down at the allotment and in the garden what are you up to

[Peggy Sue]

We have got quite on top of our allotment, all dug and planted up to date so I offered a hand to one of the'Ol Boys' down the allotment since he's had some bad luck and was feeling a bit grim after an operation. He reluctantly said he could use a bit of digging next to his currents.

being helpful I popped over there on the Sunday morning and did about 45 mins- then another bloke turned up and said 'Why are you digging my allotment?'

Anyway he showed me the bit the OTHER side of the currents that needed doing so I got stuck in again...I can feel those muscles this morning...

[oldfella]

I keep a few Pigeons and find their muck in the compost is a great activator plus, I use it whilst in the garden, but then I live in France so that is normal behavoir.

[ina]

being helpful I popped over there on the Sunday morning and did about 45 mins- then another bloke turned up and said 'Why are you digging my allotment?'

Anyway he showed me the bit the OTHER side of the currents that needed doing so I got stuck in again...I can feel those muscles this morning...

Poor you! I only did a bit in my own garden, and I feel it today...

I do hope that at least you didn't get into trouble for digging up something that wasn't supposed to be dug!

[Mainer in Exile]

I put in my garlic and shallots today.

I keep a few Pigeons and find their muck in the compost is a great activator plus, I use it whilst in the garden, but then I live in France so that is normal behavoir.

Thanks, I've been needing some new arguments to convince my wife we should get some pigeons!

[Cheezy]

Got my early Broad beans in (Imperial Green Longpods), Aquadulce already up from a Nov. sowing.
MOH started to dig another bed which will be for summer flowers

Pricked out my tomato seedlings, and potted on.

[Millymollymandy]

I keep a few Pigeons and find their muck in the compost is a great activator plus, I use it whilst in the garden, but then I live in France so that is normal behavoir.

Oh tell me about it - stopped at a motorway 'aire' yesterday and there was a woman holding her child up so it could pee on the ground - right outside the perfectly usable and not smelly public toilet!

[mew]

MOH dug out a 5th bed on Sat up the lottie as last year I grew a pots in a loads of tyres but they didnt do very well and were a slug and snail haven...!!

Did some weeding and dug over and spread out the contents of the now 5th bed at the bottom of the patch.

Sunday back at home washed and disinfected with vinegar about 400 plastic pots ready to rock and roll, dug over my corner bed and pulled out my pencil like leeks which heads straight for the compost and sowed my first broadies.

So nice to get back in the garden - cant wait to really get stuck in

[Rohen]

Planted a cherry tree another one but havent been able to dig yet as the frosts keep coming

Will have lots of cherries this summer hopefully

[Ranter]

Finally got some well rotted horse muck, so we spread that out on the newest bed, preparation for the first early tates. Autumn raspberry planted in newly dug fruit bed, seeds set for parsnips & 2 varieties of tomatoes, radishes sprouting well in greenhouse. Broad beans & peas coming up well outside.

Full timetable of seed sowing over the next few weeks, meaning I have to get up to the lottie in the week to water in the greenhouse. Probably should be doing that now instead of sitting here...

[red]

sowed peas, picked out basil, sowed more parsnips in rolls

[Karen_D]

Sown some poached egg plants at the edge of a couple of beds. Dug out and weeded two more beds (hubby digs, I weed).

Started some propagating at home. Parsnips in loo-roll tubes, sprouting brocolli, red cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, courgettes, celery, flat-leaved parsley, thyme, marjoram and grey peas (Carlins).

Other than that, just trying to stop everything flying away in the winds!

Wassail

Karen

[Cheezy]

Started some propagating at home. Parsnips in loo-roll tubes, sprouting brocolli, red cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, courgettes, celery, flat-leaved parsley, thyme, marjoram and grey peas (Carlins).

Other than that, just trying to stop everything flying away in the winds!

Wassail

Karen

Hey Karen what are Carlin peas like to eat?

I saw them for the first time this weekend at our market greengrocer. He was selling them to an old dear, and telling her to get them soaked that night and she'd just make Carlin Sunday because Easter is so early???. Hadn't a clue what he was on about.

Saw your post and remembered so Googled carlin pea's 'parently a N.E tradition following Robert the Bruce's seige of Newcastle in the 1300's. He tried to starve them out, but a delivery of Carlin peas (aka Black badgers,grey peas,pidgeon pea's) from Norway saved the people on Passion Sunday. The Bruce moved on with out getting in.
They are ment to be eaten fresh or dried and are said to be a medival mushy pea....all great info from google BUT

what the hell do they taste like and why these over modern varieties...

One site said Farting Monday always follows Carlin Sunday!

If I grow them then they are definitely going to be called black badgers

[ina]

grey peas (Carlins).

Where did you buy them? OK, I haven't looked online yet, because I don't want to buy any seeds online this year (I always end up buying far too many); but I have looked at all the garden centres etc around, and nobody's got them...

[Karen_D]

Hey Karen what are Carlin peas like to eat?

Saw your post and remembered so Googled carlin pea's 'parently a N.E tradition following Robert the Bruce's seige of Newcastle in the 1300's. He tried to starve them out, but a delivery of Carlin peas (aka Black badgers,grey peas,pidgeon pea's) from Norway saved the people on Passion Sunday. The Bruce moved on with out getting in.
They are ment to be eaten fresh or dried and are said to be a medival mushy pea....all great info from google BUT

what the hell do they taste like and why these over modern varieties...
quote]

Around here they are called Grey Peas (pronounced Gray Pays 'cause we spake proper) and are soaked overnight and then cooked with some bacon that has been fried up until it all goes a bit mushy (allow a few hours for this!). They are dark and make their own "gravy" and have taste unlike green or normal mushy peas - "meaty" would be one way to describe it.

Ina: Like most people around here, I resort to buying them from pet shops where they are sold as "pigeon peas" - have to pick through to find any small stones or other grains and give them a good wash. If you don't fancy eating them from the pet shop then just buy a small amount and use them as seed.

EDITED TO ADD: Should also be available from places where fishing bait is sold because they are used as carp bait.

From what I can gather, they are an old variety so will grow up to 6ft tall.

Milims has grown some before so she might be more help with that side.

Wassail

Karen

[Cheezy]

grey peas (Carlins).

Where did you buy them? OK, I haven't looked online yet, because I don't want to buy any seeds online this year (I always end up buying far too many); but I have looked at all the garden centres etc around, and nobody's got them...

Hi Ina,

this guy sells them at £2 for 250g delivered anywhere in the UK. You could plant however many you wanted then eat the rest!

http://carlinpeas.tripod.com/