Should I tell him

[jonny the plant pot]

New plot holder next to me as been getting the beds ready for planting out and he's not really sure what he's doing .
As I noticed he had planted 42 courgettes in one of his beds around 6 inch apart .
When I asked him if he liked them he said not really just wanted to plant something .
Do I tell him he's got far too many and that his spacing is wrong or just let him be as he looks happy enough.

[Small pumpkin]

That's a tricky one. I'm going to let someone else answer that
But to be fair he won't have to weed that bed for most of the season .

[Snoop Puss]

Well, it would be friendly to tell him!

[Containergardener]

If you told him perhaps you could give him something else to plant

[SusieG]

Think he might be glad of your advice/knowledge - maybe too late for this season though! You could always hand him a courgette recipe book

[Guest]

I think the nice thing to do would be tell him, but it comes down to the way you tell him. I think you might be better asking him if he uses a computer much and tell him about this forum where he can ask things at his leisure.

I know if I was told by a plot neighbour that I would probably brush it off and ignore them

[Small pumpkin]

Let him get on with it. We all make mistakes that's how we learn. And 42 courgette plants to close together isn't the worst mistake.................... Just as VC


( yes I know VC has squash and she hasn't actually planted all of them )

[Jay22]

I would agree with SP, let him get on with it. He has planted them now would be a shame to make him feel inadequate. As NG says, why not mentioned how wonderful this forum is!

[Scoot]

I'd just let him get on with it as well.

He'll probably be delighted when he sees them all come up but will learn himself after a while that he planted far too many too close together.

We all make mistakes in gardening, it's part and parcel of the fun sometimes.

[KairdiffKid]

42 eh? Is he seeking enlightenment regarding the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything?

Let him get on with it but don't bother planting any yourself, with all those plants he could provide for the entire allotment.



In all seriousness though with this spring being the way it has I wouldn't be too surprised if there is another cold spell in the next week or two (esp. up north) so he might not have (m)any surviving plants unless he covers them.

[Jay-ell]

Or you could tell him in a round about way by praising his choice of green manure/weed suppressor and how you never thought of using courgettes (but then again you like courgette so you would have planted them further apart so that you get a crop)

[maverick451]

I think id leave him to it, I can imagine it being a bit nervy being new to it all, you dont want him to feel like he is being judged or watched over.

If he starts chatting just ask him how he is getting on and if he mentions someone is struggling offer to have a look

[1Bee]

I'm really torn. If you tell him he might ignore it or feel you're interfering or patronising.

But if you don't, he may get discouraged and give up later in the season...

Have you got any spares? If you were to give him some DFB seedlings, for example, you could say what their spacing should be and chat about the courgettes. ...

Good luck, whatever you try.

[sparrow100]

I'd leave him be. My friend planted 19 in her first season - it's a funny story she now loves to tell. You could almost hear them growing...

[Bigmallly]

Do a deal with him, ask him what he likes, you grow twice as many & do swaps.................