Allotment/Veg Patch Thread 5 - The Diggers Rest !

[bookbook]

Thanks to teacuphalfempty for supplying the title .
so, its the 1st of March, the meteorological spring is here, and it's all systems go for the coming growing season. Let's hope for a good one -no pests and diseases, enough rain overnight and plenty of sunshine. Well, we can dream....

Poor cat, it can't get on its bench

I love the bench, WhoKnows. I've got a hardening-off table, but late last night I woke up with The Fear that it was very chilly and maybe I should have covered it. I held off from going out in the night, and so far, nothing looks obviously dead...

Poor you, quince. You need to channel Doreen and remember its not too late for things. No idea re the willow, but it sounds possible! I have hay fever too - and yes, it's getting worse as my interest in gardening increases. I'm also rubbish in the sun - I need to wear sun cream, sunglasses and a hat in anything more than 'pleasantly sunny'. I suspect I'm not designed for the outside at all. Perhaps I should focus on growing mushrooms?!

I've tried dandelions, Cedar they are nice - a bit like rocket! I also like nettles. I would be even need to plant them, so it's as if I'm already on it!

Quince you are not behind. There's still plenty of time to plant things and to get a good crop off them in the summer.

Zebra maybe I should try eating the nettles in the corner of my patch. They're between my allotment and the overgrown one the other side of a fence. Last year I didn't get around to doing anything about them and decided that this was to help 'nature' and nothing to do with lack of time

HiaHia the wool pellets are on the pricey side. I know other people try used coffee grounds and egg shells to do a similar thing. I'm not sure how successful they are. Or putting copper bands around things also works. My friend uses these around her courgettes and says it helps.

I planted some butternut squash seeds a few weeks ago. Only one came up and has taken an age to get as far as pushing off the seedcase from the first set of leaves. Is this normal? It seems really slow to get going. I've noticed another one has suddenly germinated in the same pot. Which has led me to chuck some more water on the virtually abandoned second pot that I'd planted up. I took a look at the yellow french beans (last year's packet) that I sowed recently. There wasn't any sign of any activity in any of the pots so that was a waste of time. Still I bought some fresh seeds the other day and have direct sown those instead so you never know they might germinate.

A vegan friend recommended soapnuts as a natural slug repellent - not sure if they are any better in price compared with wool pellets though.

cedar - I've planted 3 lots of the same packet of bean seeds. The first took ages and ages to come through - over 3 weeks!- the second slightly less time, and the third have rocketed up. I can only think it's because of minor differences in temperature, particularly not having cooler nights? I've come to the conclusion that any germination, however long it takes, is a Good Thing!!

quince - I have hayfever and asthma too! I find the type of anti-histamine makes a huge difference: cetirizine hydrochloride works way better for me than any of the others. In my part of the world, however, there's a really bad cold doing the rounds, so perhaps you could be ill? I hope you feel way better soon, whatever the case.

I have been planting up watercress today. I just took nice big bits out of a packet from the supermarket and put them in a glass of water. The roots develop really quickly - and they grew at a rate of knots, about 0.5cm a day! I've now put the sprigs in compost, which I'm keeping moist with a second non-drained container around it. Hoping for some nice, strong spicy salad leaves in a few weeks!

Omg shovetheholly what a good idea! I'm totally going to do that! I've planted American landcress at the allotment still a bit too small for harvesting but a leaf here and there is quite delicious. It's all the rage at our local posh salad bags.

I've also decides I'm going to plant extra parsnips in my big home pots as my allotment partner doesn't care for them but my (non-gardening) DH adores them, and the foliage is quite pretty. That way I figured I can control the quality/looseness of the soil?! Has anybody done that before? How many parsnips per 14" diam pot should I aim for? Maybe add a decorative fennel in the middle for prettiness and height...

Thanks all. Just feeling sorry for myself, I hate being ill. I think it's allergies plus a bug. I would be great at growing mushrooms in damp dark conditions! Maybe a cave?! Feeling a bit better now. I didn't drink all of my gin and tonic (with mint, cucumber, lime and lots of ice mmmmmm) last night, so must have been feeling rough...I'm on certirizine anyway which is usually great.

Shove, I would never have thought of doing that! So you keep the inner pot's roots under water? I love watercress but always end up feeding the slimy remains of the packet to the chickens as I never finish it off in time. A fresh supply would be marvellous. I'm buying some today!

Yes, if you didn't finish such a botanical delight as a perfect G&T you MUST be ill!!

