Allotment /Veg patch thread 4 "Lettuce and Peppers and Pears OH MY!"

[agoodbook]

as per Cupcakes :)
come and join in the harvest !

previous thread here
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/gardening/2386388-The-2015-Allotment-Veg-Patch-Thread-Part-3-already?msgid=55842529

Oooh, have a great holiday booky! You really deserve a smashing break.

I've picked up my seeds and sorted them in a big box with dividers for each month so I don't have to remember a 'to do' list (I have an appalling memory). I now feel like I have more of an idea what I'm doing!

I'm going to start off my Crimean tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, chillis, basil, parsley, dill in the next couple of weeks. They're going to be indoors, specifically on DH's desk. He does not know this yet and will not approve of the plan when he sees it, but by that stage they will be planted and it will only really be a few weeks til they can be in the greenhouse. I will win him over with the idea of actually having a tomato harvest this year.

Question for you all - should I trust the seed packets, which state that the following can also be started this month: non-Crimean tomatoes, sweet peas, cabbages (Golden Acre Primo II, hispi), cauliflower (All the Year Round), celeriac, kohl rabi, early broad beans, hispi cabbage, early carrots, turnips, winter density lettuces, red baron onions (seed). I don't want to panic and sow too early, but the 'March' section of my divider is horrendously large so if I can stuff cooking earlier, it will be helpful.

Flower seeds that suggest a Feb start date: antirrhinum, agapanthus (yes, giving seed a go!), cimcifuga atropurpurea, meconopsis, hellebores, aquilegia, delphinium, red rudbeckias, stock, cardiocrinums, agastache, hollyhock.

Oh, and I should add - my greenhouse still doesn't have heat! So it's solar only at the moment - it's not getting too cold in there, but it's not exactly tropical either

Hello!
just got a minute while DGS is (supposedly!) having a nap :)
Spotted - we are off to Tenerife, the warmth does my DH such a lot of good. I will hopefully get off to a flying start when I get back!
shove - I was told by an old plotter the first year I started growing vegetables, that the seed packets have a range of dates for sowing - usually something like Feb-March ,because yes, you can sow in February down south, but March is better further north.
I have found a website that allows you to put your town in, click what you are growing and sowing (flowers and veg) and it adjusts timings for your location on a simple weekly to do list
Sweet peas I think should be fine and broad beans/winter lettuces.
here
www.gardenfocused.co.uk
Before I go away, I am just going to put a bit of protection over my sprouted broad beans ( in pots in greenhouse) , and I have fleeced over my bay tree carefully as well, though being wild out there today I will have to check it again!

book - that is GENIUS! Genius!! Thank you so much!

My last frost is predicted to be the final week of April. It's so hard to know how fast and loose to play with that these days with climate change, isn't it? We've had such a mild winter, and it's so tempting to forget that we're actually only just in February and we could get three weeks of snow. On the other hand, a risky planting of something a couple of weeks earlier could really pay off if it continues mild, extending the growing season by quite a while.

I'm tempted to hedge my bets and plant a small amount of stuff at an earlier date just in case, then a larger load in March.

Have a wonderful time in Tenerife. It'll be like a slice of summer for you both - hope you have perfect weather!

How do I get a last frost date of 2nd week of May, and I'm much further South than you, Shove?

Odd! I think we've had only 3 or 4 frosts this winter, not many at all. I have decided that we will still have wintery weather hitting us. Do note, that is based on zero science, or psychic abilities. I've just decided it. Still, I wonder if I ought to risk a few more broadies, as mine look like someone has gone at them with a hole punch.

Have a great time in Tenerife, booky - wishing you sunny days and warm rays.

Ooh, I love that personalisable calendar from your link, booky. It says I shall sow leeks next week!

I am surprised by that! There is a map on the site if you scroll down here: www.gardenfocused.co.uk/adjust-dates-uk.php

It looks like there is a sort of triangle in the middle that risks frost for longer. Is this just an effect of being inland, I wonder?

I suspect that it's quite broad-brush though. Gradient here definitely makes a different. No way is the last frost over the highest bits of the peak district the same as in the sunny lowlands of Sheffield! My Dad's garden is generally 2-3 weeks ahead of mine, yet we're the same colour on the map. I suspect that the prediction is optimistic for me and perhaps pessimistic for you??

I think your cautious approach is wise, too. I'm just TOO impatient!!

Yup, I'm in the aqua part of the map. Hmm, I'd not have guessed that the more inland one is, the warmer. So the sea warms us? Who knew?!

I'm not cautious, I'm chomping at the bit. But I can't have seedlings inside the house 'proper' as my IdiotCat would chomp on them, so they all have to stay in the conservatory where he can't eat them.

