Early Morning,Late Night Gardening.

[Currysniffa]

I've been to the allotment already this morning (7am) to water some brassica seedling that I moved into my greenhouse yesterday. Whilst I was there I got to wondering what's the earliest and latest that people have been on there veggie plots. So for as a bit of fun I'll start and I have photo proof lol

5am is the earliest, last march to finish off staining the boards round the plot.


Latest was last summer around 10pm, I'd nodded off after my tea and when I woke realized I'd not watered so shot up there quickly, only to find someone using a hosepipe norty boy.

["GoingToSeed"]

This was something I used to do years ago up at 5am and spending about hour an half in greenhouse pricking out flower seedlings and potting on before all my monsters got up wanting breakfast before school.....but my oh my! how I loved the smell of opening that greenhouse door after a warm night, yep, loved it!! and in the evenings I was well known to be in the garden way after the kids had "finally" gone to bed and pottering and watering, the neighbours thought I was mad, was out there till 11pm some nights...but it was my retreat and chance to get back to sanity!! ....can't do it now, the old bones dont get moving till about 9am and need to be in bed for 9pm....lol

Thanks for this post Currysniffa, just had lovely trip down memory lane!!

[julesapple]

Does it have to be out on the plot? I don't have a lottie, sadly......

Before the Hypothyroidism struck, I used to be up at about 4am, first light, to take my coffee out into the garden, just pottering about, me and the cats (who clearly thought I'd flipped and should be in the kitchen forking out their breakfast...) When we lived in Aberdeenshire, I'd have about three or fours sleep a night as it was so light in June and July. I wish I could do that now!

The early quiet hours are bliss, they are truly your own time.

Jules

[The Large One]

i must admit i walked out the door at 7 this morning on way to work and first thing i thought of was...oh, it's light enough to be up the allotment...got all excited then realised i was dressed for work and got depressed and got in the car.........just booked friday off for a bit of dirt therapy

[Bren In Pots]

My veg plots outside my back door so I nip in and out all the time doing bits.

[VirginVegGrower]

We've been there as early as 6am when the mornings are light. One of us could get an hour and a half in before it's time to wake children, get the breakfast on, do the school run etc. Late, well as late as light will allow, so up there as late as 10pm in the longer evenings. We have also been known to work all evening and fall into the village pub at 8:55pm for their woodfire pizzas - last food orders up until 9pm. Have a drink, go home, bath, bed! We have also worked by torchlight on shorter evenings. My greenhouse has also had late night sowings by candlelight, usually when I have forgotten a seed packet

[Mikey]

I've gone to mine at 10pm, and come from there at around 11, mainly when the slugs have been active. Me, my scissors and a miners lamp.

I'm on the plot most weekends at dawn, I love doing some gardening before the rest of the family have got up, the summer is great I can get about 2-3 hours in and still have an active family day.

[Alison]

At this time of year I'm restricted by darkness but in summer have been known to be up there at dawn and still there at dusk.

[Currysniffa]

Does it have to be out on the plot? I don't have a lottie.

No it doesn't have to just be a lottie plot, garden, landshare garden or even roof, anywhere you do your gardening

[chefgage]

I am quite often out there up untill its dark so in summer that's late but winter its a lot earlier
Christmas eve saw me at 8.30 pm in the dark pulling up carrots because I had forgot to buy some for santas
Reindeer

[pauco]

The best time for me is just as Dawn breaks i can get so much done in the greenhouse and garden.
Also there is the Dawn Chorus a sound well worth being up for truly at peace with the world Then finnish of with a brew and bacon buttie


paul.

[allotment grower]

you can get more done in a couple of hours first thing in the morning or late evening..
full time worker..
weekend gardener..

but come summer i am up there until dark.. i broke my ankle last year out running come late march/april

as soon as possible i was up there rotovating in the evening the only thing stopping me was i could not see where i had been to where i had to go.....

[Florence Fennel]

I don't do early starts unless I'm at work, but lighter nights Himself often has to say "Are you coming in, or do you want floodlights?"

[Peppermint]

Up here they run a golf competition at midnight on the longest day as it never gets dark. Golf in Orkney - Visit Orkney

We went for a long walk in daylight at 10.30 in the evening at the last summer solstice.

So theoretically I could garden for 24 hours In reality we tend to call an end to the day at 9.30 to 10 ish in the summer. I love going out into the garden at 6 am and just pottering. Nice time of the day.

In winter the nights are so, so long. Though we get great sunsets.

[mothhawk]

I leave for work at 5am, so if I wanted to do some early morning gardening I'd probably have to get up yesterday! Likewise, anything beyond early evening would require industrial strength matchsticks to prop my eyes open