumbers in, too. DS planted his strawberry plants at the weekend and was very excited to discover tomatoes forming on his plant. The DDogs have started stalking the greenhouse for tomatoes and go in at least 3 times a day to check if there's anything to eat.

I spent a very relaxing couple of hours just pottering yesterday. Got the shears out and trimmed the grass around the paths and generally tidied. Love doing that!

I went to visit a neighbour who is doing up her garden purely with scavanged / free bits and pieces. She's built an entire path just with the stones she's dug out, but she's actually managed to make a pattern with it. It looks stunning. I'm all inspired now.

thanks mink about the artichokes - I'm thinking they are about 3 years old, so will see how they go!
shove - yes to the piping - loads on our site do that ! I was lucky enough to be left a shedload of stuff (in the shed of the new half plot) posh cloche hoops/enviromesh etc , so am using that for cabbages/cauliflowers /carrots . We are just old with creaky joints, so for the tall stuff it just seemed easier than grovelling around, or letting the pigeons get near it :) I did notice a lot doing much the same as us, including across the way, an old tent frame, which seems to work well.
Helpful DH there cupcakes, but extra soil is always good! and yes to the pottoes - it certainly wont hurt them
yy to the glut thread - would it work to set one up, and then put a link in the message at the top when (hopefully) we get the next thread started?

How would we organise the glut thread so we don't end up just scrolling all the way through that? Can you search for key words in a thread?

goodbook - I am jealous of your shedload of stuff, especially enviromesh which is ££££! And I have creaky knees too! I am just coming out of a year of reversible, chemically-induced menopause and it has been like a preview of what life will be like in my 50s/60s! I have been moaning to a lot to anyone who will listen about my poor achy bones.

Glut thread: we could try our best to keep it to recipes only (and reply to posting here instead of on the thread)? That way at least most posts will be informative.

Or we could do it in two threads, one for veg, one for fruit?

We need a librarian to sort us out!!

Popping in for a quick update on my raggedy plot. first month out of the way. I have gone from total shambles of weeds and bits of crap everywhere, to three lovely tidy beds with lettuces, onions, shallots, beetroot, sweetcorn, peas, carrots, leeks, parsnips, radishes, savoy cabbage and finally sprouts! I have left my tomatoes at home this year for ease of watering. I also have a ton of herbs to plant in. It is sooo exciting seeing it come together and sooo frustrating that I have no one to help me build a brassicas cage!! I also have some lovely French beans, loads of spare broccoli and nowhere to put them. I have exams this week so have booked a week off to cram, but all I want to do is go digging on my plot. I will try and upload some before and after pics.

and some more pics! I give you my peas, and my puddled in cabbages.

Amazing work! You've done so much in such a short time. And with exams coming up - superwoman!

linski -just amazing! its hard to tell non gardeners the utter joy in planting out and seeing things grow. But its even better when you can see a meal at the end of it. Its a deep bone satisfaction for me - my kids laugh and say I have a doomsday mentality - (if it all goes badly wrong in the world I can still feed everyone )
shove - my sympathies - I will be 60 in a few months - inside my head I am about 25, and think I can still do it all - but I have to pace myself, so I can do more the next day.
The shedloads of stuff is just amazing - all new bought for his plot in the last 5 years, net tunnels, tall tunnels with fleeces and plastic covers ,rolls of fleece/ weed cover- some of it never used, he's just left it - though in theory I am his joint tenant, he's not been since last August.

Thanks shove and a good book it's so lovely to be able to show people who understand! It's such a joy to see my green babies growing. No one gets it but another gardener. I love how physical it all is. A whole afternoon can fly by in minutes. I've still got so much to do. Pesky work really gets in the way of my fun! My ds likes to come and visit and watch me dig. He sits on my only chair and watches the birds. So much nicer than sitting watching a computer screen. Ah well, onto the next bed.

evening all!
managed to carve out a couple of hours down at the plot - my goodness, the weeds are catching me up .
Finished digging/weeding the new patch ready to plant cabbages
sowed succession short rows of swede/turnip and beetroot.
watered all the beans/squashes/courgettes - its dry now, and dithered about covering them - its going to be cold tonight, but decided against fingers crossed.
Did a first sowing of cauliflowers for spring !
I believe I mentioned grandson sowing salad leaves, and drowned the whole packet? well, here is the pot :)

Oh wow! Love all the pictures.

I'm very lucky to have a few fellow gardeners close by that I can share the joy (and excess brassicas!) with. But occasionally even they get a bit bored of me rabbitting on, I think! This year in particular I've been utterly obsessed - partly because DS is finally old enough to allow me to get out in the garden. Partly because of this thread! So thanks all!

Can anyone advise on blackberries? I have a rooted cutting and a large pot, would it do ok in there with a large trellis behind or would it really need to go into the ground?

Dh thinks I've done enough for a newbie grower... 8 flowering raspberry canes, 16 fruiting strawberry plants, four tomato plants, one courgette, two sweet pepper (still look too delicate to go out ) beginnings of a blackberry bush and herb garden (currently only consisting of mint, chives and lavender). Its barely anything compared to you guys but so happy with it I'll be better prepared for next year though!

Loving the pics. Please do keep them coming. Very inspiring and interesting. It feels like a more acceptable way to be a nosey gardener as I always want to peer over others walls and fences but feel a bit rude.

After much sifting through posts I found the link that Alternative posted on the previous thread about lazy bed gardening. It seems like an easy option for those of us who have just got our allotments or have left it too late. I'm worried my swede won't push through though as the soil will still be quite compacted? Has anyone tried it?

Watch "How to make a lazy bed for Growing Vegetables" on YouTube

Just a few pics for you! DS' garden, my veggie patch complete with soil mountain (a new squash mountain perhaps?) and my gooseberries!

Soil mountains are always good for squashes!

I've shattered today. Was up and in the city to do a planting session at the hospital school, then back home and my solar water pump arrived so I raced over to the community gardens to set it up and planted a lot more out, sowed more seeds in the poly...and then came home, emptied ALL my previous years' frozen fruit in smaller portions into the food processor with double cream to make a humungous amount of ice cream. Yummy!!! There must be nearly 10 litres of it. Happy days.