Morale boost needed

[weemer78]

Not long had my plot. I have spent a lot of time getting it started. I was working it in the day and going to my main job at night last week. Last time I was here was saturday at 21:30. Just managed to get back and all my sprouts and cabbages are gone all of them im so peed off. Im just sitting here on my bucket looking at the stumps left:'(

[Glutton4...]

Had you netted them? If not, Pigeons are likely to be the culprits.

[Two_Sheds]

Gosh, you give up easily

you've learned lesson #1 early on in your allotment career: always net your brassicas. Now you know that, it's onward and upward

lesson #2: grow a diverse range of crops, so if one thing fails, you can eat something else

[weemer78]

No I diddnt net them. I never even thought about it to be honest. I know to net strawberries but didnt know about anythingelse. Ill have to look at netting them. The corn has been left alone. Will the stalks grow back?

[Two_Sheds]

The corn has been left alone

Yep, corn isn't a brassica

Will the stalks grow back?

You'll get leaves on the stumps yes, which are edible, but you won't get sprouts off them, nor a full size cabbage


Get yourself a cheap (£3) veg book, I highly recommend Hessayon, which is dead easy to read & clearly lists the pitfalls of each crop

You're growing food, so creatures are going to come along and eat that food

[Glutton4...]

Everyone makes mistakes, so don't be too hard on yourself. As TS says, get some books, or search around this forum - you''ll learn LOOOOOOADS on here. Plenty that you didn't want to know too!

Good luck with it all!

[weemer78]

Thanks folks. Nets and books it is. Never said id given up just said I was peed off needed a morale boost.thanks folks time to shop lol

[veggiechicken]

Its easy to get peed off when you've put lots of effort into something and lose it. Last year I sowed courgette and squash seeds 3 times, over 60 plants, started them in pots undercover and each time they were planted out they were eaten by slugs within days. This year, I'm trying something different and hoping!! You learn through mistakes.
Try growing kale, its seems to be quite hardy and versatile and there's still time to sow it.
Good luck - keep smiling

[The Masons]

Chin up, all part of the learning curve. Now you know and won't do it again any time soon

[rustylady]

Have a look at these Weemer http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...cas_64608.html

You work at a recycling centre, don't you? People throw away all sorts of useful things

[weemer78]

Yeah I work at recycling center but I cant take owt even if it is useful I need a shed for my plot but I had to watch one get smashed up then by a new one for me. If I take anything it is classed as theft. Bit of a shame really.

[rustylady]

Obviously if you just take something it's theft, but can't you ask? Most recycling centres let employees have stuff.

[Feral007]

I don't think I could work at a recycling place and not be allowed to take anything.......that's torture!

You'll get there. So many things don't do well, and then something else is fantastic - it's kind of like a course in optimism! And fatalism! And this is your support group

[lee's mum]

Sorry to hear about brassica's, same thing happened to me but it was cabbage white catapilers that ate mine. they did recover a bit but never amounted to very much. This year it's on with the netting and down with the shell grit borrowed from the chickens to keep away the slugs.

[Two_Sheds]

Yeah I work at recycling center but I cant take owt even if it is useful

I think those places should be shut down, and a big Freegle notice put up on the gates.