What do you do with your spares?

[Bigmallly]

Just wondered what everyone does with their spare veggies. When I had the lottie, I could give them to other plot holders or put them towards the spring sale. Now I don't have a lottie my only option was the compost heap. The Brassicage is chocca & I have about 50 spares....................Some I will save to fill the gaps after harvest but what to do with the rest?............Anyhows, after toying around with some ideas I came across a pallet. I could not envisage a vertical cabbage patch but was sure I could put it to some use...................30 extra Cabbages & Caulis............result.....

[Yasai]

Hi

I Freecycled mine. Can't bear to throw things away. Plants get snapped up really quickly on Freecycle. Do you have it in your area?

[Bigmallly]

Too be honest, freegle never even entered my head...........

[lottie dolly]

never stuck for an idea are you BM.

I usually give spare plants away,this year i have a table plus an honesty jar,not sold many,but got some compost penny's back,last week some youngsters came for pumpkin plants,very polite they were,so i tolled them so,i have loads of several tomato varietys,peeps can have if you wana collect em,

[lottie dolly]

BLOOMIN NORA,you pair are quick on the buzzzzer

[greenishfing]

Some kind person had given their spare (very large) Tomato plants to the local hospice shop I'm glad to say as I'd managed to kill mine, more or less.

I was quite surprised to find them sat there, well labelled and begging to be potted on, but what a good idea and the local hospice benefits.

[mothhawk]

I don't generally have spares, because I have finally managed to get it into my head that my garden is small now, so I never sow more than 10 seeds of anything. In a shallow 5" pot 10 seedlings are easy to separate and pot on. I don't "sprinkle" any more. Each seed is individually placed with the damp tip of a skewer, (excepting big seeds that get a pot each). It doesn't take long, not for 10 seeds

[Goldcrest]

I always grow too much ....
My local charity shop sometimes takes plants as well if they have room.
I've also Freegled them (if things have self-seeded or got too big, some people will come and dig them out)
And if there's a charity advertising a sale or fair in the local paper and there's stuff left over, I've rung and offered them some for the plant stall.

[chilli_grower]

I could take a few of the brassicas off of your hands. I have around 2 square metres left at the allotment!!!!!

[Greenleaves]

We have two plots on the site that are used by people with learning difficulties so always happy to donate to them. Just given 30 leeks to another plot holder.

[Green Gerkin]

Good job I had sown spare tomatoes.
My brother went to our local garden centre yesterday and found tomatoes sold out and not getting anymore.
So he has just taken 6 of my plants!
I hope they don't do better than mine 😄


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[marcofez]

I always seem to grow to many "just in case" (they fail, slugs eat them etc,etc) plants. These are given away to family, friends and mainly anyone at the allotments. I leave all spares near the main gate for anyone to help themselves!!

[Snadger]

Our allotment committee, myself included have been getting planned guided tours of allotment sites cloe by.

One large site nearby has a FREE repository next to the main gate. Spare plants,pots,trays or anthing deemed useful to another plot holder can be deposited on this shelf to be utilised by any plot member.

This is just one of the cool ideas we have picked up that could be of benefit at our own site!

[veggiechicken]

Spares, wot spares?
If my seedlings manage to survive my heavy-handedness, the weather and the slimy critturs, they deserve a future - in my garden
So I bung them in, in any odd corner and wish them well. Often, they do better than those that I "care" for.
Like the pallet idea though, BM, Tidy, very Tidy

[WendyC]

Our allotment committee, myself included have been getting planned guided tours of allotment sites cloe by.

One large site nearby has a FREE repository next to the main gate. Spare plants,pots,trays or anthing deemed useful to another plot holder can be deposited on this shelf to be utilised by any plot member.

This is just one of the cool ideas we have picked up that could be of benefit at our own site!

We do this too. There are always plenty of overgrown courgettes come late summer.
Other than that I use freecycle, or donate to my sister who also has an allotment but not enough time. Tomato plants go to friends and family, except I never bother to offer to my MinL any more as she said the varieties I grow don't taste very nice! They don't taste of anything now as I don't even offer.