Kitchen Garden Forum

My original posting was not to only criticise Joe Swift, since I fully accept that these programmes are made in line with the BBC’s programme directors’ and producers’ philosophy on gardening TV.

Although I do not live in a city I have several allotments in rural surrounds and others in more urban places and over recent years can not help but notice the interest in allotments from a certain ‘type’ of personage. Of course the BBC will pander to this new type of allotment holder with their ‘correct’ way of nurturing mother earth. However, experienced allotment holders will see them come with enthusiasm make changes then wither when reality dawns on them. Yes, you all know what I mean, the ‘’it’s got to be organic – nothing else will do’ type of new breed encouraged by authorities such as the SA and now the BBC who should know better as it is meant to be an impartial broadcasting corporation.

I have experienced many a scolding from the ‘new types’ and have had many anecdotes relayed to me by the old experienced breed on how they have been critised for spraying. Recently a local allotment holder who decades ago had cleared and cultivated a large number of allotments to grow grape vines on them had the effrontery to dress up in protective clothing and actually spray his vines. The new breed were incensed and complained. In fairness it is not all their fault when virtually every gardening book on the shelves have jumped on the organic bandwagon and the BBC only talk about organic methods. This is all wrong and the brainwashed need to be informed by impartial authorities such as the BBC that there are tried and tested ways of cultivation practised by experienced horticulturists other than pure organic methods. I believe an allotment holder should be able to choose whatever cultivation method suits him based on his knowledge and not that of the SA and now the BBC who want to turn every allotment into an ‘organic paradise’.

The BBC’s duty is to inform the public and be impartial, so why does this not appear to be the case with Gardeners’ World?

Have a nice day.

Barney

Oh I will, I will, having read your posting. Didn't see the broadcast because I knew from the write-up what it was going to be and quite frankly it would boor me senseless to sit through a programme of absolute drivel as pedalled by the "Oh so correct" BBC. The BBC are fast becoming the "Ministry of
misinformation of late."
When people with no growing experience are TOLD what to do without knowing and they get bad results they very soon pack up growing. To be successful in growing organic you have to have a considerable knowledge of growing. So programmes like this are really doing a disservice to growing as a whole.
Just keeping a load of very smug BBC programme makers happy.
JB.

Where me and Grock are I have to say, in fairness, the council have brought in a digger to clear a few plots, not many admittedly, but they've done it. We also get occasional deliveries of bark chippings and manure. A skip is also arranged periodically for people to put their unwanteds in. Some take what they want out of the skip, which is fair enough if they can use it.

Certainly, Joe's plot did "come to life" quite quickly. What I want to know is, if he's so busy on his plot, who's running his garden design business? Also, didn't he have any advice of Monty, Carol et all?

Strange new format for the show. Maybe i'm being cynical but, has their been words between them and that's why the show has taken this format?

Not that I want to start a rumour but...........

I agree that the broadcast was misleading to those who are new to allotmenting, and if they follow Joe's example they will be very discouraged.

Maybe it would have been better for him to have given the possible options, and then made his own choice.

I like to be as organic as possible, but will use glyphosate with a clear conscience if the weeds are bad enough and it just isn't practical to clear them by hand.

But I know nothing about making TV programmes. Thankfully.

must be honest,i stopped watching GW a long time ago.i think once you start questioning the advice of the so called experts,its time to call it a day.
some of the advice given is absurd and of no help to first time gardeners

Isn't there supposed to be a relationship between function and good design? I could perhaps live with triangular beds for visual effect but they would have to be equal - I am a slave to rotation.
Are they going to show him taking a mower to his paths as he surely will need to shortly.
To be fairish he has been buggered by the timing, glyphosate might have helped the couch that early in the year but wouldn't have touched to marestail.

Hi Geoff,
Glyphosate will kill Marestail if you give the Marestails a good beating first so that the plants are well bruised. Glyphosate then works.
JB.

I meant he was starting early in the year so it wouldn't be through enough to get a dose.

surely the point is he should be doing a proper job for next year not a five minute fix for instant makeover which wont last five minutes.

Hi Geoff,
I get your drift. I thought perhaps that they had prepared everything last year and were growing this.
I agree with Richard. (did I just write that! )
JB.

In the real world people take on a plot and get about 1/3 planted in the first year - which most associations accept as reasonable if it started very overgrown. 'Spose that doesn't make for such 'entertaining' telly as watching Joe flounder in a month or two tho.

Much as Joe's smugness will be utterly unbearable if he does succeed, (but then who wouldn't with all those resources at hand), I really hope that it does work out for him. The main reason for this is nothing to do with TV programs or benevolence towards their presenters, but simply not to put people off. If they see that a 'professional' can't manage an allotment, how many budding amateurs will think that they can't either and not even bother to try.
I'd just like to see him struggle..a bit..and maybe a bit more then until a true picture appears!
Vivien

I somehow don't think you will'see' him struggle....his army of behind the scenes helpers will see to that.

Did you also notice that the locker room all had NEW BOLTS & LOCKS fitted to the individual lockers, still lets give the lad a chance. shallotman

Yeah, a LOCKER ROOM !!! Blimey, they'm posh in London...