Growing your own - is it worth it?

[gurnemanz]

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.

You reminded me to do it. I've put in some Arran Pilot and will follow some time soon with Charlotte. On clay soil so still rather heavy after recent deluges.

[gradus]

Trying Vales Sovereign and Setanta this year and today's fine weather is ideal to plant them. In fact it's so dry lately that I'm having to water garlic, onions and shallots to keep them going.

[Dave2002]

I have been arguing about the merits of planting potatoes this year with ANother. In the past this has been "fun", and sometimes led to some tasty dishes, sometimes to complete disasters. This year, I really wonder if I should do it in case supplies from elsewhere become difficult. Much though I don't always like going against ANother, I might sneak a few bags in and plant them anyway. Without going for a complete "dig for victory" trashing of the garden though, it's hard to know how to get vegetables into this garden space. I have also wondered about making a potager space - but again I'm not quite sure where I would put it. Probably never happen!

[gurnemanz]

I have been arguing about the merits of planting potatoes this year with ANother. In the past this has been "fun", and sometimes led to some tasty dishes, sometimes to complete disasters. This year, I really wonder if I should do it in case supplies from elsewhere become difficult. Much though I don't always like going against ANother, I might sneak a few bags in and plant them anyway. Without going for a complete "dig for victory" trashing of the garden though, it's hard to know how to get vegetables into this garden space. I have also wondered about making a potager space - but again I'm not quite sure where I would put it. Probably never happen!

We're on a sixties estate on a corner site and I made vegetable space many years ago by pushing the fence back and incorporating a piece of frontage into the back garden. As mentioned above, we are on heavy clay and the soil there was almost unworkable. It must have been long uncultivated (probably pasture for preceding centuries). I read somewhere that planting potatoes was a good way to break up the soil. It took time but worked pretty well and the bed is now usable even for other veg.

[ardcarp]

Our over-zealous District Council has shut off the water supply to local allotments. Why? Firstly, there is surely little risk to/from allotment-holders working in their own patches, and secondly when could it be a better time to be 'growing your own'? I'm not personally affected, but a friend of ours with no car is upset about it, especially as we've had almost no rain for weeks down here.

[Dave2002]

We're on a sixties estate on a corner site and I made vegetable space many years ago by pushing the fence back and incorporating a piece of frontage into the back garden. As mentioned above, we are on heavy clay and the soil there was almost unworkable. It must have been long uncultivated (probably pasture for preceding centuries). I read somewhere that planting potatoes was a good way to break up the soil. It took time but worked pretty well and the bed is now usable even for other veg.

In my much younger days we had a house built largely on clay. I think if clay can be managed it can be rather fertile, but it is difficult to break up, I recall that we did have (dad planted them) various fruit - raspberries maybe, and some peas and beans, though we never did potatoes. Trying to become self sufficient is very hard, and I think most of us only play at it. We have tried to grow strawberries in the past - but apart from not getting bumper crops, usually by the time any crop has appeared birds have discovered them too.

I have a friend who optimistically tried to grow bananas. I believe it cost a small fortune to heat the greenhouse, and maybe his sense of achievement was eventually satisfied by one or two fruit after many years.

[Dave2002]

Our over-zealous District Council has shut off the water supply to local allotments. Why? Firstly, there is surely little risk to/from allotment-holders working in their own patches, and secondly when could it be a better time to be 'growing your own'? I'm not personally affected, but a friend of ours with no car is upset about it, especially as we've had almost no rain for weeks down here.

How far are the allotments from habitation? Maybe some creative thinking could overcome that difficulty. Could buy one of those water roller things, and take it to the allotments as a "form of exercise". Even then I don't suppose it would help a lot if there's no rain, and if the sun comes out to heat up the ground. Are there water butts on the allotments? Otherwise challenge the council on what might turn out to have been a silly decision - though the people concerned probably meant well.

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[gradus]

Fortunately the parish council saw the sense of keeping our small field open albeit with strict rules on conduct in line with official instructions eg we keep the gate open so that nobody need touch anything until they reach their own plot.