But I really really really want to start tomatoes. I've made a few lists of them, as what else can I do?

Evening!
my last frost date is same as spotted - and it was about right last year- its only a broad brush /rough guide, but helps. I found it a couple of years ago while searching for my last frost date , this year they have added the calendar, but again a bit dependant on variety
I think its definitely worth the risk of doing a few early sowings, knowing you still have time for more.
I am just imagining shoves DH, surrounded by greenery , with hardly a square inch for his notes and books

My last frost date is sometime in May (I've forgotten when ) but I'm in Scotland so that makes sense.

It's a cool site, so thanks for the link!

I might look for some blackcurrants to plant now. I'm kind of champing at the bit to do something in the garden but the weather's miserable and it's too cold for most things.

Don't feel sorry for DH book! It's short term pain, and he's normally napping rather than working anyway. He can dream he's in a forest.

I sent the link to my Dad, who was really pleased with it- he reckons it's spot on for his site.

I, too, have an Idiotcat Zebra - mine is partial to deliverately pushing pots on the floor while I scream "Nooooooooo" rather than chomping, though.

SHOPPING KLAXON: Wilko's gardening stuff is in - some nice olive coloured seed module trays just begging me to buy them. And Poundland too - they are the cheapest I've found for peat pots, which I use to grow things like roots that don't like their roots disturbed.

Morning!
just about to brave the winds to go and pick some more vegetables - on a marathon soup and casserole making day so as to use as much veg as possible!
shove I love Wilkos - I will now just have to go and have a quick look, and in all probability buy.

Hello everyone. I haven't had a very eventful growing week! I went to check on the plot and the garlic is still doing nicely and half of the broad beans have survived Attack of the Mouse. I planted some replacements in the ground and in the mini-greenhouse and the latter are just starting to come up. I love that link too! Last frost here is mid-April apparently. I remember in one of my books there's a frost map and there are some weird random frost pockets, one around the Midlands, I think.

I've started chitting some spuds and can apparently also start off some leeks undercover so have a packet of those. I raided Poundland and got some Red Baron onion sets and in Wilko some Sturons.

Now it's time to put in my King's order through our allotment society. So excited!

Hello!

I love Wilko, Arti. I got my spuds from there, like a pic n mix. I got too excited and filled the bag RIGHT FULL, then read the instructions and it said fill to this line, then fold at that line. So I had to put some back. Still v v good value though. And excitingly there is one nearer me now, and it has parking too, so much more convenient. And we have a new Aldi, from which I shall maybe purchase a (nother) cherry tree on Thurs.

So, I finally chopped my allotment apple tree today. And it took me hours. It was v v overgrown, and shaded my plot much too much, so I properly hacked it. Hence I don't expect much fruit from it this year, so I'd better make up for it with other things. Most of the sticks are still on my plot - I'll have to make a million trips to the tip, as i only have a tiny car.

I also noticed the bindweed coming in over the boundary so I'll have to do something about that. Does ist hacking it hold it at bay, as I don't want to use glyphophate, even directly-applied.

I had a colossal bindweed infestation when I took over my plot, Zebra. You have to get it right out at the roots, which means digging down and following the horrible dead-wormy things. Any bit you leave will resprout, but if you get it all, it is controllable quite quickly.

Great news on the tree - it'll love you for the chop in the long run! I've had some success using the twigs as supports or to build wigwams, though they have Zombie-like tendencies to sprout!! Chopping them down into bits with no side shoots, then piling them up into a witches' broom kind of a bundle helps with getting them in the car (ancient VW Polo here, so know your pain - it's a job I still have to do from my pruning a couple of weeks back!!). The thicker bits are actually quite good to burn (and they don't need much seasoning) so if you have a log burner or know anyone with one they might take some off your hands?

has anyone made a small pond to encourage frogs? I don't have much room, but i was reading that you only needed something as small as a bucket sunk in the ground? Tips please. Did you use a filter - i was hoping just to use weed - where's best to source the weed?

i have loads of slugs and i was reading this is a great way to get rid of them

Evening!
spotted - bindweed is a right pain, it needs persistence and patience. I haven't managed to eradicate it from my plot, but keep it under petty good control. I just try to dig down as far as possible, (and gently) when I see it rearing its head - it breaks really easily.
Are you allowed controlled bonfires maybe? ( we are not ) but maybe worth asking. Or make a hedgehog retreat ? :)
dreaming - we were chatting about frogs and ponds just on the previous page if you can scroll back? You don't need much at all to encourage frogs!

booky My bindweed is right at the end, coming through the boundary fence. To dig it out, I'd have to move my (still standing! ) tumbledown shed, my compost heap and my... pile of last year's sticks, (aka my wildlife zone) which I am sure I have a beastie in. Hopefully hedgehogs and not rats. Dammit. Maybe I'll just cut it down until I can move my last year stick pile, once I'm sure it's free of any hibernating animal?

