Growing your own - is it worth it?

[jean]

So what is the management committee doing to throw the uncompliant tenant off his plot, and re-let it?

Have the other tenants complained to the committee or to the council?

[french frank]

Depends on where you live, I guess ?

If you live in a rural area, I suppose the pressure may not be so great. (Do they have allotments in rural areas?).

I have pulled the first radishes, and the runner beans have reached the top of their wigwam. Plenty of pea pods developing, but broadies were a spring sowing so won't be producing for a few weeks.

[MrGongGong]

So what is the management committee doing to throw the uncompliant tenant off his plot, and re-let it?

Have the other tenants complained to the committee or to the council?

Where I live (small city with big Cathedral not in the South East)
there isn't a waiting list for allotments
a couple of years ago the council had a "consultation" about what we would all like
and all we really want is a more secure fence
that's it ....... no toilets, 'improved' paths etc etc just a ruddy fence and a new padlock on the gate so dodgy people in vans can't drive on in the middle of the night and nick folks tools ........

The funny bit was that the council found out that there wasn't a by-law preventing people keeping chickens ! (they told everyone there was) so they asked us all if we wanted them to make one, to which the answer was NO and now loads of folks have chickens.

It all works much better without too many rules and idiotic things about how big your shed should be and whether you can have a pollytunnel or not etc etc

[teamsaint]

If you live in a rural area, I suppose the pressure may not be so great. (Do they have allotments in rural areas?).

I have pulled the first radishes, and the runner beans have reached the top of their wigwam. Plenty of pea pods developing, but broadies were a spring sowing so won't be producing for a few weeks.

There are certainly allotments in the rural village, (ie not a village like Wimbledon), where I live.

Just creating a small vegetable garden at our place. There is much to learn, is what i have learned.

[gurnemanz]

Even if I gave up growing veg, I can't imagine ever not having herbs in the garden. I've just finished planting out this year's parsley plants and removing last year's which have kept us going throw the winter and spring - frost doesn't kill it. Also essential: sage, thyme, rosemary, mint, marjoram, winter savoury (great with beans), rocket, lemon balm. Also basil and coriander (kitchen window sill).

[gradus]

We're trying to get re-establish a village allotment field but its slow going as there are relatively few people interested, most having gardens for the purpose. I have allotments on a neighbouring village field but it would be more convenient to be closer and to be rid of the current plague of rabbits afflicting tha allotments.

[umslopogaas]

#154 teamsaint, if you are just starting out on veg gardening, and feel in need of advice, an excellent book is 'The Royal Horticultural Society Vegetable and Fruit Gardening', editor in chief Michael Pollock. Mine was published in 2008 and cost £20 in hardback, but there may by now be a more recent edition. You might also think of joining the RHS, their advisory service run from Wisley Garden is excellent and the Head of Advice, Guy Barter, is a keen veg and allotment man. I should declare a slight vested interest - I used to work for them - but I retired some years ago. I am not actually a member myself, but only because I have most of the relevant books, and I know who to ring if I need to know more.

[umslopogaas]

#156 gradus, if you are plagued by rabbits - and I cant imagine there is anyone trying to garden in rural areas who isnt - a rabbit-proof fence is the best answer. People are put off this by the advice to bury the bottom edge deep into the ground, to prevent them burrowing under. In fact, in my experience this is not necessary. I have put a three foot high wire netting fence all round my garden, bottom edge firmly pegged down but not buried, and it seems to keep them out. Of course, they COULD easily burrow under, but in practice, they dont.

Shooting them is satisfying, but useless for control, all you do is create vacancies for the next litter. The b*****ds breed like rabbits, that's the problem.

[teamsaint]

#154 teamsaint, if you are just starting out on veg gardening, and feel in need of advice, an excellent book is 'The Royal Horticultural Society Vegetable and Fruit Gardening', editor in chief Michael Pollock. Mine was published in 2008 and cost £20 in hardback, but there may by now be a more recent edition. You might also think of joining the RHS, their advisory service run from Wisley Garden is excellent and the Head of Advice, Guy Barter, is a keen veg and allotment man. I should declare a slight vested interest - I used to work for them - but I retired some years ago. I am not actually a member myself, but only because I have most of the relevant books, and I know who to ring if I need to know more.

Thanks for the advice, sloppers.

I just follow instructions in this endeavour, but I will pass your advice on to those running the operation, where it will be much appreciated.

[umslopogaas]

teamsaint, 'bon appetit!' This is a fun hobby and I hope you have a lot of pleasure from it. We should both of us pray to whatever gods we love for sunshine, because the beans need warmth and summer seems very much absent at the moment.

[amateur51]

#156 gradus, if you are plagued by rabbits - and I cant imagine there is anyone trying to garden in rural areas who isnt - a rabbit-proof fence is the best answer. People are put off this by the advice to bury the bottom edge deep into the ground, to prevent them burrowing under. In fact, in my experience this is not necessary. I have put a three foot high wire netting fence all round my garden, bottom edge firmly pegged down but not buried, and it seems to keep them out. Of course, they COULD easily burrow under, but in practice, they dont.

Shooting them is satisfying, but useless for control, all you do is create vacancies for the next litter. The b*****ds breed like rabbits, that's the problem.

But wild rabbit cooked/served with fresh early veggies is sublime fodder, I imagine

[french frank]

But wild rabbit cooked/served with fresh early veggies is sublime fodder, I imagine

"First, catch your rabbit."

[MrGongGong]

"First, catch your rabbit."

[umslopogaas]

#161, ams I'm sure you are right, but if, having shot your rabbit, you wish to eat it, someone has to gut and skin it, and despite being a biologist by profession, I worked with plants and dont much like blood and intestines. I'm happy to shoot, and happy to cook the prepared meat, but I'd prefer someone else to do the butchery. In fact ... I just had a memory about guts.

I was working in Jamaica on some plant problem or other and was asked to visit a farm. When I got there the farmer and his assistants were busy dissecting a large, dead Dobermann dog on the front lawn. It had been a guard dog and had been poisoned, they thought. Someone said "let's have a look at its liver, there might be signs of chemical damage" or something like that. I remember watching with professional detachment as they hauled out a large bloody lump of something and then I fainted. I've seldom been so embarrassed, though the rum they gave me to hasten my recovery was very nice. I've seen worse things than that and not reacted so violently, and to this day I've no idea what caused it: OK, a sudden rush of blood away from the head, but why?

[doversoul1]

I was working in Jamaica on some plant problem or other and was asked to visit a farm. When I got there the farmer and his assistants were busy dissecting a large, dead Dobermann dog on the front lawn. It had been a guard dog and had been poisoned, they thought. Someone said "let's have a look at its liver, there might be signs of chemical damage" or something like that. I remember watching with professional detachment as they hauled out a large bloody lump of something and then I fainted. I've seldom been so embarrassed, though the rum they gave me to hasten my recovery was very nice. I've seen worse things than that and not reacted so violently, and to this day I've no idea what caused it: OK, a sudden rush of blood away from the head, but why?

Maybe because you were not prepared? I hope it didn’t affect your reputation as a plant specialist!!

My seven-foot peas flopped over in the heavy rain a few days ago but they are producing quite a few pods. I sowed peas in one half and mange tout in the other half of the gutter but forgot to mark which was which. Bother… Broad beans are fattening and summer cabbages are hearting. Hungry gap is coming to an end. Anyone remember bottled or salted runner beans, doing or eating?