I Never Would Have Thought It, But I've Achieved This Because Of You!

[wellie]

Really love the stories.
How great is this?
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[Comfreyfan]

Most of my aunts/uncles/grandparents grew their own, it was how the family was fed - my parents probably did the least as they worked 14 hour days during the summer months, but there was always a bean row. When I stayed with my cousin, we used to sneak out through the bedroom window (bungalow!) when we were supposed to be in bed and snack on peas, carrots and beans, straight from the garden! That particular uncle was my gardening guru and when I first grew onions I very anxiously arranged all the bent over tops in a neat herringbone pattern and asked if that was how I should ripen the onions, he agreed, my aunt just snorted and said "you never do, you slouch along with your hands in your pockets and scuff them out of the ground with your feet". I've always remembered this and use it to remind me that you can angst too much about your growing

[Flummery]

My Dad grew his own and his dad always had fruit bushes, Nanna made the world's best fruit pies and cordials from their back garden. I remember being allowed to dig up a root of new potaotes for supper when I was at that age when you're growing so fast they can't feed you quick enough. They were so gorgeous. And I regret to this day the french beans he grew that we wouldn't eat! Even in his later years he had his rhubarb and his blackcurrant bushes. Good old Dad!

[SueA]

I used to help my dad in the garden when I was little, he used to have fits & starts at gardening, sometimes our garden was a complete overgrown jungle then he'd get a scythe out, chop all the grass down & grow veg. or gladioli or chrysanths. My job was to shovel rabbit poo from the hutch into the trench to grow runner beans in & then to tie them in & pick them when they'd grown. I also used to help cutting the hedges & the lawn & grew flowers in my own little patch. When I grew up though gardening took a back seat until I started watching 'Titch' on Gardeners' World & my late neighbour Avril started giving me plants & cuttings over the fenc. My late father-in-law then started giving me his spare tomato plants & I've carried on from there. Buying Grow Your Own magazine & joining the forum has provided me with encouragement, entertainment & a place to exchange ideas so thanks to everyone on here!

[batpixie]

I always remember my Grandad gardening. Me and my sister used to stay with my Grandparents during the summer holidays while my parents were working. Grandad used to always be in his greenhouse tending to his tomatoes, and we would usually go down there with him to look for the ripe ones. I'm sure that we ate more straight off the plant than made it to the table! Nana always used to make tomato chutney from the green ones left at the end of the season. I also remember being asked to shell peas for tea - not many made the pot! Grandad also grew potatoes, carrots, onions and rhubarb. In fact, I still have a crown of rhubarb which was taken from his garden when my nana moved house after Grandad died. The rhubarb moved to my parents house for a few years, to Manchester with me and then to Glossop when we moved here 3 years ago. I love growing tomatoes as it reminds me of Grandad, and I make tomato chutney from my nana's recipe when the season is over.