I think the inner pot just needs to be kept really moist, kind of like a bog garden. So I have a drained pot inside an old container that has no drainage. I will flush it with fresh water once a week to make sure it doesn't go all stagnant and 'orrible.

hia - I would sow the seed like normal and thin like normal, so to about 4 inches between plants. I would not put fennel in there, though. It is allelopathic, which means it tends to inhibit or kill other kinds of plants - it can make things bolt too. About the only thing that is advised to grow with it is dill.

Oh, and meant to say - I hear you on the cave quince. My hayfever is much better since I moved to Sheffield compared to the south-east. Unfortunately, I suspect this is because it rains so much, so there are downsides!!

Shove the yellow beans from last year didn't germinate then either. It was a bit optimistic on my part to bother at all
That's a great idea about watercress. I would never have thought of doing that.

Hiahia parsnips can be erratic in their germination so do what Shove says and thin out as necessary.

Sorry for all of you suffering from hay fever. It's a shame to feel so ill as soon as it warms up.

Afternoon!
Just having a few moments of feet up time after lunch.
There is no doubt about it - this year is just really odd re germinating. Not just me, but loads of regulars at the plot saying the same
quince I would give the willow sticks a go - though too short , they should produce whippy growth at the top, which may work?-
poor you, and everybody with hay fever. I think the increase in rape seed growing has made a big difference - the pollen is much larger, and affects more people , and it is grown all over the place now.
I am behind also. the weeds are starting to gang up on me , and I have such a busy week starting on Saturday,, so frantically trying to plant stuff out. Thats what I was doing this morning, in the drizzle....
Planted sweetcorn, borlotti beans, spare broad beans, the dahlias and cosmos into the cutting flower area . The dahlias have been discovered by the slugs at home, so thats why they have gone to the plot.. Harvested the last lot of purple sprouting broccoli to bring home, then dug all the plants out. There were about 10 slugs on each plant, all up the stems...
Back this afternoon, to hopefully plant and weed some more, also in the mizzle !

Weary now. - don't get old :)
Tea cooking in the oven, and a cup of coffee.
Went back this afternoon with DH - we put the rest of the wigwams up, I planted out purple french beans and the first lot of runner beans - forgot to take the green french beans , they were hiding on another hardening off space...
Made a management decision to remove the scaffolding boards around the asparagus bed. They had started to rot a bit after 5 years, and couch was getting underneath, so with those taken away, I can keep control of the weeds a bit better ( hopefully) . The purple asparagus had been nibbled .
Tomorrow, fingers crossed, its the rest of the french beans, courgettes , and sprouts......

Cripes, booky you've been being industrious again, haven't you? You had mizzle? It was glorious here. Shame I had to work

No gardening for me again today, but maybe tomorrow I will start the great plant of tomatoes varied plants. It's warmer tonight, so I have consigned more of my tomatoes to the great outdoors, meaning that My Best Tomato has now gone into a growhouse, to start its journey to fruitful destiny.

LOVE the trick with watercress, Shove. I may copy it too.

A bit of necessity Spotted ! DD2 moves house on Saturday and DD1 moves house next Wednesday . Helping both as much as we can doesn't leave much spare time , when its probably the busiest time at the plot. So just trying to get as much in the ground this week, and pretend the weeds aren't there....

Shove - that's a good idea with the watercress, I've never thought to grow it which is strange really as we live in the heart of watercress country and it is very much part of our local heritage/economy. On the other hand, it's very readily available and cheap (big bunches, not just supermarket bags) so perhaps no need to grow it.

Book - I share your frustration about the next week or so but for different reasons - next Thursday is my long-dreaded exam, so I haven't got as much time as I need for gardening.

I've decided to be brave and leave all my plants out on the hardening off bench tonight. It's supposed to be cloudy but mild, so hopefully not too many slugs and snails coming out.

Cedar - I planted butternut squash at the end of March. One germinated almost straight away and is now a sturdy looking, healthy plant. One germinated about two weeks ago and the other 3 or 4 did nothing.

I have had a total failure on runner bean germination this year, one plant out of two sowings of about 12 seeds each.

DD has been creative in the garden. We decided to grow some catnip as our two cats love it. I was on another thread about how to protect it from being entirely eaten by cats, which is what happened last time we grew it and someone suggested putting an upside down wire basket over it for the leaves to grow through. So I bought a basket, started some seedlings and DD has taken it upon herself to plant it up as a normal basket but suspended it about 6 inches off the ground on a low tree branch, I think the cats are going to have fun with it! I also think I'd better start some more seedlings off.

I am always so inspired by book's workrate!! And bah to the idea that age is making you weary - that amount of work would exhaust a 17 year old with the strength of a small carthorse!

