Spring has finally sprung, Bits and Bobs.

[oldherbaceous]

What a lovely day it has been here today, you can nearly hear the buds bursting.....a shame we are back to normal tomorrow..

[Primrose]

I was earlier looking at my last year's sowing dates for small amounts in modules and find the chilly weather has made me very late and complaisant this year thinking I have plenty of time. Tomorrow I must get myself more organised.

Incidentally i sowed a number of chillies in last year,s compost to avoid wasting it and they started off doing well but in the past couple of days the leaves have started going yellow and they look rather sickly. They are only about 1.5 inches high. Any idea what the problem might be and how I can rescue them? They sre slow starters so I'm reluctant to start again

[Monika]

Low temperatures or lack of nitrogen in the compost? Or a combination of both, Primrose?

We had frost last night and I am still heating the greenhouse every night, mainly for the sake of the chilli peppers, sweet peppers and tomatoes.

[Primrose]

Dug up a number of parsnips yesterday to try and clear space and made the.mistake of pulling off all the green foliage tops with my bare hands. Complete forgot about the allergic properties of parsnip leaves and last night in bed Ii couldn,t sleep because of itching hands which felt as if I'd fallen into a bed of stinging nettles

Are there any other veg leaves which are known to have similar allergic properties?

[Cider Boys]

Sorry to read that you had the dreaded parsnip rash. As you probably realise the sap in the leaves contain a substance that makes the skin highly sensitive to sunlight and therefore causes the skin to burn when exposed to the sun. I think this substance is present in the sap of the carrot family but only know of the parsnip causing the problem. Best to harvest them in the winter!

Barney

[Primrose]

Luckily rash subsided after 24 hours. I will get my own back on the little blighters by roasting and eating them !

[peter]

Frustrating day.
Started well, Hayterette my son bought me as a birthday present and which needed a bit of attention has repaid that attention, cuts well. Eo allotment paths all done.

The last of my three rotovators gave up the ghost today, my Merry Tiller has no spark and you can guess what the plan for this afternoon was.

[oldherbaceous]

Good morning Peter, sorry to read the last of your rotovators has packed up.
Maybe it's time to bite the bullet and buy a new rear tyned rotovator. I know it seems like a huge expense but, it's a lovely feeling when you know when you go to use it each time, that it will do what you want.

Feels a little fresh out there this morning.

[Pa Snip]

Certainly does seem bright but a bit fresh out there today.

Don't want to be a killjoy but damning medical news of the worst possible kind over the last week or so has rather dampened my enthusiasm for the allotment.
I need to get it back as there is no point in letting my condition get on top of me, that will not help. Ironic I was being informed of this around my birthday.

Fortunately I had got the plot pretty much up to date so all beds are currently prepared and awaiting sowing and planting.

Might bring planting of main crop potatoes forward and get them in soon.

Today I might just spend some quality time with Mrs Snip. Difficult times ahead for her.

Peter
I had the devils own job a couple of weeks back getting my rotavator started, I now have a suitable sized spark plug spanner and a wire brush installed in the shed.
The guy on my neighbouring plot got his rotavator out after winter, pulled the cord twice and away it went.
PAHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Pa Snip]

[quote="Primrose"]Dug up a number of parsnips yesterday to try and clear space and made the mistake of pulling off all the green foliage tops with my bare hands. quote]

Primrose
you are not the first person to have defoliated me with their bare hands, fortunately the others did not suffer with a rash, just became rasher than normal

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Pa Snip, i hope you both find the strength, that is hidden deep inside us all, at these difficult times. So sorry to read your news but, i admire your positive attitude greatly and by the heck that goes a long way to helping....

[peter]

Pa Snip stay strong.

Brass wire brush, emery cloth, soark plug, lead clip, outide face of flywheel and HT coil surfaces facing the flywheel, all done.

Methinks my leaky shed roof has caused this and there is damp deeper in under the flywheel. Mum bought it secondhand around 1980 and it had new points around 1996, I clean the air filter and change the oil as needed, but I reckon it needs a 35 year service.

[Primrose]

Ps Snip, sorry hear your news . All you can do is try to stay positive and look after yourself. If you have the physical strength to keep going on the allotment, even at a slower pace it will hopefully give you something to focus on. It,s sometimes hard that the world continues on its usual way regardless when we are wrestling with personal problems but also sometimes helps us to keep a sense of proportion.

[peter]

Rotovator replacement advice sought on another thread at www.kitchengarden.co.uk/forum/viewtopic ... 10&t=12529

[Elaine]

Dear Pa Snip. Hugs to you and Mrs Snip.