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

Good to know the King Edward is a strong performer. I like the taste. But it turns out we have loads of slugs so maybe I should wait till I get them under control. I sort of wonder if I'm thinking of doing too much for a novice!

books I likely will grow the traditional bush, though the Ben Sarek is a smaller variety, which is helpful. I wonder if they'd work as a nice border for the path. Not sure if I could convince DH that's a good idea, mind you!

Your garden sounds beautiful. How nice to see some of that before you head off! Have a lovely trip.

No potato advice from me, I'm afraid! I don't really have space for maincrops (although hoping to get my hands on another plot this week...watch this space!) I'm chitting Duke of York and Charlotte at the mo.

Been down to my plot this afternoon for a few hours. There's not a lot to do but some new broad beans were poking through and so I put them under some plastic bottle cloches in the hope of keeping the mice off for a couple of weeks. I also dug a runner bean trench, which I've started to fill with all the household compostables. New neighbours who seem very nice (although I think she may be being a bit optimistic planting onions and spuds at the start of Feb...)

I got this month's Kitchen Garden magazine and there were ten free packets of seeds! I thought they would all be things I didn't want to plant but, no, there's some really useful seeds in there, for anyone who hasn't bought them yet - including some gorgeous-looking Italian beefsteaks called Costoluto Fiorentino. Other seeds are: Aubergine Black Beauty,
Spring onions, Radish French Breakfast, Beetroot Perfect 3, Carrot Royal Chantenay 3, Rocket, Pepper Sweet Romano, Lettuce Little Gem and Lettuce Salad Bowl Red and Green Mixed. So all worth a go (with the possible exception of the aubergines...)

Hello hello! Well, we had a few hours of bright weather again so I snuck off to the plot, and tied my apple sticks into bundles. It's raining again now, of course. I really do need to move my big piles of stick bundles soon, but it's really too wet to take the car on to the plot. It's too wet to walk on, really, but I did again.

I took the last that i wanted of the cavolo nero forest which will be made into a pie, and I have left the rest to the pigeons. It's starting to bolt! It's a bit early for that. I'll take the pecked skeletons out soon, then I think more broadies will go in there, then they can come out for courgettes or squash later. Probably.

I checked on my new raspberries, and I'm not brimming over with hope for them. I know they're originally a woodland plant so ought to be happy ish in the damp, but I think they may have drowned a bit.

Ooh, and I had a furtle in my compost. I've never composted before! What is in my pallet bin represents what was there when I took the plot, and the fruit of my 1st year there. I think it looks ready-ish?

So - what do I do with it? Just spread it on and around hungry things? And when? Ideally in the autumn I guess...

It's still quite twiggy (as well as full of clay clods and stones - thank you previous tenant!) so I guess I'll need to sieve it. It what about the worms - do I just chuck them back into compost bin with the uncomposted stuff? Or do they go on the beds? Luckily, I seem to have plenty of worms.

Zebra - shove that compost onto plants as you put them in this spring, and they'll love you for it! If you're planting big stuff, you don't need to worry too much about sieving - just bung it around the roots. I only bother with smaller things or roots but I am lazy.

I managed an hour at the plot yesterday, planting a cherry tree from the back garden. It's really a bit too old to be moved (been in 3 years) but it's right where I'm going to be building and I wanted to rescue it if at all possible. Fingers crossed it doesn't sulk at me too much...

Oh, and another thing - last year I planted 20 new asparagus crowns on the sunniest part of my south-facing slope. They did pathetically, even though I read up, watched extensive Youtube videos of how to plant them, dug in loads of grit, planted on mounds etc.

I know things do fail, but honestly, those that did germinate were completely pathetic. So I complained gently to the nursery. They emailed me back and pretty much suggested I was lying, insisting that I sent them a picture in July. I finally managed to get my act together to do this, and they are begrudgingly sending me 10 more crowns this April. Since more than 50% have failed totally, I feel like I'm still out of pocket (and another year down on being able to crop them) - but at least it's something.

Fingers crossed that this year's crowns do better! But I definitely won't be using the nursery (a specialist in fruit) again! I understand the need to corroborate stories, but the whole tone of the thing has really put me off them. If anyone has asparagus mojo, lend me your advice as to whether there are any spells I can cast to make this lot fern up well!

shovethe - have you checked for asparagus beetle? my plants were looking a bit iffy and i think this is probably why. squash them if you have them - hold your hand under them and they will drop into it. they are small and orange and stripy

Definitely no beetles - to be honest, the plants that grew (and many never put up so much as a leaf) never got bigger than about 6 inches tall, so it was easy to check!! They didn't seem to be eaten by anything - just utterly weedy.

I miss book already. I have decided in my mind that she shouldn't be allowed any more holidays ever.

I planted some seeeeeeds! Tomatoes (black cherry) and aubergine (black beauty). I know it's early, but I am trying to avoid the great tomato disaster of last year, which I think was partly caused by seeds going in too late.