Cripes, I hope the bindweed hasn't infected my compost? I want to spread that soon. I'll have to pick it over carefully.

Shove my apple cuttings are unfortunately too gnarly and bendy and no good for canes. Although oddly I ahem some great pear canes from this year, from home - so straight! Tbh, I'm a bit loathe to offer them to anyone as firewood as people always ask for stuff or say they want it, and then.. nothing. Ie my shed is still there, even though people have promised promised that they wanted it for raised bed wood, and it wpuld be moved... And my stone collection - I still have that too. Even though 2 people have said that they really really wanted that.

I'm not an especially tidy person - to say the least - but I have decided that I need to be rid of my stones asap. I've moved them around too much, and I fear turning into....

... this.

Oh, we're not allowed bonfires, alas. Some people had them, but I'm pathetically law-abiding.
And also quite a bit scared of fire.

Ooh, I was reading about summer savoury - goes well in cooking with all beans but also good as companion plant to broadies, against blackfly. Has anyone tried it?

Isn't it just so frustrating when people say they want something and then don't collect?! I don't even understand why they do it. I've had that experience on Freecycle so many times, even with really nice things that I'm giving away. People are weird sometimes .

And that stone tellytubby is cute. I wouldn't mind being one of them, just running round in the sunshine all day.

Never heard of summer savoury - it sounds lovely though!

Morning! Well not much to report here. We went and had a look at the plot last weekend but it was way too wet to do anything much. But pleased to see that my elephant garlic is through. We've also had some frosts so hope that will help too.
Our seed potatoes and onion and shallot sets have been delivered and just need to pick them up from my dad's. So we will soon been chitting.

Spent last Sunday afternoon digging up plants and bulbs in the back garden in preparation for the new fencing we're having put in to replace the panels that are going to collapse if we get any more strong winds. I've now got several pots with crocuses and daffodils shoved in them. Next door's cat decided to join in, she spent her time playing with some netting. I am hoping she wasn't eyeing up the bed as a good toilet spot!

I think its too early to be planting much in the way of seeds unless you have a good greenhouse to store things. Last year I planted runner beans in pots at the beginning of April and that was plenty early enough for actually getting them planted out in the ground.

I'm choosing which varieties of fruit and vegetables I'm going to grow. I think I'm decided on Ben Sarek for blackcurrants as I'll be able to fit in a few more bushes than other varieties. Can't decide, though, whether to trust a seller on Amazon! Also can't decide whether put them close to the fence or leave a space behind them. I think close to the fence might be best.

For potatoes I think I'll do King Edward. Anyone tried these? Won't need to plant them till at least late March here, so have lots of time to decide.

I haven't grown King Edward but they are a solid main crop potato so should do well I think. I can't actually remember which ones I've chosen for this year (I had to order last November) but I think I went for Desiree for main crop and Charlotte for salad potatoes which are both dependable varieties.

This year I grew Sarpo Mira which were OK but did get a lot of slug damage (which of course is nothing to do with the wet weather we had last August when we went on holiday for two weeks and had run out of the wildlife friendly slug pellets and everything to do with the variety of potato!). The Charlotte didn't suffer much damage at all. Oh and we had some Pentland javelin (I think) and some Wilja (I think) which both did OK because they were lifted before the wet spell.

I've spent most of the winter chopping up large potatoes to eat round all the slug holes. We are now down to the last few smaller, starting to sprout, going rather soft potatoes. Not quite self sufficient but we were pleased with the effort in our first year.

Morning!
Grouchy - are you growing the blackcurrants as the traditional bush? If so, I personally think you need a bit of space behind them , as you tend to prune them into a 'goblet' shape to let the air flow freely through them.
Not grown King Edward, but I only do a few - and I get a lot of slug damage sadly. This year I am growing Marfona, which is a favourite of ours, and Picasso , which did really well for me a couple of years ago, and if I can find some to buy, 'Orla" was recommended.
On a non plot note, I have just been around my garden before going away - it surely is a mild one at the moment. I have crocuses, miniature irises, daffodils, grape hyacinths, snowdrops,aconites, primroses , cyclamen all in full throttle, and even the first Kerria flowers are out. And the rhubarb is ready to pick! I planted some bulbs/rhizomes? of oxalis, adenophylla which I had forgotten about , and 2 Sweet William plants. We should be under snow, and its lovely out there!