Steve's Allotment Diary

[jane E]

I saw that my last comment was a month ago. No sign of potatoes yet in early rows. Dug up and sitting in water, so probably rotted. What a pain!

[STEVE PARTRIDGE]

Thankyou Oldherbaceous and Beccy for your nice comments, you must be really chuffed with being able to harvest your early potatoes already considering the weather we have had this spring,Oldherbaceous.
I am practicing on my typing skills Beccy and with all the posting to my website that will improve my typing as well, thanks both, Steve.

[STEVE PARTRIDGE]

Hello all, just to let you know that I have posted this weeks update to my website, sorry about the lack of postings on the forum but as you know it's a really busy time on the allotments at the moment hopefuly I will have more time soon, thanks Steve.

http://www.myallotments.blogspot.com

[oldherbaceous]

Good morning Steve, gosh i can nearly smell those sweetpeas, they are early.
Your brassica frame looks mighty impessive, is that a blue thimble in the corner or is the frame really that big and its a water butt.
I have had a problem with N A Kay's this year as well, been ordering for several years with no complaints, but this year i had a problem with the depth of pots i had bought from them, and it ended up leaving a very bad feeling.
I won't be ordering from them again either.
Hope you have a nice break in Wales.

Kind regards Old Herbaceous.

Theres no fool like an old fool.

P.S I will be ordering my garden products from garden warehouse from now.
www.lbsgardenwarehouse.co.uk.

[jopsy]

That site looks reasonably priced OH
I'm off to look at the lottie pictures now Steve

[peat]

OH did you order the economy 9cm pots? I use them a lot. Pot up your transplants into them, use a bulb planter and just drop the plants into the hole and firm. A perfect fit.
Pete

[oldherbaceous]

Hello peat, i have had a case of the economy 9cm pots and have been pleased with these. And i have had the full depth 13cm pots in the past, but this year they kept sending what i class as a three quarter depth pot and then charging me for the return postage. I was the one that lost out in the end. I won't use them again, as i think the customer service was terrible, it is a shame as they sell some good products.
I am talking about N.A Kays.

Kind regards Old Herbaceous.

Theres no fool like an old fool.

[John]

I can't get on to the lbs website. Has anyone else had problems?

John

[STEVE PARTRIDGE]

Thankyou all for your kind comments, I'm off for a well earned rest and will update you in 2 weeks, thanks Steve.

[STEVE PARTRIDGE]

Back from a much needed holiday with my latest update which I hope that you will all enjoy, thanks Steve.

http://www.myallotments.blogspot.com

[oldherbaceous]

Good morning Steve glad you had a good holiday, now it's back to the grindstone for you now old chap.
What a difference a fortnight makes, your things really have come on in leaps and bounds.
Strange that your runner bean seed didn't germinate, but thats life.
I am really pleased with everything i'm growing this year, apart from the lettuce, having problems with this germinating, but shall overcome.
Good luck for the week ahead.

Kind regards Old Herbaceous.

Theres no fool like an old fool.

[STEVE PARTRIDGE]

Thankyou Old Herbaceous for your nice comments, I too had a problem to get enough of the lettuce plants to germinate this year as well as some others, our most experienced plot holder on the site 30+ years has struggled and said that it was the worst year for as long as he can remember for germination, so we are not alone, regards Steve.

[Johnboy]

Hi Steve,
Lettuce seed should be stored in a cool place and if allowed to go over 25C at any time could well 'Lock Up' and will not germinate until they have gone through a cooling process.
You may look on 25C as quite high especially for this current year but if the seed is left in a Greenhouse or Polytunnel that temperature is very easily attained even as early as February.
This caught me out big time a few years back and immediately following a February sowing I had a few days holiday in which time the tunnel was closed and the temp went above 30C and I had to throw them aside and those that were still around germinated in October. Not much good for Spring Plant Sales.
We have had some fairly high temperatures earlier on this year although the weather generally has been awful but it only takes the one over-heating and your'e in trouble.

[John]

High temperatures can be a problem for lettuce seeds as Johnboy says. The seeds are best sown in the evening and watered with cold water from the tap. If high day time temperatures are expected then cover them with shade netting. I sow in modules and keep them outdoors in the shady north side of the house until they have germinated.

John

[STEVE PARTRIDGE]

Thankyou both for your advice regarding Lettuce germination, I will bear it in mind next time that I sow, thanks Steve.