The even newer good, bad and ugly of growing your own in 2021!

Sallyp2

-taff said:

Finally got round to sowing everything yesterday so cucumber, pumpkins, lovage [ that probably won't germinate, need new seeds], runner beans, italian runner beans, french beans, nasturtiums, fennel, spinach, celtuce [had an accident with these and tipped nearly the whole packet in a pot, cue much swearing and trying to hoik out tiny seeds with fat fingers], cos, punterelle, zucchini. Lets play the germination game! Potted on nearly all tomatoes, have left quite a few black truffle to fend for themselves, this is the first year I have accepted the size of my greenhouse can't be changed no matter how big it is in my imagination so I was very sparing with the sowing. After going through my seeds I found a pack of Roma seeds I know but didn't know I had [if you know what I mean] but wanted to sow but kept in the wrong place, hey ho, next year...

I covered up my potatoes on Saturday with what was left half rotted in the compost bin, mostly wet straw and proper compost. Yesterday, after all the rain, the leaves are already through and two centimeters proud of it. I went crazy and bought myself a hotbin, and so far, it is actually really hot. I filled it with new stuff and some of the half rotted compost and after a few days have a temperature of 40 degrees which is really pleasing. I'm looking forward to no fuss no turn compost.

For blossom end rot prevention, if it isn't uneven watering but a result of lack of calcium, smash up some eggshells finely and add that to your compost to forestall any calcium deficiency. And then keep on top of the watering

@Sallyp2 thanks for looking but no, that isn't it. They are small to medium sized, with a very dark green skin with small mottles, and a bright bright orange flesh. They're the most unusual sqaush I've had because the flesh behaves more like potato than squash. I'll just have to get one and save the seeds next time I'm in Italy.

Right, I shall go and cheer on the seeds to grow....happy gardening

Try https://www.pennardplants.com/
the old guy who runs it does magnificent exhibits at Chelsea, Hampton court etc. It’s all heritage vegetables, some flowers I think, but they will know the variety and probably sell it

Sallyp2

Sallyp2 said:

-taff said:

@Sallyp2 thanks for looking but no, that isn't it. They are small to medium sized, with a very dark green skin with small mottles, and a bright bright orange flesh. They're the most unusual sqaush I've had because the flesh behaves more like potato than squash. I'll just have to get one and save the seeds next time I'm in Italy.

Try https://www.pennardplants.com/
the old guy who runs it does magnificent exhibits at Chelsea, Hampton court etc. It’s all heritage vegetables, some flowers I think, but they will know the variety and probably sell it

Pennard do an odd mix of squash, look up this Squash , Marina di Chioggia (Circa 1600's Venice). An Italian beauty -  (Turban Group) - C. maxima 105 days. Originally from South America - This heirloom squash was introduced Venice early in the 1600s and settled around the small coastal town of Chioggia, Italy. These large, dusty-greeny blue, bumpy, lumpy, large turban shaped, flattish rounded squash averages up to 10 pounds. The rich sweet flesh is deep yellow-orange & simply delicious in pies or baked. In Italy, it is prized for gnocchi & for roasting.

if you say the squash behaves more like potato that squash, it would make sense that Italians use this squash for gnocchi. Check it out

Sallyp2

BTW I don’t work for Pennard Plants. Just think they do a niche job well. Their range of heritage seeds is amazing. 

Sallyp2

Arrgh...have succumbed to pennard plants. On Gardeners World couple of weeks ago, a viewer video talked about growing loofahs for showering / washing. Monty D said he hadn’t grown them for years, but pennard plants sell the seeds. I think it has to be tried and tested!

