Growing your own - is it worth it?

[Jonathan]

Considering it was our first year of having an allotment, we're rather pleased with our produce! The carrots are amazing (some of them are over 25cm long), the broccoli was good, the cauliflower less so (we missed some so they bolted), the potatoes were mixed - the 1st and 2nd earlies were great but the main crop were poor. Rhubarb is doing well but we've been advised not to harvest in its first year. Corn on the cob, only 2 plants survived, strawberries have proliferated nicely so should get a good crop next year. The winter leeks are doing well too.

[groovydavidii]

Allotment N/Forest boundaries, initially m/crop potatoes looked fantastic, dug-up–full of wireworm, similarly broad beans good then black-fly, tried washing-up spray, but to no avail, however, sweet corn, chard, runner beans, kale, courgettes, beetroot, lettuce, rhubarb good. Next task, plant leeks, peg-down weed control covers and have a rest.

[ardcarp]

Next task, plant leeks,

??? Have we been getting it wrong all these years? We usually sow seeds in early summer, prick them out and dib them in in July. Then they grow slowly and we start pulling them up from about now and through the winter and into spring.

On the subject of runner beans, it's been an OK year. Neighbours pick them (for their own use) while we're away at unpredictable times during the summer and there's usually a few crops left when we get back. A funny thing happened this year. We thought they'd all finished in early September...but a second flush happened, and we had a feed off them yesterday. Climate change?

[Rjw]

Leeks are planted in June on my allotment, i now have about two hundred ready or nearly ready for harvesting throughout the winter months.

[groovydavidii]

Ardcarp RE: message 888, meant HARVEST not PLANT!

[ardcarp]

The subtle difference escaped me.

[gradus]

Planted some more garlic today and began to clear the allotment beds - heavens what a mess but on our lightish soil it's fairly easy to dig in or pull out the annual weeds.
Only the tulips still to pot up but I'll need to change some of the compost as it's getting a bit elderly and we had tulip fire a couple of seasons back. All the rain has helped the wallflowers to establish.

[doversoul1]

The mice in my garden, whether they are field mice or house mice living outside, seem to have developed a taste for green vegetables this year. They nibbled broad beans, climbed up the peas and even to the top of the runner beans and ate off bits along the rows. And now they are busy going around the Brussels Sprouts. Very odd.

Whether it is the weather or the variety, the sprouts taste superb this year.

[gradus]

Thanks for the reminder to cover over-wintering onions and garlic not against mice but pigeons who will take the tops out, ditto rabbits if they get the chance.

[gradus]

On reading the first cuckoo in Spring - here I am.
Not much of a Winter but the over-wintering garlic, onions and broad beans aren't complaining.
Apricots, peaches, pluot and shortly, plum will likely beat the cherries this year into flower unless we get a real cold snap.
I should already be out with a paint brush hand-pollinating but it's a job for which I need to work up enthusiasm and there's too much to do in the greenhouse sowing and potting-on. Asever I've over-done it with sweet peas so despite being over-sown they'll just have to take their chance outside. I managed to thin a hazel yesterday so am lucky to have some climber supports for later.

[Rjw]

I have just planted some first early potatoes Lady Crystl (sic) and my Winter Density lettuces sown under cover in October are ready to cut.

My bees are coming back loaded with pollen. They always inspire me to try and match their hard work.

[oddoneout]

I have several different varieties of winter lettuce which are really coming into their own now having enjoyed the mild winter - although the excessive wind occasions caused some problems to the leaves. Such a pleasure to be able to gather a handful of crisp tasty leaves to liven up the lunchtime plate and interesting the differences in texture, colour and taste. I have also had several pickings of forced rhubarb, but now am letting the clump recover. This coming week will see the start of seed sowing and also a decision perhaps about extending the veg growing area in view of the possible/likely cessation of my employment commitments before too long - visitor attractions are not best placed to stay open given the current covid19 situation - and any supplement to the food supply may be welcome in the coming months!

[gradus]

Got the first spuds in today and guess what, the long neglected plots on our allotment have found new and keen tenants. Sad that initial enthusiasm often gets blunted by the realities of reclaiming neglected land, but fingers crossed for them.
Been hand pollinating the stone fruit, best done before Noon according to the experts.

[MrGongGong]

Our bees are out and coming back laden with pollen
getting warmer by the day

[gradus]

Our bees are out and coming back laden with pollen
getting warmer by the day

That's wonderful.
I've noticed a few bumbles -at least I think they were - in the garden and I hope our neighbour's bees about 100 yards down the lane make it this far.