Hobbit Allotment!

[horticultural_hobbit]

Orla first earlies, and kestral second earlies.

What can you tell me about taking them up

[snohare]

From my limited experience of growing them, I'd say the most important thing is to make sure the squashes get water. Put lots of moisture absorbent materiel into a wide deep hole, stick in a length of old hoover pipe with some wee holes in the sides, and plant into that; after that, you can vary the feed you give in the water as needed. They're gross feeders, so whatever you put in the hole, you won't go wrong, it's just a case of how much extra will they need !

[horticultural_hobbit]

I need to do some serious revision. How to grow chillies, bells, squashes....

Aim to plant things out tomorrow...squashes, running beans and sweetcorn that is.

Having a reflective moment. Chicken poop, or BFB to put into the hole before the squash?

Some of them will be going into raised beds, others in the open ground clay. Raised beds are compost topped, but contain leaf mold, garden waste et cetra.

Wilkos five minutes down the road...

[mothhawk]

What size are they ?
Well, we will see what transpires....

I thought all plants transpired........?

[horticultural_hobbit]

Evening all, all right?

I'm being an impatient hobbit. But I have yet to plug anything in. What I have plugged in, as it were, are lots of summer flowering bulbs. Some of which are already coming up.

What I wondered, has anyone ever grown grapes on their plot? I have 'Madeleine Sylvaner' and Boskoop glory.

I may have already asked, but I have now forgotten. ooh, just found a boskoop thread...

So much hanging on in the wendy and 4TB.

[horticultural_hobbit]

That big. Sat in 4TB, with fleece readied.

Might need to cover things down the plot too.

[snohare]

Oh well Hobbit, it doesn't have to be an alcoholic drinking game. Unfermented grape juice is possible - if we must, we must...(Sorry, couldn't resist that joke ! )

I hadn't even thought of it, but hail if not heavy rain might cream cracker your plants - worth being concerned about if thunderstorms are forecast - I believe this is a problem for farmers in the US, I've read of storms laying waste to crops.
What size are they ?
Well, we will see what transpires....
<Remembers, goes off to take medication>

[horticultural_hobbit]

Sno. Sweetie. You do realise, that before long, people will partake in a punnage based drinking game. As this is a family vine and we don't promote irresponsible drinking....


Well, tonight, forecast indicates 6-7 degrees.

As it coming down in sheets-the rain, that is-and the fleece is in Dad's shed; I will keep them inside tonight. Putting them out tomorrow, and then cover in the afternoon perhaps.

Has me in stitches, the sweetcorn. It transpires, and forms little bubbles on the the tips of the leaves. Very much a science faculty thing...

[snohare]

Do you know what the minimum night-time temperature is, where you are going to put them ? (This is where I live by my max/min thermometer.)
Because if it's above 3 degrees above freezing, then I don't think you have to worry about even an air frost; - but don't take that as gospel, I'm going on the principle that you can't get damage without freezing, rather than any personal experience of growing sweetcorn. For all I know it may grind to a halt and not start growth again if it cools too much early on.
You won't go far wrong if you do put them under fleece - as long as it's not another dire, rainy summer like last - in which case, it's very doubtful you'd get a crop anyway.
Did you see how I resisted the temptation to make corny jokes there ?

[horticultural_hobbit]

I have brought my 9 baby sweetcorn home; with a view to put them into the 4TB.

But do I need to cover them with fleece?

[snohare]

Oh, I'm so glad to hear it Hobbit !
Not just because one of us has to be growing something - and it wouldn't be me, so it has to be you - but I was feart that I had killed another thread stone dead...and just when it was getting to an exciting bit !

weeds starting to come

That's your cue to start sowing/planting...
Us...we are supposedly getting snow on the tops this week (I can see old snow on the hills looking out of my window right now), everyone's complaining about how it feels cold enough for sleet in the village, but out of the wind or shade it is lovely hot sunshine ! Talk about frustration...
But my windowsills are about to fill up with seedlings. If they die, they die - but they will be around to take their chance if it comes.

[horticultural_hobbit]

Am a cheery hobbit.

Potatos starting to send shoots up. Fruit trees blooming. Tulips look pretty.

There are weeds starting to come, yes. But it's reasonably dry and things are growing.

[snohare]

Are you back home yet Snohare?

Yes thank you VVG, I finally stopped missing trains and caught a couple...
Spent an extra day resting in Edinburgh, was flat on my back for more than a week after I got home. Turned out I had something viral...too much time spent on YouTube... I've just about stopped coughing now. (Which when you have Crohn's Disease is really a great relief ! )
It was good meeting up at our miniGrapefest, and I really enjoyed the tour round Ryton. But none of the Grapes looked as I expected, except maybe Lottie...I always expected HeyWayne to have straw coloured hair...

[VirginVegGrower]

Oh well, if you are a prized banana, then at least you don't lack a peel...



Yeah, I've done that before, it just delayed them. As long as they weren't too shrivelled then they should still come up - but the deeper they are, the longer they will take to appear. Also, how cold the soil is makes a difference - lighter, more sandy soils are called "quick" for this very reason, whereas heavier loam or clay soils that hold more moisture are called "slow". In springtime, you can see which fields have which by how fast the snow disappears off them.
(Well, I can - I daresay it might be difficult for urban grapes who don't look at hillsides all day long ! )
I have still only planted four potatoes.

Are you back home yet Snohare?

[snohare]

Think I am prized nanar

Oh well, if you are a prized banana, then at least you don't lack a peel...

they had self chitted and had these long great big tentacle. I took these off.

Yeah, I've done that before, it just delayed them. As long as they weren't too shrivelled then they should still come up - but the deeper they are, the longer they will take to appear. Also, how cold the soil is makes a difference - lighter, more sandy soils are called "quick" for this very reason, whereas heavier loam or clay soils that hold more moisture are called "slow". In springtime, you can see which fields have which by how fast the snow disappears off them.
(Well, I can - I daresay it might be difficult for urban grapes who don't look at hillsides all day long ! )
I have still only planted four potatoes.