Anyone with an allotment?

might still be a bit early for for chillies. they need sun as soon as they are up to avoid them being straggly (?). beware late frost.

might still be a bit early for for chillies. they need sun as soon as they are up to avoid them being straggly (?). beware late frost.

You are right. I sow a few early that I keep indoors and then do the same later on put a couple outside

lemme know what you plan to put out.
we can mebbe do a few swaps.

Yeah deffo up for that. Still working out my 'growing strategy' (what seeds I have from last year and what I feel like eating when I next look at a seed catalogue).

I grew way too many chillis last year so will probably have a few knocking around.

I am keen to grow some veg...we have some really great garden space in my new house. but it's my first time and getting it going seems a lot of work. I think I can handle putting some herbs on the window sill...and garlic sounds easy (stupid question but do you just use a bulb from the shop)?? hmm this thread seems like it'll be useful.

I am keen to grow some veg...we have some really great garden space in my new house. but it's my first time and getting it going seems a lot of work. I think I can handle putting some herbs on the window sill...and garlic sounds easy (stupid question but do you just use a bulb from the shop)?? hmm this thread seems like it'll be useful.

Sorry only just seen this so sorry for slow reply.

Yes you can use a head of garlic bought from the shops - use the biggest cloves. That said I've only ever bought varieties from garden centres. This way you'll get the variety you want and it's more likely to be suitable for UK growing (possibly).

To get the best bulbs it's best to sow in October and leave for 10 months but Ive sown stuff later in the year and it's been OK (although smaller).

Make sure it's not water logged ground and make sure they get some food during the year.

Good luck.

I've made myself a vegetable patch and have put some growmore on this week, I'm intending on planting this weekend.

Any tips?

I iz very new to growing tastyness.

buy seedlings

Contrary to BRM's suggestions you can also buy some seeds and sow them yourself. It's always very satisfying (although seedlings have their advantages).

It may be a bit late for some things but the vast majority of veg can be banged in the ground now or very shorlty.

Come to think of it - what do you like to eat? I may have some spare seeds I can send.

I've just started volunteering at a local community garden and have just planted spuds, rhubarb some gooseberry bushes and have loads more we are waiting to pop up before we put it in the ground.

This may be the place to ask - can anyone recommend a decent push lawn mower? Are cylinder or rotary best?

I'm volunteering at a community garden and their cylinder one is pants. We have no electricity and don't want to spend too much. Also I plan to re sow a lawn late summer and had read that rotary ones are best for this. Is this true? Should I be asking someone's dad?

Yep, it's not too late for loads of stuff, in fact its just getting right.
Seedlings are for melts.
You can still sow seeds now, straight in t'ground, for lettuce, carrots, radishes, spinach, peas, beans, peas, swiss chard.
If you have a greenhouse, cold frame, or windowsill you could try starting courgettes, tomatoes, squash, chillis
Tell us what you want to grow and might have some more tips.

I have used both rotary and cylinder mowers .
Depending on the grass type, the ground, different factors come into play .
I have used the cylinder mower for more manicured flat lawns but do find the corners a little tricky
It has a heavy roller on the back which gives it the stripe effect.
Its petrol operated so no need for electric !
Not so great to use on slightly bumpy lawns though .
This is where really you would probably use a rotary mower, and from your description a community garden I should imagine it gets a lot of use as well .
From experience if you are looking for the perfectly manicured lawn then cylinder ( slightly more maintenance with the blades )
General mowing a rotary mower is a good all rounder . You can get them with a roller on the back so you can have the stripe effect if you wanted .
Prices do vary I know the cylinder mower we have was silly price ....but for the rotary Honda Izy
Petrol operated nice and easy to use the one we currently have had for 5 years and still going strong with a yearly service !
Hope this helps if not then ask someones dad :)

Thanks Stix - perfect. We've a small budget so may hit the shops this weekend. I shall be followign your advice!

You could always buy a really nice human powered one.

We've got one for our garden and they're awesome.
cheap to run and easy to fix too...

