Anyone with an allotment?

Nice, our Eastern European neighbour grows giant toms as well, really impressive but kinda ugly, his are more of a lumpy pumpkin shape. They’ve given us young plants every year but we’ve always struggled with them splitting so I’m sure keeping the water level constant is really important with those varieties.

We’ve opted for idiot proof toms this year :)

Have my tomatoes bitten the dust already

1 Attachment

Got the Potatoes in today. McCains Premier.
Unsure if they're earlies or main crop.
Eldest is 17 and looked at me like I'd asked her to raise the titanic when asked if she'd like to help. Youngest is 7 and straight in there.
The shed in the background is going to be removed in the next few weeks as a swanky new 7' * 7' Asgard Gladiator is on the way but going on the left hand side of the garden.
New potato patch will nearly be 6 meters long.

2 Attachments

Good stuff!

4yo very keen on helping with potatoes today, 8yo less interested. Stuck 28 in pots and bags up at the allotment. Glorious weather, skateboarded there with the kids on their bikes, cold can of Tyskie, caught the sun a little, a good day.

I’ve really got to get my first earlies in.

You could also get your second earlies and main crop in as well 😉

I didn't think my carrot planter had worked but turns out it had. Thinning by pulling a few should allow others to grow on?

2 Attachments

Does thinning them attract carrot root fly at this time of year,?

Not sure. I have discovered they have a 2year life cycle and won't be very tasty quite soon.

Might compost the rest and reset for this year but eat them through the autumn & winter instead of waiting.

If you grow them in containers a metre or so off the ground you should be ok carrot fly wise

Just been down to the plot, I've never seen so many slimy bastards in one place before. Collected them all up and took them for a walk downhill. Cannot wait for it to dry up and be warm tomorrow.

Did anyone put tomatoes out yet?
Replaced a few of the mangy peppers in our tunnel yesterday and was going to put toms out today but weather says no.
Most of ours are about 2ft tall now so definitely ready for it.

Mine are hardening off

Trying a new plant to me this year: Achocha. They're growing well and the slugs aren't interested in them. They're like cucumbers when young but cooked like green pepper when mature.

1 Attachment

I’ve put mine in the greenhouse and seem to be surviving ok

Put mine out on Saturday. Early days, but fine so far, and I reckon the next few days weather should see them right.

Conservative Party conference?

Good point

Went down to the plot this evening to water the tomatoes and noticed some onion shoot that I planted poking out of the ground.

1 Attachment

I like your style!

Hopefully will keep the weeds down

Sowed some beetroot and earthed up the potatoes, feels like it's all swinging into action now. Had a word with slug control, he's not been pulling his weight.

1 Attachment

Tesco have Tomorite peat free grow bags for a fiver which is considerably better than all the local garden centres. I hope it's not full of weed killer. I have a ton of extra seedlings so I might try that buried bucket trick someone posted ^ and stick a load up the plot. Hopefully that'll mean I don't have to daily water.

Our strawberries and blackberries have gone mad this year and need netting before the blackbirds demolish them.

3 Attachments

Yeah, our strawberries have gone absolutely mental this year too.

Seems to be a fruit year. I've just been reading up on blueberries because we have three bushes (all different varieties iirc) and two are super leafy and one is super fruity. The problem is that the fruit laden one has barely any leaves, it looks bizarre and is clearly a bit stressed so not quite sure how to help it. I might cut off half the unripe berries and give it a few shots of nitrogen.

Having been waiting for an allotment for about 5 years, I've just had an email inviting me for a plot viewing on Sunday. I am reasonably competent at gardening but I don't do much fruit and veg, and have never had an allotment.

Sounds like there's multiple plots and multiple prospective allotmenteers. If I get a choice, what should I be looking out for? Obvious things clearly aspect and shade, slope, abundance of horrendous weeds, proximity to any resources like water, compost heap etc.