Going away for 6 weeks in summer. How can I preserve any veg plants?

rosie383

My OH (in his wisdom) has booked for us to go away for basically the whole summer holidays. I have veg in the garden which will probably all die, but it is our first year with an allotment, and I have done so much work on it, that I don't want to lose the lot.
i am very lucky in that our nice neighbours have just taken on the plot next to ours, and put a bit of water on our plot when they are up watering theirs. I do the same for them and pass some freshly baked wheaten across the fence when I make a loaf or 2.
My friend who lives close by, has promised to keep an eye on it a bit while we are away. I have asked her to pick whatever veg is ready to use and give away.
What can I do to make things as easy as possible for her? I haven't got extra money to spend. Can I use things like grass cuttings as a mulch? Or newspapers or the like? We have mainly potatoes, some onions, beans, courgettes. Can't remember what else!
Will my spuds be happy to be harvested when I come back at the end of August? Don't ask what varieties they are...my 3 yr old re-sorted them for me so i just had to plant and hope!

Primrose

Growing vegetables and long holidays just don't mix as I've discovered to my cost. Even a fortnight away any time during the growing season spells troubles in some way for weeding, watering or crops over-ripening and going past their best.
grass cuttings (if they're weed and herbicide free, and shredded newspaper will help retain the moisture but you need to put them on really moist soil. If you put them on dry soil any water will just remain in the mulch rather than going down to the plants' roots.
The problem is that if we have a hot dry summer, your neighbour will find it a struggle trying to keep their own plants alive in a water shortage, and expecting them to do the same again for your plants over such a long period is asking rather a lot, especially as lugging heavy watering cans is a tiring business.
I think next year you may have to choose between a long holiday and keeping your allotment unless you grow mainly winter plants like Swiss chard and leeks which can often keep going without too much attention.

ukbill69

I went away for 1 week and mum only watered a few days and they suffered in this heat, next time Im going to put in a timer on a irrigation system.

Lotus-eater

There's a difference between going away when it's wet enough and when atm (at least here) it's like a desert.

When other people water your crops they won't do a good job and almost certainly won't water enough unless they know what they are doing and have the time. As Primrose says, they've probably enough to look after their own stuff if it all needs watering.

The other problem is disease, especially on potatoes, if you get blight, it's end of potatoes unless you are there all the time to keep an eye on it.

When I plant or sow several different crops, I put some cardboard in between them, or around them, this keeps the weeds down and acts as a mulch. Or I try and sow in blocks, so the plants foliage cover the entire bed, keeps the weeds down and moisture in.

rosie383

Thank you all for your replies. If it was up to me, I would have planned things very differently. I don't expect my neighbours to water very much, especially if we end up with a hosepipe ban.
I will give the place a good soaking and put as much mulch down as I can. Do you think I realistically should expect to lose all my crops for this year? I would be so sad if that happens as I have done so much work.
If we were going off for a summer of just fun and games I suppose it wouldn't matter as much, but my father-in-law died recently, and we are going for a longer time to help out my mother-in-law and do some essential things.
I am so grateful for this forum. It feels as if there is a whole big extended family out there, just itching to help out with advice and a listening ear. My Mum died last year and as she was the green-fingered one in the family, she and I would chat every day about our gardens, she would give me advice etc. I miss her every time I go out in the garden or allotment and am so glad to be able to share on this forum as I have no-one else around to talk to about stuff like this. Sorry to rabbit on, just want you all to know that this forum means so much to lots of us.

MarieAAP

Another option, will be to ask neighbours to water the plants, but to also (if anything is ready), let them eat it. And during the next 6 weeks growing / eating season, give them some of your crop.

That way all benefits. You may not get as much food as if you had been at home, but this way you will get some of it

M

rosie383

I have asked my friend to do just that and I will ask my neighbours to do the same. I really don't mind if we don't get any crop, as long as it is not wasted.

Primrose

rosie - it'a real shame to be worrying about losing your crops, especially when you've put so much hard work into planting and rearing them. I fear you may have to be resigned to losing much of what you've grown. The one consolation is that if there is little rain for the crops, at least the weeds won't be growing so rampantly either. Yes, I know gardeners tend to be a friendly lot, sharing their experiences. Are there any mature school children/teenagers nearby who would like to earn a few bob caring for your crops during your absence who might be prepared to do a little watering and weeding for you? It would take the pressure off your neighbours, especially if they're still working and give the kids something to focus on during the school holidays..

rosie383

Thanks Primrose. that's a good idea about the teenagers. My friend actually is a teaching assistant so at least she is off for the hols, and has 2 almost teenage kids.
My worry is a hosepipe ban. There is no way anyone could be expected to water my whole allotment using a watering can, especially not my elderly neighbours. It's one thing standing at the side, giving a good spray with a hose, but a watering can is a whole different kettle of fish.
Some practical things to ask. Should I lift my onions even though they are not very big, or will they just be happy to sit in the ground, even if they are dry?
And how would my rows of spuds do? Will they survive? Surely if things are under the ground, will they just sit there til I come back, even if the foliage shrivels and dies.... what about the crop underneath?

Primrose

Rosie - there's a risk that if your onions are left in the ground and we have no rain, they will start to bolt and flower and then they will have to be used up immediately or become useless so you're faced with the choice of running that risk or pulling them up now and putting them in a place where they can dry slowly. Do you have a shed or garage floor where you could leave them to dry. They need to be spread out. If you put one layer on top of another on a tray for example, the lower level will rot.

I think you can safely leave the potatoes providing they don't suffer blight while you're away.

I don't know which part of the country you live in. You could try Googling "Long range weather forecast for xxxxxxx (and put in your post code) and see whether that gives you any insight on how to play things until you go away.

rosie383

Thanks Primrose. I never thought of the long range forecast.
Some of my onions are starting to get seed heads on them. Should I get them out of the ground ASAP? I was asking the neighbouring allotmenteer, and he answered me, but TBH I couldn't understand him. After asking him to repeat himself twice, I was starting to feel a bit rude, so i just smiled and thanked him.