I also have so many seeds to do that if I don't do something pretty much every day, I won't actually get it all done.

I also potted on loads of foxglove seedlings (Pam's Choice, from seed, sown middle of last year), some lovely cream Californian poppies, and some plants of Pachysandra terminalis variegata, which I just bought.

book has done so much gardening she very probably needs a rest!
On a similar note, I am wondering again whether to enquire about a 2nd plot... Mine is a small half plot so not as mad as it sounds. I'd carpet it with squash.

Boo re asparagus Shove - what a disappointment! Especially as you already have to wait so long for a harvest! I hope you figure out why they're not thriving and that your new ones are much better.

You have a cherry? I want one. I was so tempted by the Aldi fruit trees, but I really really don't have the room. I've a sour cherry at home in a pot, but it's not that happy so I can't really have another in a pot.

And you've started sowing? Oooh. I am sitting on my hands to stop myself. It's too early for me still, as I can't keep the plants warm enough (or un eaten). But if your tomatoes live but don't thrive, you could always make newer, younger plants out of the... ARMPITS ?!

This could become a movement. Like a cult. We could call ourselves the Armpit Army.

I have a 'stella' cherry. It fruited properly for the first time last year and they were huge and delicious. Maybe when you get your new plot you can have a couple of them!!

I think I probably have a similar area to you - mine is a half plot too. I was seriously thinking about taking on another one last year, but in my more realistic moments, I'm forced to admit I couldn't really manage it right now. I think I would use it as a distraction from doing some of the writing I need to get down to, and since I have no self-discipline whatsoever, I can't really trust myself!

I wonder if I am sowing some of the hot house plants too early - the aubergines will be fine, I think, but I have concerns over the Crimean tomatoes. I've only done a few, though, so I have seed in reserve should it be a disaster! I was too late last year, and maybe I'm overcompensating!! I'm hoping I can make use of my greenhouse to slow them down gently once they have germinated.

More seed sowing today - Tomato 'Outdoor Girl', some cabbages (catching the indoor window to grow a few Golden Primo), and some Aquadulce broad beans as some of those at the allotment got eaten by a mousey. I also sowed some Cimcifuga racemosa purpurea, then found out that I have to keep them indoors for 3 months, and THEN in the fridge for 3 months. They better bloody germinate after all that!!

I've also potted on my Echium Candicans which got mauled by a caterpillar over the winter (!) but have survived and are starting to grow. I'm hoping for statuesque giants by the summer.

You've a rocket under you, aren't you!

Ok my fingers were itching to sow, a I did a few 30 more broadies. In module trays, to take up to the allotment. And some nasturtiums.

It seems I ought to have started echinacea and poppy months ago. Who knew? Er, everyone else it seems. Dammit. They were to have been nice bee - friendly plants. It'll be borage and marigold again I guess. But I might sow echinacea and poppy tomorrow anyway, just in case they are magically speedy varieties, or just magic ones.

The days are definitely getting longer, and the birds are making nests. Spring is coming...

Ah, those tricksy biennials. It's really not fair, is it? You think you've got everything sorted and then you find a seed packet that should have been sown last summer. Right at the moment when you had umpteen other jobs to do as well.

I've had this happen so many times. In fact, it's only in the last year that I have really got myself organised about it by dumping all those seeds in a big red box and scheduling all kinds of calendar reminders.

You could do annual poppies and daisies when the weather gets warmer?

I am saved from the temptation of planting any seeds (as we have so little space to store them indoors) at the moment because we don't have any potting compost. I do feel a trip to the garden centre coming on soon....

I am impressed Shove with your organisation and actually getting your seeds into the order of planting. Last year my plans seemed to be based on impulse rather than sensible timing!

Managed to actually do some work at the allotment last Sunday. Planted up the raspberry and blackcurrant I bought back in the autumn and then did some digging. I soon accepted it was really too wet for the digging so instead opted for weeding on my knees and leaning across from the borders instead which was better for the soil (if not for my knees!). Managed to get quite a bit done.

This weekend I need to sort out the back garden where we had the fencing fixed and put back in my wallflowers which had to be dug up to give the fencing men room to work. I just shoved them in a spare tub but didn't really cover them over 100% so I'm hoping they won't be killed by the frost we've got today. Although I am telling myself that they're only wallflowers and I can always get some more.

Oh and we got our seed potatoes and I've ordered Desiree, Wilja and Charlotte. We've also got Red Baron onions which did well last year, some white ones (I forget) and shallots. Now just have to be patient.

Same here with the ground - the clay is really sticky still and not at all pleasant to work in. Do you have kneepads Cedar? I have just acquired some weird strap-on ones from Briers and they are brilliant. They're not for the fashion-conscious, though.

