Don't Lose Spirit

[Garvey]

I've been speaking to a number of gardening mates and I'm alarmed to hear they have lost the "gardening bug". One buddy gave up his allotment because of the appalling results from last Summer. I know its tough and to be frank, as a weekend gardener,its been bloody hard. Today, every time I venture out, its snows and its just so damn cold!!! But these are challenges our hobby puts before us. If we just had success year after year it would become boring. As forum members, I guess we are the die hards and we need to ensure the weaker ones don't give in too early.

[SarzWix]

I totally agree. Last year was a terrible year to just be starting out. I think it can be encouraging just to hear that everyone else had a hard time as well, rather than just thinking you'd done everything wrong.

[bazzaboy]

The UK has one of the most varied climates of anywhere in the world (not necessarily the most extreme but the most unreliable/unpredictable) and there is an interesting theory that it is adapting to this situation over many centuries that has made Brits creative, adaptable, resourceful....

Even so I'd quite like some warmer weather, please! This afternoon it was quite pleasant in the garden and for 10 minutes I even took my overcoat off! If this continues the Christmas hyacinths might even flower, Happy Christmas.

Talking of which, one plant that seems to think these continuing cold days are great is holly, I've several bushes and they've never looked better, shiny leaves, 5 degrees and chilly at night, brilliant, seems to suit them down to the chilly ground. One man's meat...

Very few weeds and haven't needed to cut the grass... there are advantages!

[sowitgrowit]

Last year was a good year to start out in a way. I had some successes (peas, French beans, courgettes, spaghetti squash, spuds) and some nice surprises (friendly neighbours, I apparently like turnips and discovered a new hobby).

Of course, some things failed, but overall it was a great move taking on a plot.

If that was a really bad season, then roll on 2013's harvests.

[Jardiniere]

Its probably easier to give up an allotment ....but if you have an attached garden (or an unattached one like my plot) you cant just give it up if you get bored...unless you concrete it over I suppose.
So you have to persevere...but people are always trying to manage an allotment and giving up - otherwise there would be no turnover....

[Bigmallly]

Despite the weather last year I did ok, tell your mates they could be doing worse things in the bad weather, like fishing or golf. I went fishing last June for a week & it pi55ed it down everyday. I was soaked to the skin. I would have been better off sat in't shed reading a book.

[Tomato Head]

Last year was my first year but I feel encouraged rather than discouraged by it. Okay, so there were lots of failures but I did manage to grow some things. If I can do that in a rubbish year, just think what I can achieve in a good year! I too have heard lots of people saying they aren't going to bother this year as last year was so poor, but if you've got to be in it to win it Something has to be successful this year!

[Newton]

Don't lose spirit......I won't.....I will soon be renamed two greenhouses.........I've been offered a 10x8 from a friend who no longer needs it! Yippee......with my chillies and my tomato, cuke and soon to be melon habit.....how could I.

Plus I've got brassicas, salad, beetroot and. Bit of hydroponic backup!

This GYOing is fab....whatever the adversities of the weather.......

[veggiechicken]

You lucky Newt I had a 10x8 from a neighbour too - so spacious

[Feral007]

We have the opposite problem to you guys, but equally demoralising some days. I gave up a few years ago because of grasshoppers. Yes, they ate everything. Every time you put your foot down it crunched and about 30 grasshopper shot up your leg. But when we finally got going again and with no dig so much easier. I wouldn't like to give it up now.

It was a pretty poor year this year, but I did get loads of apples. And quite a lot of corn considering the amount we put in. Chard coming out our ears, and zuchinni's to sink a ship when they got going. Now I'm going for winter greens as well. Oh and the taters, when we pull them out.

The thing is that a lot of the summer I felt like the whole garden was a loss, but at the end there was quite a bit to be seen and eaten. And when I went to a meeting for the local Community Garden, they were saying that they felt like they should be doing better as an example to people who don't know much, so they felt they'd let people down (made me feel better tho )

If I didn't have any who was a gardener to talk to then I would probably give up. But chatting with you guys, and a few people around here, it puts things into perspective. And d@mn I wouldn't be able to come out of Bunnings without a plant of some kind anyway!