Anyone with an allotment?

If it is growing wild then it is probably not Bocking 14?

Fair point. Also a big patch on an untended plot near mine.

Why is bocking 14 so much better? I’ve seen green manure vids on yt that suggest nettle and wild comfrey just as good...

It’s sterile so it doesn’t spread. Which means you can let the flowers run to seed (better for the pollinators) and not have to spend time controlling it.

Harvest after a week away.

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Oh ok, so nutritionally speaking it’s all good to use the tons of wild comfrey and nettles at my disposal? Comfrey is the no1 thing to pop up all over the shop so no need to plant any until I’ve killed that lot off...

It's not just that it's sterile, Bocking 14 was supposedly the best out of Bockings 1,2,3 etc. Some guy (called Bocking? In a place called Bocking? I can't remember) did a test. But I'm sure normal comfrey is 90% as good.

90% as good is good enough for me....
It’ll def do at least til all the nettle and comfrey is gone from the plot. Once that’s all sorted and gone I’ll grow some of this mystical strain...
Just need to acquire some down pipe/barrel etc to make some.

Can confirm that root free/runner free nettles
do make a nutritious 'tea' for plants.
Also, ends up disturbingly smelly when you try to get rid of the
immersed, blackened stems.
Probably less of a problem on an allotment,
than along a suburban street.

If you do make some with nettles, be careful of the seeds. If you chuck them in make sure they’ve rotted down in the water. Otherwise you’ll just be spreading the seeds about the place. I made that mistake...

As an alternative you can just rip up the leaves and use as a mulch and place a handful in with the plants when planting up.

Comfrey and nettle are like rocket fuel, totally righteous.

I’ve found a big patch of comfrey on a dog walk we do. So I take a bun bag with me and snip a load then.

Question which is the best bit the stem or the leaf? If I put the whole thing in the bag it’s quicker but if I just need the leaves I can get more in a bag but will take a while to fill a bag with leaves

I have more spinach than I know what to do with. Gave a massive bowl full to the nice family who back onto us and have instructed the neighbouring plot holders to pillage it as well.

Peas have finally started appearing this week which is nice. Think my garlic is done but onions can prob go longer

Steam and freeze a load as well for lovely winter greens :)

Good call, just had a big smoothie as well.
We threw lots of spinach and salad down in desperation when April/may fucked everything and now the salad is powering through the weeds.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-57438179

Rust on my garlic and maybe blight (?) on my early spuds. Le sigh!

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Some broad beans and rhubarb at least.

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Some guy (called Bocking? In a place called Bocking?

Lawrence D Hills
Bocking in Essex

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_D._Hills

Ryton Gardens was a great place.

I've had Broad Beans wiped out by Black Fly for the past few years and it looks like its happening again this year.
Strange how my plot neighbour's beans 10 foot away are totally unaffected - he hasn't sprayed or pinched the tips out either.

I found some blackfly on ours too the other day. A quick spray with mildly soapy water kills them.

What the hell do you guys do with your beans? I’ve never managed to make them taste edible.

Broad beans - Seem like a bit of a lottery, many people around here have terrible black fly so we haven’t planted any :(

What the hell do you guys do with your beans? I’ve never managed to make them taste edible.

Broad beans ?
The really big ones can be leathery and bitter but you can 'shell' the skins off once they are cooked.
Best pick when young.

Our garlic has rust, just pulled them all a couple of days ago. I presume they’ll still dry ok despite it?

I think you may be a little early pulling them now as May weather was so rubbish.
These were last year June 20th - rust n all.

They stored fine.

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