I am very proud of my seed box, which is a new thing I have just done. Last year I just stuffed everything into a shoe box and it was a nightmare trying to find anything. I now have them in a very long, thin box from Muji that is divided into months with record cards.

One of the reasons I am panicking, however, is that organising them this way made me realise that I had about 50 packets of seeds that needed sowing in March, many of which are about to expire. Hence the urge to get anything that might be able to squeak through in February going now, so I have time later. So my attempt at being organised has just revealed a deeper level of disorganisation, if you see what I mean. I can't not plant seeds though, can I? It would be all kinds of wrong.

Wallflowers are tough old things - fingers crossed for yours! It was a bit of a shock feeling how cold it was last night, but I'll put up with that and some for the sake of seeing the sun!!

I don't have kneepads Shove but I do have a kneeler (that's what I call it) which is a flat padded thing so I'm not actually kneeling direct on the ground.

The seeds won't just expire though, will they? They won't lose their viability straight away. I always live in hope with seeds regardless of the date on the packet!

Think its going to pour with rain tomorrow and we're busy on Sunday so the wallflowers might just have to put up with things for another week anyway.

Hmm, what else is a tricksy biennial, and I hadn't noticed?
I may need to revisit my list of lovely bee-attracting plants, and make sure that they are all annuals that will flower in time!

I spent a couple of power hours at the plot today, clearing off all the branches and bits of apple tree. And rubbish, and... stones. 3 HUGE and heavy buckets of harvested stones schlepped to the tip today, wih another one left, and more in the ground left to collect.

My allotment is still 30% stone, 40% swamp, with the remainder couch and slugs I think.

Like you, my clay is still way to wet to dig, which is annoying as I want to dig out a grass path, dig out the couch, and replace with a barky path. The one I did last year worked well. I'm feeling quite happy at having got rid of all that shite, although I am now knackered and ridiculously hungry.

I'm a bit worried that there is still not much green on my newly-planted rasps, and I really hope they've not drowned.

Oh, and I don't kneel, I, er, squat.
It's more comfortable but a lot less pretty.

Just a quick note to keep the thread in my I'm On list.

I've finally got the blackcurrant recipes from my Mum so will post those in the next couple of days. And I'll catch up with everyone then!

My gardening consultant is coming over again on Tuesday so I'll be able to make concrete plans and get some plants ordered (maybe through her).

Don't pay mind to expiry dates on seed packets. Parsnips, carrots and onions in that order but most other stuff will be good for years.

Despite autumn not officially kicking in until March 1st, there's been a significant change here in Melbourne. It's the loveliest season; all that's best of sun, without the scorching heat. But by God, we could do with some rain. Pretty sure there'll be watering restrictions soon.

The Lebanese aubergines have been outstanding. Tomatoes good in production but poor on taste, so will experiment next year.

The telegraph cucumber finally got up off its arse and made some goodies.

Dwarf and black beans excellent, as are jalapeño chillies.

Just back from the allotment. 2 hours digging claggy clay; then mulched with all sorts [sand, compost, last year's pot contents] etc, and started planting up my new fruit bed. Got a large Blackcurrant in, an Amelanchier and a sage. Sea buckthorn, loads of strawbs, and various other fruit and herbs to go. Plus an apple I grafted a few years back. All these have been growing elsewhere and I have dug them up to make an instant fruit bed. Will never dig this bed, but will just mulch mulch mulch and put old bits of wood on the surface to rot down.

I love hearing about your allotment, echt - it's so wonderfully other-way-round to mine! Thinking of you harvesting all those lovely things...

Thanks for the info about the seed expiry dates, Doreen. That does set my mind at rest a little. I like the sound of sea buckthorn! How do you use it??

Sorted out my raspberries today - like yours, Zebra, mine are still mostly in bud, though there are hints of green. I could be wrong, but that feels normal for this time of year (even ahead). I'm hoping to get to the local brewery later in the week and pick up sackloads of hops for a mulch.

I have also been out with my hoe. Got a big problem with willowherb family weeds. They have gone beserk in both my back garden and my allotment, which are quite a long way apart - I think because Sheffield has been so utterly, utterly wet and miserable for over 6 months, they are on some kind of colonial mission. Since I am not Miss Marple, I am not enjoying the sight of loads and loads of tiny leaves coming through. Any suggestions as to how to tackle this blighter v v welcome.

Hi everyone just found this thread and really enjoyed reading through. Hope it's okay if I join in.

I have a half allotment I got it about 3 years ago and have been transforming it from total wilderness to something that I can grow soft fruit and veg in. It is still a work in progress and has the London clay in it like many of the posters here.

I have strawberries, blackcurrants that fruited for the first time last year and I made really tasty blackcurrant jam (hope they fruit again this year) as I cut them right back after harvesting. I don't know if that was the right thing or not. I also had lots fruit from my 2 aldi tayberry plants last year.

I have some resident slow worms in my compost bin as well!