The ups and downs of growing your own dinner 2016...

Ken68

I have netting over most of the seed sown plots, mainly to stop cats. Then if frost is imminent, put on fleece or old lightweight curtains.
It is the early morning sun on frosted plants /buds that do the damage.
When the taters start coming thru I cover with earth asap.

Fruittea

Defo going to use the flannel trick and have just bought some fresh parsnip seed - thanks Ken68.


Good to hear mmharko's news about the offer of an allotment. This forum is great for advice and to ask about anything but I also find this newsletter rely helpful: http://www.allotment-garden.org/newsletter/ as it prompts me to think about things every month.


My 'go to' books are the RHS Allotment Handbook because it has a 'what I wish I'd known' section for everything and it gives me info on expected yields which is really helpful.


My favourite author is Carol Klein she has a 'grow you own' series i.e. fruit, veg. There were selling in Aldi for £3.99 a couple of weeks ago, or you might be able to pick on up at a charity shop as they are quite old.


mmharks - I would sign up to freecycle and ask for tools, sheds greenhouse etc as I got my allotment shed and greenhouse for free. Depends on what you have on your new plot.


News from me - I've started sweetcorn off in pots -maybe a bit too early but I'm a chancer! Plenty of lovely basil on the window sill and as it's a favourite of mine it saves me about £2 a week when I have to buy it at the supermarket.


Like last year from the April 1st I will be pricing up the fruit and veg I grow (comparing with Tesco) and keeping a record of how much I save by growing my own dinner.


I'm loving hearing what you're all doing.

sazzlebgood?

Even though the weather is grey here, been and dug some more of the allotment, just focusing on what has been dug and not looking and what still needs doing. Keeps up our motivation. Friuttea I've just potted on the sweetcorn which is now 2'' high which is a major success as I've struggled to grow them. Last year we resorted to buying plants and although they grew, alot of the cobs didn't form..I've also sowed some more basil, lime and purple ruffles which is now occupying DD1 windowsill. I wonder if it will taste of lime? Going to use ken'68 wet flannel method for parsnips.

Fruittea

Thanks for the sweetcorn reassurance - I might just put some more in.
Also Sazzlebgood could you tell me more about the Rhubarb cake please. I know I'll have a lot this year so I want to put it to good use.
If the basil is the same as the one I grew last year - yes it has quite a kick of lime. So far I've only gone with the Genovese as it's a nice easy one.
Trying Okra as something different I have a window sill propagator and all three are just showing. In the past they have all wilted away so I intend to keep them on a little heat way into the Summer - anyone any thought on this?

carolbee

mmharko wrote: »

Morning,

Have been lurking on the thread for a few weeks, so hello properly!
The past couple of years I've grown a few things in our very small garden (beans, salad leaves, tomatoes, herbs, leeks, carrots), so you can imagine my delight when yesterday I received an email from the local allotment chairman saying that a plot had become available! Going down to see it on Saturday, hopefully it will be in an ok state!
If anyone can recommend any websites/books/forums that are good for an allotment beginner I'd much appreciate it!
Look forward to becoming a more active member of this group soon
Thanks

Congratulations on becoming an allotment holder. We've had ours just over a year and love it. Bought a greenhouse this year to start off stuff, that's in garden.

Our fellow allotmenteers arelovely, and we all swop seeds, plants, and we were given lots of bits when we started. I hope your allotment is just as friendly.

If you happen to be near me, in East Kent, I'll gladly give you some seedlings to help you on your way.

mmharko

smallholding_antics wrote: »

Congratulations I'd just use this forum lol.

Glad i'm in the right place

Fruittea thanks a million for all that info, I'm heading down to the library this afternoon so will keep an eye out for the books and I've just signed up to the newsletter

Carolbee what a lovely offer, thank you! I'm a bit too far away though, up in Stirling.

Very much looking forward to visiting the allotment on Saturday and getting stuck in!

Ken68

My original gardening site was the BBC, then they closed and lots of the users went to Allotments4All. Still go there occasionally.


http://allotments4all.co.uk/

sazzlebgood?

FRUITTEA I got the recipe from this months vegetarian living mag couldn't find it on their website.
185g self raising flour/165g caster sugar plus 1 tbsp/125g butter room temp/85g sour cream/2 eggs/1 and half tsp of vanilla extract/250g rhubarb cut into 4'' chunks/icing sugar to dust/. Crumble topping 35g plain flour/55g caster sugar/1tsp of cinnamon/60g butter/ 50g flaked almonds.
Gas mark 3. grease 22cm pan line with baking paper. make crumble topping using usual method include the cinnamon. Stir in the almonds, cover and put in the fridge. In another bowl add flour,sugar,butter,sour cream, eggs and vanilla beat into a smooth batter. Put the mixture into the greased pan. Toss the rhubarb in the additional sugar, scatter over the top of cake and press into the mixture. Sprinkle the crumble topping on the top. Bake for 1 hour 5mins or 1hr 10mins check by inserting a skewer and it should come out clean. Leave in tin for 5 mins before removing. Dust with icing sugar.Serve with either cream or ice cream.
I'm going to try this out on friday when my in laws come for tea. Going to use rhubarb which we froze last year.

Fruittea

Thank you Sazzlebgood. It sounds good and I happen to have all the ingredient in. So it looks good to go this weekend.
I too am trying to use up fruit from last year before we all start again. It was yoghurt with a rhubarb topping for lunch! And I still have lots in the freezer - gooseberries, redcurrants etc.
I invested in one of those squeeze and seal machines and it's been a marvel. It keeps everything in really good condition with no freezer burn.
Thanks once again for taking the time to help me out with the recipe.

Dizzy_Ditzy

I had a lovely busy allotmenty day today - first lot of potatoes are in, I planted some onions and beetroot and carrots and then came home and sowed some sprouts, brocolli and some other bits. Yesterday I potted on a load of chillies, peppers and tomatoes. Thankfully we have two greenhouses in the back garden so we don't have to keep them all in the house all the time :rotfl: