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

[storybrooke]

Hi, been stalking this thread for a while and finally built the confidence to say hey I'm very much a newbie at anything to do with growing things that don't immediately die and was looking for a bit of advice if you lovely knowledgeable ladies have any... I'm currently trying to build two raised veg patches on our back garden where the grass is just now, they'll be around 1mx1m. My plan was to flip the turf and maybe cover with newspaper and mulch with grass cuttings through the year if that makes sense, to get ready for planting next year, would that work? Sorry if its a daft question. I've recently planted strawberry plants in pots and raspberry canes in the borders which seem to be flowering and doing ok despite the winds we've had and have sweet peppers planted on the windowsill in a makeshift greenhouse container so thats a start. I'm planning on keeping them in the house if thats doable. I'm desperate for my two kiddies to start helping to grow their own food (and maybe even eating it once in a while )

[agoodbook]

hello story ! ask away :)
turf makes very good loam when you turn it upside down and pile it up - it takes about a year. Have you anywhere you can do that other than where the beds are going to be? That way, you can strip the turf off dig over the patch, put the edges in and start adding compost/etc to start planting sooner, and the add the composted turf next year.
But you can do lasagne planting and I'm sure someone will be along to explain far better than I can about it.
Sweet peppers will do well on a windowsill, as long as there is plenty of light and its warm.
Sorry for the quick reply , but have to dash, but will be back later :)

[RoosterCogburn]

Hello story
We flipped some turf and left it to turn to loam however we didn't leave it on the beds it was piled up in the bit of the garden I laughingly refer to as 'wild'
I'm not sure how long it took because tbh it was left for about three years before we eve looked at it again - then it was lovely friable stuff and it's been used to top up the veg beds mixed with homemade compost.

[karatekimmi]

You lot are like weeds - I'm away for a week and you finish a thread and fill 5 pages!!

Thankfully the garden survived and things are growning nicely - the peas have flowered (well there are 3 flowers) and I am hopeful that a tiny part of the salad tomorrow will have home grown produce in!! (rocket, pea shoots, radishes and herbs)

We have pak Choi and I really like it (we stir fry it a bit) and its easy to grow!!

welcome to newbies - we have some experts on the thread and lots of keen amateurs!! I have no real idea but enthusiasm and a have a go attitude!!

Sorry to hear about your cat rooster

[RoosterCogburn]

Thanks kimmi - people are kind, the lady who found her left a little bouquet of mint and sweet william on my doorstep this morning with a very kind note.

I too am hoping that next week I'll have radishes, pea shoots and lettuce from the garden. I'm planning my lunch box around the produce that will be ready.

[TheDietStartsTomorrow]

Just popping in to say condolences to Rooster. I'm not much of a cat person but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the loss and sadness felt by the loss of a pet.

Also a wave to storybrooke. I'm also a newbie but just loving it. Not sure what the solution is to your beds though. I'll leave that to the more accomplished gardeners.

My radishes are also ready to pick now. Waiting for the DC to get into the garden tomorrow so they can do the picking.

I was also thinking about growing Asian greens. I had some fenugreek seeds in my kitchen cupboard that were almost 4 years old and we're ready to be dumped. A few weeks ago I decided to scatter them into a a bit of multipurpose compost in a couple of old roasting tins and they have come up wonderfully. A 200g pack of fenugreek seeds costs only 69p from Asian grocers and so they really go a long way. I have since scattered them in all the bare patches of my back garden and the seeds are all germinating. They've even germinated and taken root underneath the shade of my humongous gunnera.

We do eat fenugreek often. I add it to curries and daals. You can also chop up a couple of onions, add some spices (cumin powder, salt, chilli, tummeric) and a bit of garlic and then add the chopped fenugreek. Let it cook for about 10-15 mins on a low heat and then crack in 2-3 eggs and mix. It makes a lovely dish that we eat with chapati or on toast covered with a bit of cheese.

I find that not many people grow it but it's up there with radish as one of the fastest growing crops. My youngest DD loves the dish above and she gets involved in planting, picking, cooking all the way to the plate.

[minkGrundy]

sorry for your sad news Rooster.

And spotted o have sucessfully grown tomatoes outdoors the last 2 years. In Scotland. They got huge though and flop all about. So stake them well and nip them to stop them.

[RoosterCogburn]

Diet That looks really healthy, what a great idea.

[Cedar03]

How do you know when radishes are ready to harvest? We've got a couple of short rows. The posts above made me realise that I have no idea!

Popped over to our plot after the rain stopped. Everything seemed OK and not much sign of slugs - unlike in the back garden where I discovered a whole group on top of my daffodil leaves in a pot. I did a quick cull of them.

[TheSpottedZebra]

Fenugreek? ! What a fab idea to plant the eating seeds. I have some, so i will do that. I've never had fenugreek leaf, only ever the seeds (as far as I know).

You grew them in Scotland, mink ? Did any varieties do particularly well or poorly?
Well, the good news is that the rain eased off earlier. The bad news is that it was replaced by MASSIVE HAILSTONES. Am fretting again as to the condition of my newly planted stuff. Of course it's sunny now...

[TheSpottedZebra]

Welcome, story. Re your pepper plant, if you want to keep it indoors, you might need to hand pollinate it, as you won't be able to rely on passing bees etc to do that for you!

