This is the place to discuss not just allotments but all general gardening problems and queries which don't fit into the specific categories below.
(formerly allotments and tips, hints and problems)
Hey guys,
I've had a bit of a look for seed sellers on line but has anyone got any prefered sellers? Also with my plot still looking like a blank canvas what would be your recommendations to grow first (after I've built my 100ft fence that is!)?
Be like the willow in the storm....flat on it's back and soaking wet!
Get broad beans (aquadulce), peas (meteor), garlic and japanese onion sets in as soon as possible, otherwise wait until February. Franchi give good quantities of seeds, most companies can be very stingy, although not too much of a problem with brassicas and lettuce, with peas and beans it can be a real problem.
Unless you are buying a lot of seeds from one company, postage can add up - so check out if you have a good nursery nearby that sell the seeds you want.
Yeah! I was going to suggest them, Neil, the main man was the Chair of Governors at our kids school for years. He is a great chap.
Millymollymandy wrote:Bloody smilies, always being used. I hate them and they should be banned.
No I won't use a smiley because I've decided to turn into Boboff, as he's turned all nice all of a sudden. Grumble grumble.
I get quite a bit of stuff from the Organic Catalogue and have had stuff from Real Seeds also.
What to grow first? Stuff that you want to eat or look at. No point in growing for example radishes because they're easy if you're not going to like eating them.
I also like the real seed catelogue, they send out recipes and useful tips on growing things (above and beyond the usual stuff). They are organic and they are dedicated to reintroducing seeds that are not on the usual list of veg sold by supermarkets and garden centers. The seeds they send are also non-hybrid unless specified otherwise so you can let your veg go to seed and grow your own from the resultant seeds.
All in all they are very good. You can also mail them with growing questions and they will send informative and friendly advice.
Hey guys thanks for all the replies. Realseeds is a great website. I like the idea of planting "Heritage" crops and harvesting your own seeds.
Thanks again for all the advice.
Check with your allotment assoc, ours has a deal with Dobbies, we get 50% off seeds and 10% off everything else, it makes a great difference to the cost!.
Dobbies are a good company, Franchi for the more exotic, real seeds are OK , but the postage is a bit expensive if you only want a few things.
When it comes to the bigger catelogues they are always trying to sell the latest F1 varieties. I would try if possible to avoid them as they do not come true from seed if you want to collect them. Having said that things like sweetcorn that have been specially bred for our climate even if they are F1 hybrids, are worth getting. "Normal " veg, go with old traditional standards.
You always need to be thinking about the season ahead.
Good stuff to plant now : Garlic, Japanese onions, Broad bean Aquadulce (though not the best tasting)
Get seeds ready for early sowings of tomatoes, chillies, peas,beans, brassicas. carrots, pumkins,courgettes, sweet corn
Try to get good keeping varities that can either be stored over winter or left in the ground. Top tip:
Late sowings (Sept/Oct) can be good to get the veg started then over winter, to either pick or wait for the spring:
It's not easy being Cheezy
So you know how great Salsify is as a veg, what about Cavero Nero,great leaves all through the winter , then in Spring sprouting broccolli like flowers! Takes up half as much room as broccolli
We're lucky enough to live fairly close to Wiggly Wigglers. They started off doing worm composting and have branched out - they always have a stand with garden at the Hay Festival these days. They're at www.wigglywigglers.co.uk
You can get seeds, garden tools, natural pest control, and all sorts of other goodies. They even do native flower bouquets!
"The best way to get real enjoyment out of the garden isto put on a wide straw hat, hold a little trowel in one hand and a cool drink in the other, and tell the man where to dig."
Charles Barr
