What did you do this weekend?

[Lesley Jay]

If it is the £15 flat rate on contract with T Mobile Multiveg I wouldn't.

[MissyMoo]

Took the MIL out for an early birthday treat (bluebell railway)...loads of brownie points!!
Pulled up the beans and dismantled the the frame, pulled up the courgettes and tidied the pumpkin patch. Harvested, cleaned and froze the last of the cauliflowers.
Sacrificed the pepperone plants cause I'm sick of them, decided to leave the toms till next weekend, mowed the lawn, pulled up some carrots and sowed some more (in pots) Roasted pepperone and baby aubergines and bottled in oil, made cucumber relish (again!!)
Oh and finished the first of the christmas present scarves! Not a bad weekend really!

[multiveg]

Not after contract phone, just pay as you go. T is 12p a minute to whatever network whenever with 10p texts. Mates brings it down to 5p to other t-mobile phones but landline and other network costs goes up to 40p.

[Waffler]

Hi Missymoo
I was wondering if you could tell me about your carrots. I sowed carrots AND parsnips back in the Spring, but unfortunately to no avail. I later sowed some small round carrots in containers, which were fine, but only gave OH and I 2 feedings: hardly spectacular. Does what you've said mean I too could sow carrots in a container now? What variety are you using, and what conditions will they be kept in?
Sorry for all the questions, but I'm keen to prolong the veg producing season. (aren't we all!!)

[multiveg]

Parsnips are notoriously bad germinators. I sowed 16 - I got ONE parsnip which is awaiting a frost. One year, I sowed a nice row of parsnip - had good germination, then along came OH who was on a weeding spree and thought they were docks/weeds - one parsnip survived the ordeal.

Carrots - I had difficulty this year with germination down the plot. It had been suggested that as soon as the carrot g erminates, slugs/snails found a tasty breakfast as not one carrot on the plot germinated. I sowed some in deep boxes and they've come out a treat.
There are the round carrots - Paris Market/Parabel that would be suitable for sowing in pots - they are the stumpy ones so don't need it too deep. They can be used for early sowings as well. I guess these stumpy ones are fine if you have stony soil or can't dig it very deep.

[multiveg]

I went on the Bluebell Railway erm about 25 years ago. I remember buying a pencil as a souvenir. Can't remember anything else about it.

[martini]

I've grown the round Parmex carrots in pots before but you need quite a lot for a decent meal. Next year I'm going to have a go at growing Nantes in the raised bed (with a plastic sheet round them to stop carrot fly!) but I'm also going to try growing them in a container - bought some cheap storage type plastic boxes from Tesco and will get the OH to drill holes in the bottom. It'll be interesting to see which one crops best - but knowing my luck I'll probably not get a carrot

[bramble]

Has anyone got the recipe for cucumber relish please?

[Mrs Dobby]

Sounds like you are going great guns Mrs D. Especially considering the double digging. Must get cracking next week as the next two weekends are taken up with either Mr E or myself being on a course.

Thanks Earthbabe, but the bed we double dug is only 8' by 12 foot, and Mr Dobby had already turned it over once, so it really wasnt too bad to do!

Only another 240 square meters to go and it'll all be done!

Good luck cracking on this week!

We are off to look at a possible 'free' greenhouse tomorrow, who knows may even dismantle and bring home to the plot aswell!

[monkeybum]

Pulled the last of my tomatilloes and finished making the RC chutney. We now have 21 jars! Methinks we went overboard a bit. Planted salads at the allotment oh and shook my jars of sloe gin, a bit worried about the amount of fruit floating but they are sealed now so I will just have to suck it and see.