Hello fellow food growers

[Bugeyes]

Get the Sky sports channel and time your allotment jobs to clash with important matches - it works a treat! But...make sure that when you need heavy or destructive jobs doing there's nothing on. My hubby got me my allotment for Xmas (cheapskate - it cost him £7.50) and I can't wait to get going but it's snowing again! I have no idea what I'm doing but have turned into a compulsive seed-buyer. Next door neighbours just gave me an old bench to go at the back of the plot so that I can enjoy my cocoa/soup/gin & tonic in comfort!

[Emma]

Thanks for replys,

Hi all,
Thanks for all the replies, particularily like the one about the collar and lead. I may have to give that one a go. I wouldn't mind so much if he actually helped. He hasn't so much as lifted a spade. He just stands there asking me why I've let the grass grow so long while I'm standing in a trench digging till I'm dizzy trying to prepare new Raspberry beds or wanting to know why the manure is in the middle of the new plot. While I'm standing there up to my elbows in muck trying to move the stuff! As if I deliberatly asked the guy to dump it there (truck got stuck in the mud!) He's definatly a backseat gardener, although he has helped me to dismantle the greenhouse I bought on Ebay and helped build the base in my garden. Unfortunatly it looks like the house that Jack built as the garden slopes so much. Anyway I shouldn't complain to much he has managed to organise a work party to help clear the b****y couch grass that is squatting on my plot and refusing vacate. I was under the impression that all plants have some sort of use in nature but I can't for the life of me think what possible use couch grass has. I put it in the same catagory as wasps and hornets i.e whats the point.

Anyhow, fruit tree's arrived this morning so am on my way to plant - can't wait.
Emma x

[nick the grief]

>>...He just stands there asking me why I've let the grass grow so long <<

Tell him so he can mow it As to uses, Wasps aactually do some good, they eat Aphids & the like, unfortunately they like fruit for afters and thats where the trouble starts

[jonny]

Emma, Point 1) Lock him in the shed. Point 2) What's couch grass?
Hee hee, don't have any here Good luck and enjoy growing the veggies as well as eating them

[nick the grief]

I cansend you a cutting if you want Jonny, It roots easy & is a lovely green colour

[grannieannie]

Hi All, OH doesn't watch sport on Sky, but loves American Chopper. Also F1 season is here, now if this weather would improve just a little!!!! Also, looked at a little nursery for sale today, so we may be moving if all goes well. Wish us luck!!!!

[Nicos]

grannieannie - fantastic!!! maybe you can stock all our needs ...mail order???

[sewer rat]

GA
Hope you get it - jealous already!

[Becky]

Hello everyone, my name is Becky (duh!) and I have been subscribing to GYO since issue 2, but this is my first time on the forum. Ooh it's all very exciting and I can't wait to get advice off of you all (new to growing stuff so not many tips to give back). Last spring I pinched a 6x9 foot patch of my neighbour's allotment and successfully grew some raspberries, carrots, red cabbages, radishes, brussels sprouts, strawberries, swiss chard and failed spectacularly with purple sprouting broccoli. This year I have foolishly decided to take on the totally neglected 1/5 plot next door to it, which appears to have a blackcurrant bush and a couple of stray raspberry canes hiding amongst the weeds

Me and my OH were planning to get chickens but have shelved the idea for now, partly because of bird flu but mainly because he can't be bothered to construct a fox proof pen and put together the chicken house we were given by a friend.

Anyway this seems like a friendly place to hang out so I expect you'll hear from me regularly, except when I'm discussing my beloved Highland Ponies (HiPos) on another forum

[nick the grief]

Welcome to the Vine

Hi Becky, Welcome to the Vine. you'll need more thant a 1/5 plot when you start looking here, trust me! I thinnk you'll find we're a helpfull bunch of nut cases (some more mad than others - I'm one of the more serious, sane ones.... NOT!!Any questions and someone here will give you an answer, might not be the one you want, but they'll answer
Can I reccomend the threads that Geordie has posted & bee stitched together by one od out illustrious Moderators, they are a god starting place, quickly followed by the recipe for Rhubarb Schnapps

Best of luck with the plot & we look forward to seeing the pictures of you ploughing it with a team of Highland Ponies!!

[poultrychat]

Emma, if you go down the collar and lead route don't forget a tethering stake will you?

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Becky! Welcome, so glad you could join us! Like Nick said once you get the bug a 1/5 plot will not be enough. Just between you and me Nick is the slightly mad one amongst us!!

[Nicos]

Emma - maybe if he helped with the fruits (with the understanding he could make alcoholic drinks with some of them?) you could companion plant and he could weed the lot!!

[Becky]

Whoops, meant to put 1/2 plot. Don't think i'd do battle with the weeds for just a fifth!! Thanks for the welcome, i hadn't considered using HiPo power. think they'd get too distracted by eating though, hmm maybe i could clear the weeds that way??!

[Sheepie]

Another Newbie Saying Hello

Hi All,

It's great to see the welcome we new folk get.

I have been involved in gardening and veg gardening from an early age - my dad had a veggie patch in the 1st hose I remember and later an allotment so I 'know' what I am doing BUT my problem is my disablilty. I am less than mobile, have restricted arm movment and a host of problems with my circulation.

Despite this, and with the help of my mostly useful OH we will be building me some very raised beds this year and growing all sorts of things from salads, carrots, hopefully PSB and of course potatoes.

I'm looking forward to 'meeting' ther people who I can talk gardening with, esp Veggie growing.