What are you growing?

featherstick · Post by **featherstick** » 03 May 2012, 09:07

I've decided to grow frogs, green algae, seaweed, pondweed, trench foot, waterlilies, and bulrushes this year.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 03 May 2012, 17:08

Heritage seeds are in! Hello old bean.

Including something called the Black Russian

featherstick · Post by **featherstick** » 04 May 2012, 09:19

We're dithering about whether to swap allotments.

Plus points: the putative new allotment is closer to our house (3 mins walk instead of 10 mins drive); it's a small, discreet allotment site; it's well-oriented facing due south; a pal has a neighbouring allotment and our kids could play; there are tool lock-ups on the site.

Minus points: we'd lose the work we've put into the old allotment; we'd lose a lot of the social contacts (although we could still go to BBQs and fireworks on the old site); we'd have to put a lot of work into the new allotment; it's a whole new project just when I've got plenty already; there'd be more expense e.g. new shed etc.; there isn't a shop on site.

Interesting: we'd have to negotiate with the new holder of our old plot around veg (and a lot of it would get pinched once people knew we were leaving, we have a thieving minority on our site); the new site is only 24 allotments instead of 120, so possibly more community/group feeling; we'd have to put some work into developing a community though by organising BBQs.

What do people think?

extractorfan · Post by **extractorfan** » 04 May 2012, 09:36

The quick walk option must be quite an attraction. I think that would seal the deal for me.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 04 May 2012, 15:39

The new site has a lot of plus points and the old site a lot of minus ones, seem to me.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 04 May 2012, 16:23

Go for the new site but be discreet about it til you actually leave, and try to keep in touch as much as poss with the previous crowd (minus the tea-leaves), well that's what I'd do (except I probably wouldn't manage the "discreet" bit).

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 04 May 2012, 19:28

Only thing better than an allotment is two allotments.

Post by **clv101** » 04 May 2012, 22:02

featherstick wrote:...new allotment is closer to our house (3 mins walk instead of 10 mins drive)...

Surely this overrides other considerations.

featherstick · Post by **featherstick** » 08 May 2012, 11:18

RenewableCandy wrote:Go for the new site but be discreet about it til you actually leave, and try to keep in touch as much as poss with the previous crowd (minus the tea-leaves), well that's what I'd do (except I probably wouldn't manage the "discreet" bit).

Pretty much our conclusion after kicking this around over the weekend. I'm going to confirm with the relevant council manager this week. Feels much better.

vtsnowedin · Post by **vtsnowedin** » 08 May 2012, 21:53

I'm not growing anything as of yet. I tilled up four of the five gardens on my list last weekend but it is raining and 8 degrees C today. No hurry as yet for anything other than peas.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 09 May 2012, 16:53

It's raining and 8 degC here and all! If we didn't grow stuff just because it was raining and 8 degC in these parts, we'd never get round to growing anything

Marvellous Other 1/2 has been sneaking out of a morning before I wake up, and digging beds for spuds in the plot. Which if you ask me is dedication beyond the call of duty!

vtsnowedin · Post by **vtsnowedin** » 09 May 2012, 21:24

RenewableCandy wrote:It's raining and 8 degC here and all! If we didn't grow stuff just because it was raining and 8 degC in these parts, we'd never get round to growing anything

Marvellous Other 1/2 has been sneaking out of a morning before I wake up, and digging beds for spuds in the plot. Which if you ask me is dedication beyond the call of duty!

I'm sure your smile is his inspiration.

What variety of spuds grows well in York?

Norm · Post by **Norm** » 10 May 2012, 11:14

Thanks to the generosity of a forum member I am now growing Tzar runner beans. He kindly sent me some of his stored seeds but mentioned something about their viability. With that in mind I divided them up into 3 batches. The first batch is being 'chitted' between two sheets of wetted kitchen tissue on a plate with some gentle heat. The second batch I have sowed in pots in my propagator, again with gentle heat. The third batch is being held back in reserve and would be direct sown if any of the first two batches fail to make up the numbers. If I get 80% germination from the first two batches I will have too many plants for my bean arbor so I would swiftly construct a wigwam or two.

Nicko · Post by **Nicko** » 10 May 2012, 11:49

100 or so Painted Mountain flour maize seeds germinated in news paper pots in the last few days. They are meant to be high in nutrients, 13% protein, cold resistant, and very pretty.

Nick

hardworkinghippy · Post by **hardworkinghippy** » 10 May 2012, 11:55

That's what I do too when I get new seeds - "belts and braces" system. If one lot fails then you've some others to wait for.

80% is great !

I'm really busy on other stuff but I'm getting back into the garden slowly but surely. We're still eating chard and cabbage, it's been to hot then too wet for lettuce and I've planted peas and carrots loads of times with no results.

Definitely, allotment within walking distance....