Growing your own - is it worth it?

[doversoul1]

My Dutch in-laws grew endive every year, but theirs was a more upright and less frilly variety so FIL would draw up the outer leaves slightly and tie a bit of yarn round. Bit of a fiddly job as the leaves are quite brittle and as his health worsened he couldn't manage the bending, but for a while growing them closer together did a reasonable job(whether that was by accident or design I don't know). I used to grow a red upright form which did a pretty good job of blanching itself, and some years I also dug the roots to provide lovely pale pink 'chicons' - very easy and satisfying(especially when I thought how much they would cost to buy, assuming I could even find them!), but I had to stop when the rat population got out of control and started destroying not only the shed but anything in it. The frilly forms I now use as baby leaf rather than growing to full size - better use of space and better suited to my requirements.

I gave up the frilly sort awhile ago and now only grow broad-leaf variety. They are more substantial and less fussy to prepare. I tie them by butch but have never managed to keep the track of which were tied first etc. By the way are those chicons you mention not chicory rather than endive? I grow them both and they do look quite similar although I don’t think chicory tops are edible or not meant to be eaten. Come to think of it, I have never tried growing chicons from the endive roots, since we eat them (the tops) all.

Something gnawed through one of my fully grown leeks and left it lying on the ground. I didn’t think anything ate leeks (other than us humans). Has anyone had the same problem or know what/who does this?

[oddoneout]

I gave up the frilly sort awhile ago and now only grow broad-leaf variety. They are more substantial and less fussy to prepare. I tie them by butch but have never managed to keep the track of which were tied first etc. By the way are those chicons you mention not chicory rather than endive? I grow them both and they do look quite similar although I don’t think chicory tops are edible or not meant to be eaten. Come to think of it, I have never tried growing chicons from the endive roots, since we eat them (the tops) all.

Something gnawed through one of my fully grown leeks and left it lying on the ground. I didn’t think anything ate leeks (other than us humans). Has anyone had the same problem or know what/who does this?

Yes the end product was chicons, and yes radicchio rather than endive; the variety I used was Rossa di Treviso which is an excellent salad/cooking sort, but as it is tall and narrow it lends itself to forcing as well.The in laws variety would I think have been what is generally termed sugarloaf.
Rabbits learned to like leeks many years ago on the allotments when a combination of a population explosion and a bad winter forced them to try anything. Interestingly not all leeks were equally eaten - there must have been some differences between varieties that made for different levels of palatability. However they did eat from the top down - and often left the white stem - so I don't know whether that would be the culprit in your case.

[doversoul1]

I pruned and tied the raspberries yesterday. I don’t remember ever doing this job in warm sunshine. It is nice to be warm but I’m not sure being so warm so early in the season is good for growing things.

[gradus]

Thanks for the reminder. I think I'm going to abandon early raspberries in favour of the so-called Autumn fruiters, which are a bit less bother to prune ie just cut them back.

[Jonathan]

We cleared half our allotment 2 weeks ago as it had filled up with nettles over the winter. It's first year we've had one so assumed not much would grow over the winter - although in fairness one of our follow allotmenteers (is that a word?) said that it had been too warm over the winter and all the plants were confused. Probably going back tomorrow to finish the job (assuming my neck is feeling better). Anyone know any recipes for nettle soup?

[MrGongGong]

Careful of your back Jonathan
And what we found was that folks would enthusiastically go full-on digging on their new plot
then, after disturbing all the weeds (rotorvator being the worst way to go) would be completely physically unable to do anything
so when they returned a few weeks later the whole plot was full of weeds.

Old carpets, ground cover etc
and no-dig beds are the way to go
you really don't have to do the whole "double digging" nonsense

[gradus]

Careful of your back Jonathan
And what we found was that folks would enthusiastically go full-on digging on their new plot
then, after disturbing all the weeds (rotorvator being the worst way to go) would be completely physically unable to do anything
so when they returned a few weeks later the whole plot was full of weeds.

Old carpets, ground cover etc
and no-dig beds are the way to go
you really don't have to do the whole "double digging" nonsense

And I 'd avoid the old carpets too, they can be a nightmare to lift when wet and if made of synthetic materials will breakup without composting down leaving loads of bits of plastic and quasi-rubber backing in the soil. Not of course a problem if you use 100per cent woollen carpets.

[MrGongGong]

And I 'd avoid the old carpets too, they can be a nightmare to lift when wet and if made of synthetic materials will breakup without composting down leaving loads of bits of plastic and quasi-rubber backing in the soil. Not of course a problem if you use 100per cent woollen carpets.

Always wool
and make great (long term) compost

[doversoul1]

Thanks for the reminder. I think I'm going to abandon early raspberries in favour of the so-called Autumn fruiters, which are a bit less bother to prune ie just cut them back.

Half of my raspberries are 'Autumn fruiters'. I was never really keen on the idea of harvesting raspberries in October but I have to admit that they are superior in almost every aspect to the traditional summer variety (at least the one I have): the size; the texture; the taste; the crop; and they kept on fruiting almost into December. And of course, there is no need for selecting the canes and tying in spring. What not to like?! All the same I do like raspberries in summer.

I can’t remember whose catalogue I saw it but there is now a summer variety that can be cut off in spring.