[MrGongGong]

Our over-zealous District Council has shut off the water supply to local allotments. Why? Firstly, there is surely little risk to/from allotment-holders working in their own patches, and secondly when could it be a better time to be 'growing your own'? I'm not personally affected, but a friend of ours with no car is upset about it, especially as we've had almost no rain for weeks down here.

Allotments are "permitted" exercise
unless, of course, only "exercise" that is miserable is allowed
Which isn't a problem for the likes of Mr Hancock and chums who probably live in big houses with loads of land

Our "allotments" are technically "garden gyms" (aaargh, I know) which means they don't have water, several folks have ingenious water collection systems.

[oddoneout]

Our over-zealous District Council has shut off the water supply to local allotments. Why? Firstly, there is surely little risk to/from allotment-holders working in their own patches, and secondly when could it be a better time to be 'growing your own'? I'm not personally affected, but a friend of ours with no car is upset about it, especially as we've had almost no rain for weeks down here.

Take it up with the council. There is possibly an issue with doing water quality testing(legionella) if the council has been doing that, although admittedly it's unlikely, and not wanting/being able to continue. If the council is just trying to discourage activity then it needs to be reminded that going to the allotment is on the permissible activities list. Don't know what the admin set-up is(eg self managed, fully council managed), but contacting the National Society might be helpful(https://www.nsalg.org.uk/)

[Cockney Sparrow]

If you don't get anywhere with reasoned discussion, get allotment holders to complain direct to councillors. They don't want hassle, they want a quiet life and opportunities to have their photo taken next to repaired potholes and new bus shelters. A mooted rent rise led to widespread and strident opposition in my authority and they soon backed down - inflation only rises.

The operative points are that using taps needs to be done after sanitising the tap, and hands washed afterwards as well, and hands washed/sanitised after entry and leaving - padlocks etc/site access door handles. After that its a matter of keeping 2 metres apart.

[ardcarp]

How far are the allotments from habitation? Maybe some creative thinking could overcome that difficulty. Could buy one of those water roller things, and take it to the allotments as a "form of exercise". Even then I don't suppose it would help a lot if there's no rain, and if the sun comes out to heat up the ground. Are there water butts on the allotments? Otherwise challenge the council on what might turn out to have been a silly decision

The allotments are on the outskirts of a village. Some of the allotments have sheds with water run-off and water-butts...but we're almost in drought conditions here.
Good idea about the 'roller things'. I could lend our friend ours from the caravan. It's still quite a hike for her. She usually cycles, and I can picture her towing a 'roller thing'. But I gather the allotment holders are not to be trifled with, and I think they're having a go at both Councils...Parish and District.

[Dave2002]

The allotments are on the outskirts of a village. Some of the allotments have sheds with water run-off and water-butts...but we're almost in drought conditions here.
Good idea about the 'roller things'. I could lend our friend ours from the caravan. It's still quite a hike for her. She usually cycles, and I can picture her towing a 'roller thing'. But I gather the allotment holders are not to be trifled with, and I think they're having a go at both Councils...Parish and District.

Presumably if you can get the allotments open, even if there's no water, those people who have cars could deliver water in suitable containers. Bit of a faff, though, and perhaps due to what seems at first sight to have been a silly decision. Maybe someone else in your area is mad enough like me to have about 30 or more plastic milk bottles, which could be filled up and taken by car or other vehicle to the allotments. Actually I was collecting mine for a project, which may, or may not, now happen.

[gradus]

Sowed some peas (Hurst Green Shaft -best by a mile around here), carrots, radishes and mangetout and planted summer cabbages but it's getting mighty dry on our allotments. Fortunately we have taps available.

[Constantbee]

Veg seeds very difficult to get hold of here. Sold out everywhere. Sellers are profiteering from online sales too, eg charging 3 times as much for a few courgette seeds. We've cobbled together a waist height vegetable trug out of some timber boards left over from fence repairs to grow salad leaves and herbs in. It will be more manageable if we get another wet summer. Cuttings from the soft fruit are doing well.