Product IDSeed1563

Gourds , Loofah Cylindrica (Luffa)

Luffa aegyptiaca, Shower sponge , This is the one we all had to scrub our backs with in the 70's, but would never admit we used, and always assumed it was a sea sponge. It's actually a vegetable related to the cucumber & grown on a fence or trellis (it doesn’t come from the sea). Grows 1-2 ft long & if eaten, best when 2 ins dia. Vines produce yellow flowers all summer, then fruits are picked after first frosts. Peel off outer skin, “milk” the sponge - squeeze it from the middle outwards to remove the fleshy substance inside, Hang & Dry, use like a body scrub (Not Hardy)

MysteryMe

8 tomato plants were put outside in their final resting place last weekend, mixture of cherry, beef and salad. One more plant to go outside once it's a bit bigger. One fair sized courgette and one fair sized marrow plant also planted out along with two peas and some salad and spinach leaves.  All these grown from seed.
Of the existing plants  the strawberries are looking well, this is their 3rd year so hoping for a decent crop. 

Ellie78

Sallyp2 said:

Can you ask for another plot and give that one up based in the rubbish and possible contamination? You can buy simple soil tests, but they are for pH levels, they won’t tell you if you have micro plastics etc in soil. If you can, get a couple of spade spits and gently sieve them, as if you are panning for gold. Any plastic or rubber or carpet particles should remain in the sieve and you’ll get an idea if you want to keep that plot. 
I had a rubbish first allotment, never got rid of the damaged old black membrane and buried plastic bags. Got a second plot and gave the first one back as it was too hard to sort out. Saw that the new owner simply covered the plot, built raised beds and filled them with bought in compost!

There aren't any other plots available so I'd have to go back on the waiting list.    After more digging I'm not quite so worried.  The burnt carpet appeared to be isolated to one spot, where I'm planning on putting a central path.   I'll just use raised beds either side in that area.   After so much neglect I'm determined to make this plot beautiful and productive!

Sallyp2

Ellie78 said:

Sallyp2 said:

Can you ask for another plot and give that one up based in the rubbish and possible contamination? You can buy simple soil tests, but they are for pH levels, they won’t tell you if you have micro plastics etc in soil. If you can, get a couple of spade spits and gently sieve them, as if you are panning for gold. Any plastic or rubber or carpet particles should remain in the sieve and you’ll get an idea if you want to keep that plot. 
I had a rubbish first allotment, never got rid of the damaged old black membrane and buried plastic bags. Got a second plot and gave the first one back as it was too hard to sort out. Saw that the new owner simply covered the plot, built raised beds and filled them with bought in compost!

There aren't any other plots available so I'd have to go back on the waiting list.    After more digging I'm not quite so worried.  The burnt carpet appeared to be isolated to one spot, where I'm planning on putting a central path.   I'll just use raised beds either side in that area.   After so much neglect I'm determined to make this plot beautiful and productive!

It’s a sorry shame when previous allotment holders don’t look after the plot! Sounds like you are in for some hard graft. Raised beds are productive and pretty!

-taff

Sallyp2 said:

Pennard do an odd mix of squash, look up this Squash , Marina di Chioggia (Circa 1600's Venice). An Italian beauty -  (Turban Group) - C. maxima 105 days. Originally from South America - This heirloom squash was introduced Venice early in the 1600s and settled around the small coastal town of Chioggia, Italy. These large, dusty-greeny blue, bumpy, lumpy, large turban shaped, flattish rounded squash averages up to 10 pounds. The rich sweet flesh is deep yellow-orange & simply delicious in pies or baked. In Italy, it is prized for gnocchi & for roasting.

if you say the squash behaves more like potato that squash, it would make sense that Italians use this squash for gnocchi. Check it out

I've grown these before and I quite like them. And I actually have some of those seeds. i was looking for that particular one because it's a lot smaller. If I had an allotment though, I'd definitely grow them again, they're really tasty. My current garden can't support everything I want to grow as it is. Maybe I'll do a bit of square foot gardening from now on.

But I will spend many a happy hour and many a pound on the lennard website, so thank you for that, you've made me poorer

Sallyp2

-taff

But I will spend many a happy hour and many a pound on the lennard website, so thank you for that, you've made me poorer

Sorry about that. It’s a good website though for veg slightly off piste ... especially chillies!

Sallyp2

A cheeky hour this morning at allotment planting leeks, spinach, chard & beetroot seeds! Am trialling veg seed tapes. Very easy to sow and apparently no thinning required ... let’s see about that. Anyone else tried veg seed tapes?