[Jonathan]

Thanks everyone, we are going to attack the nettles a bit later on but won't overdo it! ☺

[oddoneout]

Thick cardboard is good as a ground cover/weed suppressant. Holding it down is a bit of a faff, but spare bits of wood(long bits are most effective - planks etc), bricks, pegs(cheap from pound shops) can all be used, also milk bottles filled with water and plastic bags filled with soil(used to be carrier bags, but that supply less abundant now), and once it has been down for a while and been rained on it sticks together quite well and moulds to the ground contours. Large plants can be grown through - potatoes, cucurbits, sweet corn, tomatoes - by cutting small holes down to a planting hole(filling with some potting compost ensures a good start) - although watch out for slugs and snails.
One year I was able to source a good supply from work - packing from equipment and supplies - which lasted well over a year. The only clearing up to do was the parcel tape, the cardboard itself was added to the soil entirely free of effort from me!
Carpet is not recommended for cover now. As mentioned n other posts, clearing once abandoned and grown over is a nightmare, but there is also the question of the chemicals that get leached into the soil from both the materials themselves and the treatments they may be given such as stain protection and moth-proofing. Wool carpet will break down, but is almost certainly not 100% natural fibre. will have been subjected to various chemical treatments, and the backing will have the drawbacks of manmade carpets. One way to mitigate problems is to use carpet over plastic to weigh it down.
Re: nettles, look at River Cottage for cooking ideas. The green parts are excellent compost material and plant food(rather smelly though like comfrey), and regular strimming/cutting down will ensure a good supply of juicy young growth for whichever purpose, and provides some spread control. I have tried several times to like cooked nettles in various guises but found the texture offputting.

[gradus]

Thick cardboard is good as a ground cover/weed suppressant. Holding it down is a bit of a faff, but spare bits of wood(long bits are most effective - planks etc), bricks, pegs(cheap from pound shops) can all be used, also milk bottles filled with water and plastic bags filled with soil(used to be carrier bags, but that supply less abundant now), and once it has been down for a while and been rained on it sticks together quite well and moulds to the ground contours. Large plants can be grown through - potatoes, cucurbits, sweet corn, tomatoes - by cutting small holes down to a planting hole(filling with some potting compost ensures a good start) - although watch out for slugs and snails.
One year I was able to source a good supply from work - packing from equipment and supplies - which lasted well over a year. The only clearing up to do was the parcel tape, the cardboard itself was added to the soil entirely free of effort from me!
Carpet is not recommended for cover now. As mentioned n other posts, clearing once abandoned and grown over is a nightmare, but there is also the question of the chemicals that get leached into the soil from both the materials themselves and the treatments they may be given such as stain protection and moth-proofing. Wool carpet will break down, but is almost certainly not 100% natural fibre. will have been subjected to various chemical treatments, and the backing will have the drawbacks of manmade carpets. One way to mitigate problems is to use carpet over plastic to weigh it down.
Re: nettles, look at River Cottage for cooking ideas. The green parts are excellent compost material and plant food(rather smelly though like comfrey), and regular strimming/cutting down will ensure a good supply of juicy young growth for whichever purpose, and provides some spread control. I have tried several times to like cooked nettles in various guises but found the texture offputting.

Easiest of all but not the cheapest, buy some heavy duty ground textile cut it to size hold it down with anything heavy that comes to hand or bury the edges. When you're ready fold it up for re-use.

[oddoneout]

Easiest of all but not the cheapest, buy some heavy duty ground textile cut it to size hold it down with anything heavy that comes to hand or bury the edges. When you're ready fold it up for re-use.

I was fortunate enough to acquire two bits of discarded marquee siding which did a pretty good job - but were not the easiest things to manipulate single handed, being heavy and stiff.

[doversoul1]

The tomatoes have germinated and need to go out into the greenhouse but the weather has turned cold. Typical. Still, I suppose it is just as well, as if the hot weather had continued, I wouldn’t have been able to keep up with the garden.

I’ve decided to give up growing indoor cucumbers this year. F1 hybrid seeds are very expensive but I have never had much success. Outdoor variety are less sweet and the skin is thick but they usually fruit well enough and perfectly edible.

[oddoneout]

The tomatoes have germinated and need to go out into the greenhouse but the weather has turned cold. Typical. Still, I suppose it is just as well, as if the hot weather had continued, I wouldn’t have been able to keep up with the garden.

I’ve decided to give up growing indoor cucumbers this year. F1 hybrid seeds are very expensive but I have never had much success. Outdoor variety are less sweet and the skin is thick but they usually fruit well enough and perfectly edible.

I've only ever grown outdoor cues, lacking the facilities(or the patience) for greenhouse sorts, and they've always done well. Marketmore was, and still is, the go-to, together with Burpless but in recent years there has been considerable development of new varieties which are more like 'normal' ones. I grew a variety called 'Tanja' for several years, and a variety called 'La Diva' more recently(this available from Lidl at pocketmoney price). Both produce smaller fruits like traditional outdoor varieties( a bonus as far as I'm concerned, and the family used to eat them whole as a snack) but with the thin smooth skins of the indoor kinds, and excellent flavour. They also have the advantage of not being watery, so much better in sandwiches.They take a bit of cossetting to get them going but once growing away are trouble free, although weather conditions(temperature) can sometimes cause bitter fruit. I plant mine on a little mound with a moat around to ensure that water doesn't settle around the stem but will get down to the roots, and I also rig up a low trellis arrangement to keep the fruits off the ground; keeps them clean and also is spacesaving, important now I no longer have an allotment.