Rubber-necking at others' veg plots - tell me I'm not alone!

[MrsCordial]

Does anyone else have a neighbour's (or something) veg patch that they can't help keeping an eye on? I often park at my parents' house and walk into town from there, and I pass a small but beautifully-kept veg patch on the way. I've decided the owners are retired, but I've never seen them! They grow potatoes (which they've started harvesting), onions, peas and fennel. I always really enjoy having a look at how they're getting on, and always hope the owner will be there so we can have a chat, but I never catch them.

So, have I just outed myself as some kind of veg stalker, or does anyone else do this?!

[tumbling tom]

Yep. When I got to the lottie and there is no one there I ALWAYS like a look around.

I am not avoiding the other plot holders but don't want them feeling awkward if they are there and I am just staring

[bretty666]

yeh, i think its only normal, you obviously share a common interest and passion? no doubt the owner of that garden would stop and look at yours, i do it, i like to see how others peoples stuff are getting on mainly out of comparison, is theirs better than mine, if so , why? positioning, earlier planting? feed? i have friends who have veg patches and whenever we visit we always go for a walk in the patch and show off our stuff, and ask questions about why certain things are doing better at their house or mine? i find it amazing that we can feed ourselves from seeds, yeh it might sound sill but i am new to gardening but i am loving it, i spend as much time as possible in the garden, i suppose its similar with my work, i am in building and i often find myself in public buildings admiring the work gone into it?

[Bren In Pots]

I grow in my back garden so mines the only veg plot I get to see, my neighbours and my friends have lawns with flowers. The only place I get my garden fix from is here on the vine.

[veggiechicken]

Same here Bren

[mothhawk]

I grow in my back garden too, but when I go out for a walk I pass the (privately owned) allotments in the village, and always take a stroll up the central path and back. It interests me 'cos there is no water available on the site, so I like to see what's growing. Potatoes seem to be the only root crop anyone grows, the rest is mainly peas, beans, and some onions/leeks. But there's one patch that has rows of bearded iris - lovely display when they're all out in flower

Also a lot of untended plots - owned but not worked in years - hedge high brambles - inherited by children from old gardeners who've long since gone to dig in easier soils...

[zazen999]

Mr Z does this all the time; drives me crackers.

[darcyvuqua]

There's someone on my site who chases you up the plot with half dead seedling and when offering them to you there eyes are all over your plot does my head in

[MrsCordial]

No-one can see my plot, except next-door's horse I have to rely on the family to ooh and aah when I bring something in to cook.

[arpoet]

You could start your own support group for this compulsive behaviour.

[KevinM67]

It's pretty common up at our allotment - most people go for a wander, nosey, and chit-chat once they are finishing up. I've normally just arrived by then (due to work/family commitments) and find myself gabbing away with them. Normally means I only get about a half of what I wanted to actually done - but, heh, ho..

I always try and get at least 15 mins before darkness falls to have a nosey around myself - probably learned most of what I do now by doing so (excluding reading this place of course).

[MrsCordial]

It's okay, I can stop any time I like *twitch*

[Dorothy rouse]

Mine is the first plot, so everyone has to walk past mine to get to theirs, and if I am there they always stop, for a discussion, I quite like it. I usually go for a wander to see how they are getting on. It's nice, we are a v friendly lot and will water for each other if necessary, and text etc.

[MrsCordial]

I can stop any time I like *twitch*

[WendyC]

I judge front gardens out of ten. Started it when the boys were small to keep them going.