How do you part with your 'babies'?

[BarleySugar]

Having successfully started up our tutor business, selling, so far, in excess of £30 worth of caterpillars to staff and students (with permission slips I hasten to add), to raise the money to buy free range eggs to sell to staff, Fulston Farmers starts the 3rd strand of the business plan tomorrow, selling plants to staff and students.
I have been sorting through my excess plants, trying to convince myself I do not really need 12 courgettes, 10 butternut squash, and the 8 chilli plants I have spare. I already have 67 chilli plants that I really need to keep. I have 26 varieties, and need at least 2 of each in case ones die, and the a few extra of our favourites.
I'm not finding it so bad to get rid of more of the plants that I took as cuttings last year and got stuck with, or the herb bits I did especially. Most of the seeds donated by kind grapes have been planted by my 'hardcore' farmers, our light weight ones have even failed to bring in any empty jars or yoghurt pots These will provide plants later on, hopefully looking a bit heathier than some bent and twisted specimens that did not survive a bike rid to school this morning with one of the tutor group.

[zazen999]

I've already given away probably half the plants that I have grown this year - as I started a job creating veg gardens in 5 schools and I've provided all the seedlings [and most of the seeds] for the project.

As long as you have enough for you and you are happy with those; there's no harm in giving them away! It's a good thing

[Jeanied]

Wish you lived nearer Barley Sugar - I have loads of spares...
That has given me an idea - I'm in at least 3 different schools a week. New use for the car boot.

[bobleponge]

The young lady who cut my lawn received plenty of tomato plants, as well as cucumber and gherkins as I had planted too many for likkle ol me.
I give stuff away every year, but equally, I get given stuff every year, and it confirms my belief every year that people who garden are giving people.

[di]

All of my excesses will be going to either DD or DS' school.
This afternoon is my first 'Eco club' at DD's.The Head ran it with her OH last year but this year she's asked me to help...they grow several bits that will either be ready for harvesting this term or after the Summer hols and also they sow stuff to sell plants at the Summer Fayre.....I'd much rather see my left overs get used by them as opposed to getting a hideous glut at harvest time that I struggle to use

[smallfrog]

Friends school gets some. Family and friends people at work, But then again i get given alot too.

I have real problems with thinning out. If it germinates i think it deserves ago at life. Which leads to loads of stuff i never really wanted. DS million melon plants which must be potted on.

[Nicos]

Friends and neighbours..there's always someone who knows someone who can find a place for another couple of plants!!!

( mind you- the courgette plants last year were a bit tricky to pass on!...good job they were yellow courgettes!)

Can't stand waste- esp after all the love and attention which goes into germinating , growing and potting on!

[Alison]

Am taking some spare tomato and pepper plants down to my mum's this evening and will be donating a load more to my brother the week after. If I still have any left then work colleagues / neighbours get them although I do usually keep some back as contingency plants (late season deaths!) and shove them somewhere slightly inappropriate (inappropriate to the rotation that is not anything else you might be thinking.........)

[northepaul]

Wanted to give plants/help gardening club etc at the school my DD is at, but they are quite anti- gardening ("its too messy," "takes too much time" "health & safety".... etc) this year
Though quite happy to take plants for them to sell at the summer fayre
I am going to sell some at carboot instead, at least it raises some dosh towards costs etc

[CaroltheCarrot]

I always grow extra and give them to my mum for her church fayre.

Looking for brownie points later on

[Two_Sheds]

To my surprise I ended up with 7 packs of courgettes this year (I only ever grow 2 plants, so how????)

I've just volunteered to run a gardening after-school club, so guess what's going to be 1st, 2nd and 3rd on the agenda? (I don't mind killing courgettes, but pumpkins I'm more precious about, and they aren't having my chillies)

[RedThorn]

Just go for it, it's as Boble said, gardeners tend to be giving people. I'm building a further 2 raised bed's for DD's school this year and will more than likely be giving them some excesses too. One advantage though is DD's teacher has a plot on the same lottie and me so they have a second source

[Snadger]

Over the years I've prided myself on eventually being able to grow exactly the ammount I need and not waste seed by having any 'leftovers'.

I have had so many people ask me for plants this year that I now feel its my civic responsibility to grow more next year.

Next year I shall revert to growing my own needs......... then some!

I will bet a pound to a penny though that NEXT year......no one will want my spares!

[coreopsis]

It's not easy-I never understood "sow a few seeds at the station and pull out the weakest"-I know how many plants I want(oops,sorry,need)and always sow some more just in case the germination rate is rubbish.I always managed to accommodate a few tomato plants between friends and neighbours.It's fine when they're going into good hands but stranger-you never know.I have developed a "swap" with my friend-she takes my surplus plants-like chillies and toms last year(she has a greenhouse I haven't).I never had any fruit(outside),she had and offered me some(grown i greenhouse,plants raised by me)-I was delighted.She discovered some varieties she wants to grow.It's enough to make me happy,even more than that