I see what you mean. I know nothing about lawn mowers so thought you could get all types of unpowered ones. I now realise you can't get an unpowered rotary one. Still I now have a lead on a petrol rotary one we might be able to borrow so I might hold off on any purchase just in case.

To be honest I don't mind the long grass and would prefer that with a heap of wild flowers in it but it's persuading the others. That said the clippings are great for compost and that's the one thing we are really lacking. Well one of the many things.

Thanks.

hows the growing going zippies?

Ive got basil, rocket, spinach and gigantor King Cos seedlings on the go, soon be time to plant out,

We've done all the hard landscaping on our allotment, 97.5% of the digging is done (what's left is rock solid now so we'll have to wait until a damp spell) and the raspberries, rhubarb, broad beans, potatoes, carrots, onions and parsnips are in. We've also got some leek and beetroot seedlings coming along nicely at home.

We've got a mutherficking pond! I'm counting the days before BRM falls into it. Currently only irises and wild strawberries in it, so he can't damage much.

Dug the beds again last night. Waiting on deliveries of plants for tomorrow's planting out. Getting some more veg plants off a friends allotment on Sunday. Have signed up to be a Master Gardener mentee; no idea what that means but she's a MOF and we were all in the pub feeling rosy on Sunday, so I said yes.

Sunflowers, chillis, peppers, toms, sweetpeas are all germinating and my makeshift greenhouse is coming back to life.

Compost bin hopefully next week, and then the slow process of trying to work out who owns the long thin strip of land behind our house. there's 10 square metres of extra growing space that's currently a fox cub playground with some added bind weed.

i had quite a bouty of seedlings grown from seed on top of the fridge ready to go out on a roof top i've claimed in growbags. the cat got up there and devastated my crop. heartbroken

Have spuds, radish, carrots, sunflowers and various beans in the ground. Have beetroot, spinach, chilli, lettuce, dif tomatoes and various herb seedlings on the go. Am also working on a wildflower 'meadow' (if you can call a 1x1m square a meadow).

Planning to get one of those mini walk-in greenhouses for £30 at the weekend for our community garden. It's probably crap but I'm, dead excited as I've always wanted a greenhouse (but have never had the land to put it on).

How are people's crops getting on?

Ate my first radishes this week (very peppery), spuds are doing well, some tomatoes outside and they are looking good as are the courgettes (although small at mo).

Does anyone need any help with their allotment and live in the North London area?
I really want to start learning more about gardening/growing veg but unfortunately I can't afford my own plot just yet!

xxx

How are people's crops getting on?

Ate my first radishes this week (very peppery), spuds are doing well, some tomatoes outside and they are looking good as are the courgettes (although small at mo).

We planted some of our seedlings too soon as in last weekend and the frost got them!

Can't believe I missed the beginning of the season after swearing to make an effort this year.
I have rocket and radishes in and halfway to being ready, waiting on spinach, mint, chives, coriander, basil, chicory,savoury and marjoram to germinate.

Tomorrow I'm throwing in some jerusalem artichokes and sweetcorn(if I can clear the shitheap that is my MIL's garden)
I'm really tempted this year to ship all my mushroom growing gear to my new place too as that is well worth the effort, in a geeky kind of way.

Can't believe I missed the beginning of the season after swearing to make an effort this year.
I have rocket and radishes in and halfway to being ready, waiting on spinach, mint, chives, coriander, basil, chicory,savoury and marjoram to germinate.

Tomorrow I'm throwing in some jerusalem artichokes and sweetcorn(if I can clear the shitheap that is my MIL's garden)
I'm really tempted this year to ship all my mushroom growing gear to my new place too as that is well worth the effort, in a geeky kind of way.

Whenever I've seen fartichokes grown they've always been contained in some way. Do you do that? I don't have a standalone bed or largeish container so any ideas how to stop them spreading? Can you just put a bin liner or similar around the area I'd like them to grow - kind of like a massive plant pot?