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Post by wilbarra on Oct 3, 2017 17:31:03 GMT
In the many years that i have been allotmenting i have had passed down to me many tips
some not so good but mostly they good sound advice and they have worked so would like
to pass them on and perhaps you would like to join and share yours with everybody.
Forgive if i start off with a bit of name dropping i got this one from the old Sussex and
Petworth gardener Fred Streeter.
1. If you find your Broad Beans covered in blackfly sprinkle a measure of sharp sand
over them, in the evening they will be on the ground by morning.
2. when sowing peas straight into the ground lightly tread them into the soil cover them with
soil and lightly tread once again.
they germinate quicker and grow better.
3. When planting your tomatoes in the greenhouse put some Comfrey in the hole before planting
the tomato plant.
they grow a lot stronger and fruit better.
and one from a certain chrysanth grower from Oatall
to stop ants and such from attacking your chrysanths put a put a smear of vaseline at the bottom
of the flower stem .
Just a few of mine how about some of yours
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Post by wilbarra on Oct 5, 2017 16:42:18 GMT
ONE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR
AS THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN A LOT OF CLEARING UP NEEDS TO BE DONE,
DONT PUT THE COMPOSTABLE STUFF ON THE COMPOST HEAP BUT DIG YOUR RUNNER
BEAN TRENCH OUT AND PUT ANY STUFF THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY PUT ON THE
COMPOST HEAP OVER THE WINTER INTO THE TRENCH.
LEAVE OPEN UNTIL ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR RUNNER BEAN SEED IN
TREAD IT DOWN AND SPRINKLE SOIL OVER THE COMPOST.
RUNNER BEANS LOVE IT AND YOU WILL WITH BIGGER CROPS FAR LESS WATERING
IN HOT SPELLS.
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bridgey
Clearing the weeds
Posts: 60 
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Post by bridgey on Oct 6, 2017 15:47:15 GMT
Where you are going to put your brassicas next year cover the
ground with manure or compost and leave till spring.
Then plant your cabbage and such straight through the manure
into the ground.
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Post by wilbarra on Oct 8, 2017 14:09:38 GMT
one i would not recommend on any allotment site but was told it by an old cartier
many years ago and he assured me it really happened when he was a lad in late
victorian times.
evidently a lot of farmers in north sussex grew parsnips to sell at the big
markets and they used to sow the seed as early in the year as possible.
to test whether the soil was warm enough for sowing one of the farm labourers
would go into the field,drop his trousers and sit bare bummed on the ground.
if it was warm enough for the bum it was warm enough for the seed.
as i say not recommended for the allotment site.
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Post by murrayc on Oct 9, 2017 6:57:39 GMT
one i would not recommend on any allotment site but was told it by an old cartier many years ago and he assured me it really happened when he was a lad in late victorian times. evidently a lot of farmers in north sussex grew parsnips to sell at the big markets and they used to sow the seed as early in the year as possible. to test whether the soil was warm enough for sowing one of the farm labourers would go into the field,drop his trousers and sit bare bummed on the ground. if it was warm enough for the bum it was warm enough for the seed. as i say not recommended for the allotment site. I am trying to get that image out of my head!  |
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Post by wilbarra on Oct 25, 2017 14:03:44 GMT
THIS IS THE TIME FOR SOWING POLYANTHUS SEED.
AFTER SOWING THE SEED INTO THE SEED TRAY COVER WITH PLASTIC BAG AND
PUT IN THE FREEZER UNTIL THE COMPOST IS FROZEN SOLID.
THEN TAKE OUT AND PUT STRAIGHT INTO THE HEAT.
YOU GET ONLY THE BEST SEED GERMINATING.
IF YOU SOW A BIT LATER IN THE YEAR YOU CAN ACHIEVE THE SAME RESULT BY
STANDING THE TRAY OUTSIDE AND LET THE FROST FREEZE THE COMPOST BEFORE
YOU PUT THE TRAY IN THE HEAT
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Post by wilbarra on Nov 17, 2017 13:37:24 GMT
leave the membrane on the shop shelf and instead get your spade nice and sharp by
digging up your vegetable patch and leaving the ground rough with as much nicely
turned up earth as you can, exposed to the winters frosts and snow.
let the winter weather do the breaking up of the soil for you, saves a lot of
back breaking work in the spring.
Plus all those slugs and such that you are giving free winter lodgeing to
under your membrane, are killed off.
Aim to have all your digging done by Chrismas and dont worry if the ground is
slightly frozen at this time of year.
You are doing the soil more good than harm by digging the frost into the ground.
Dahlias should be out of the ground by now.
if not dig them up,wash them, and put them upside down on the greenhouse bench so
that any water can drain out of the stem and leave them to dry.
then store them in dry peat for the winter.
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Post by wilbarra on Nov 17, 2017 13:43:08 GMT
P.S
LEAVE THE BREAKING UP OF THE TUBERS TILL THE SPRING .
SAVES THE WET AND COLD GETTING INTO THE TUBER AND ROTTING IT.
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Post by wilbarra on Jan 15, 2018 14:54:29 GMT
Thinking of investing in any fruit bushes or fruit trees in the coming year?
If you are then hold fire with the planting until the spring and only buy bare rooted
bushes and trees if possible.
Bare rooted bushes and trees will give you a longer lasting bush and you have more idea how old they
actually are before you plant them.
Never plant in wet or cold ground
Both fruit bushes and fruit trees will reward you if you plant them when the soil is warming up.
After all would you like to spend the next two months standing bare footed in icy soil and water.
You will be more profitably employed sitting in front of the fire and going through the fruit
catalogues at home and picking out the bushes and trees you need to order in the spring
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Post by wilbarra on Jan 15, 2018 15:00:09 GMT
just a quick one.
when sweeping up leaves and the like always sweep in the same direction as the wind is blowing.
Makes the job a lot easier
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Post by wilbarra on Feb 6, 2018 21:05:17 GMT
sow a few sweet peas in pots now
use some for decoration and keep a few to plant along with your runner beans in the spring
to attract the bees
you get better pollination that way, even in so called self pollinating ones.
before sowing sweet peas soak in water over night
you get better germination
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Post by wilbarra on Aug 17, 2018 16:49:54 GMT
cutting your raspberry canes down?
dont throw them away or burn them
trim all the leaves off of them,tie them tightly together to straighten them.
leave them in a dry place, lying down, to completely dry.
you will have free canes for use next year.
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Post by wilbarra on Apr 27, 2019 17:35:17 GMT
was asked yesterday if its alright to plant runner bean seed
just take a look at the hedgerows and see if the blackthorn bloom
has completely died away and its showing new leaf
it should be alright to sow your seed
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Post by jane on May 7, 2019 16:38:34 GMT
I love these tips - wisdom and real common sense. Keep them coming Wilbarra.
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