[agoodbook]

kimmi - welcome back ! pak choi- I've stir fried and braised it in oyster sauce , maybe I need to check out some different varieties .
Diet - well you are going to start a fenugreek seed rush ( me included!) we love Indian food.
cedar - just pull a couple of thinnings out and see - thats what I do with these things like beetroot /spring onions/baby turnips.
Its rained all day apart from a couple of short sunny bursts- sadly not enough to get there and back. We had a big thunderstorm late this afternoon, and it bounced it down.

[TheDietStartsTomorrow]

I have lots of fenugreek recipes. It's one of our favourite family ingredients and that is despite having DC who turn their nose up at the mere mention of certain vegetables.

One thing I make regularly is fenugreek chapatti. Very easy to make if you make chapattis/tortillas regularly. Just chop the fenugreek find in the food processor and add to plain flour (wholewheat if possible). Add a handful of whatever dry spices you have (cumin, tummeric and salt works best for me). Bind it all into a dough with a bit of water and roll into circles then cook on a griddle or very hot saucepan.

My DC call them green cigars. I make them and spread a bit of soft cheese over them and roll into a tube.

Now, that's my last recipe. This is an allotment thread so I'll go back to discussing gardening from now on.

I've made a list of things I could possibly still grow from seed if I get the allotment next week. Would you all please let me know if I should rule out some:

Beetroot
Carrot
Fennel
French beans
Runner beans
Squash
Kale
Coriander
Dill
Peas
Swiss chard
Salads
Fenugreek
Perpetual spinach
Winter cabbbage
Garlic?
Potatoes?

[agoodbook]

thanks diet - will try that.
You may get away with most of that - I've only grown coriander in a pot on the windowsill,
potatoes are a bit late, but you could just get some in, though if you have the tough patch, its whether you have the time .
You could sow some seeds in plugs to plant out -they may survive/grow more quickly eg beetroot/chard /cabbage/kale but you can sow direct if you prefer
No problem with peas/salads/beans both french and runner
Squash - could you pick some plug plants up? otherwise may be a tweek late to sow
Garlic you plant in autumn to overwinter, so time to spare there
Fennel . not done, but I remember someone asking upthread if you scan back

[RoosterCogburn]

diet you sound really keen! I really hope you get the allotment.
I sow things like beetroot and lettuce in little pots in the greenhouse then pot them out when they are big enough.
Lots of people do successional sowing to get crops throughout the summer so I'm sure you won't be the only person planting.

You probably know this but when you buy your seeds there will be a little guide on the back of the packet telling you when they are best planted

[minkGrundy]

Tomatoes - i grow golden sunrise.
Have aldo grown latah from seed in the past. They GS did better but I think that was down to a sunny year.

This year they are in the mini green house with the doors open. Not put them out out yet. But other years O have put them out quite small.

I do get some cracking due to irregular water but ysually get a big crop. Had more green toms left at the end of last year than the year before but they still did ok last yr.

I probably leave too many trusses on.
I cut all the leavesxoff in September to catch the last of the sun.

[minkGrundy]

Oh and Marshalls wwre selling 2nd crop tattiex yesterday, so must still be possible.

[shovetheholly]

story - I created the beds at my previous house that way! It does work. The only thing I will say is that when you bury the turf, you also bury a LOAD of perennial weed seeds, which tend to sprout all the way through the border for a couple of years. It can be a pain to get rid of these. Also, you have to cover the ground that you've flipped for a looooong time to really kill them off.

In my current garden, I removed the turf and then dug. It was a little more effort in the first instance, but a lot less effort in the longer run.

Loving the fenugreek seedlings!

I'm growing fennel for the first time this year, and my Dad gave me a stern talk about putting it in later than the seed packet says, due to it bolting otherwise. So I haven't sown any yet - waiting for the shortest day! (Despite champing at the bit with impatience!)

[DuelingFanjo]

Sorry to hear about your cat Rooster :( losing them suddenly like that is awful :(

Hope you get the plot you want Diet.

Finally some Squash have come through.
My brassicas are being attacked by something, leaves being eaten. Should I protect them with a net?

[violetwellies]

Following diets wonderful recipes I checked my herbs. Some barsteward has eaten my coriander.
Stalks and a glistening trail are all that is left.

[RoosterCogburn]

Violet it's so frustrating isn't it. Somethings had some of my Marigolds.
I shall be going on a torchlight slug hunt tonight.

I'm too squeamish to kill them so I collect them in a bucket, walk them down the lane and put them on the other side of the stream - my friend finds that hilarious - she says if I ever witness a crime (not likely in the middle of nowhere) and get called as a witness that everyone will laugh in disbelief when they ask the question "and can you tell us what you were doing MrsRooster"

[violetwellies]

We used to live in an old village, I would collect snails and throw them as hard as I could to land in next door but ones back yard.
But I think they were homing snails, either that or he was throwing the buggers back.

[agoodbook]

Evening!
set off for work this morning 7.30 - it was 5º !! can someone be told its nearly June

Duelling - now they can truly get going :)
Brassicas could be rabbits/pigeons/snails/slugs- you can net for pigeons but rabbits need wire fencing ( bitter experience)

at the bottom of my garden there is a big hedge backing onto another garden - I was sat one summers evening near the hedge with a cup of coffee, and snails rained down on me, thrown from over the hedge.......

[violetwellies]

Ahem, are you in North Yorkshire?

[agoodbook]

East Yorkshire - 15 miles east of York but not a village :)