Very best of luck with your exam whoknows. I hope it goes really well. I hate the revision and the stress - but it will be worth it when you are all qualified!

Morning!
the curcubits have been a bit rubbish for me this year. Only the cucumber was old seed as well. The butternut squash did fine - popped up first. Then the crown prince - only 3 out of 7 - I usually have spare to give away. And 1 of those only popped up last week.
Sweetcorn rubbish - I have had 3 other people say theirs didn't germinate at all, then spoke to another lady, she used last years seed and everyone germinated. I got 6 out of 28, so bought a tray. Will plnat the 6 somewhere out of the way, along way from the others when I see where to put them...
Not had too much trouble with beans, though a few of the green french beans have come up blind - the case opened, nothing inside..but I have left them and they seem to have little leaf buds. I don't mins so much, as the purple cosse violette have virtually all germinated so have 17 of those...
WhoKnows - its a long time since I did any exams, but that last frantic week is horrible, even when you think you have done enough, and worked hard . And trying to fit it in whilst holding down a job , and with family - just so stressful. Is it more so when you are not a teenager, or less so?
and thanks for the vote of confidence shove :) It just takes a bit more time to recover, so I do have to put my feet up !

Good luck with your exam Whoknows

Bookbook - very inconsiderate of your children to move house in the middle of prime planting time . My purple climbers and borlotti beans have gone a bit mad and I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to get them to the plot and planted out without damaging the growing stems too much. (I might plant a few more as back ups just in case).

I picked the seedcase off the butternut squash plant this morning which has taken an age without doing it itself. Slightly damaged the leaves but it was never going to get going on it's own. Last year I had some different squashes which are supposed to be more hardy and they did OK. But I failed to dry the seeds I'd saved for this year properly so had to chuck them out.

Went over to water last night. Carrots have made an appearance. So too have a couple of cabbages. More peas are up so need to sort out something for them to grow up. I've just strung some netting over the top to discourage the pigeons but they need some proper supports.
All the asparagus crowns planted out by DH during the unexpected snow storm we had last month have sprouted so that is good news. I shall be looking for more tips on how to be successful with these as we know nothing about them. They're DH's plants really but I like to give him lots of useful advice

hahaha Cedar - most inconsiderate but I'll let them off.
I went this morning to plant courgettes and the french beans i forgot yesterday.
My peas are up, so spent a bit of time netting them .Will have to get ready to sow more for a succession.
And weeded all around the asparagus bed of the encroaching couch grass. No more nibbles on them , so maybe taking the boards away has helped in not giving those slugs a cosy home.
Weeded in the fruit cage too , so thats it until Sunday morning, when its brassica planting time...

Hooray, you have peas book - that makes me feel hopeful that mine might come good eventually after two successive disasters this spring!

I've been doing more cheapo gardening with kitchen ingredients today. Namely, sowing a chamomile teabag to get some plants. A box of 20 bags from Tesco costs 75p, and I only used one in the garden. So I have plenty left over to calm me down at the excitement of seed for under 4p a go!

yes shove ! I sowed them Sunday 15th , so happy with that. Will sow another row at the end of next week.
I have just found a snail sitting on the rim of my watering can - inside the greenhouse - little blighter.

I have a question about pumpkins/squashes (curcurbits?) - mine are all going yellow, regardless of whether they're in pots or the ground :( what can it be? They're still progressing and look fine apart from having jaundice

mm - are they going yellow between the veins, or just generally? And are the new leaves yellow, or do they turn yellow? How did you plant them - with lots of compost/manure?
sorry - lots of questions!

Older/lower leaves going yellow as pictured (ignore slug damage). Also the pumpkins growing outside at allotment....

well, the new leaves are looking pretty good, so I don't think there is anything to worry about, unless the new leaves start turning yellow as well. They can turn yellow when stressed - not enough water ( or alternatively if you overwater, leeching out nutrients) Wont hurt to give them a foliar feed if you have any - comfrey juice, or general plant food something like that. I do that in the evening, so the leaves don't scorch ( fat chance of that at the moment, mind!) They are heavy feeders.

Thank you for the exam wishes, I haven't done any work today (yet!). As for whether it's harder now or as a teenager, that's a tricky one. Harder then because it's doing several all at once and your future depends on it (there is nothing riding on the result of the one I'm doing now except pride). Harder now because I'm trying to juggle two jobs, two pre-teen DCs both with some SENs and both with heavy extracurricular schedules, homework etc and who don't go to bed till 9.30, oh and then there's the allotment. And I go to pilates, ballet and tap classes every week. Whereas teenage me just had revision and a bit of social life.